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Biomedical subjects

S M Lee

Publications and source records attributed to S M Lee.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

A randomized phase III study comparing dacarbazine, BCNU, cisplatin and tamoxifen with dacarbazine and interferon in advanced melanoma.

The purpose of this study was to compare the response rate, overall and 1-year survival in patients with advanced melanoma treated with a standard therapy, dacarbazine and interferon-alpha (DTIC/IFN), or combination chemotherapy, consisting of dacarbazine, BCNU, cisplatin and tamoxifen (DBCT). Treatment toxicity and time spent in hospital were secondary end points. One hundred and five patients (of whom 100 were eligible) were randomized to receive either DTIC/IFN or DBCT. The trial was designed to detect a 25% absolute difference in response rate or in 1-year survival with 80% power. There was no significant difference in response rate: this was 17.3% with DTIC/IFN and 26.4% with DBCT. Median overall survival was similar at 199 and 202 days respectively. One-year survival rate favoured standard treatment (30.6 vs 22.6%), but did not differ significantly between arms. DBCT was associated with significantly greater haematological toxicity, and a greater need for time spent in hospital (5.75 days/treatment cycle vs 2.29 with dacarbazine and interferon). DBCT combination therapy cannot be recommended as standard treatment for advanced melanoma. Dacarbazine remains the standard chemotherapy for this condition.

Adult↗

Autologous graft-versus-host disease induction in advanced breast cancer: role of peripheral blood progenitor cells.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of the use of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) on the induction of autologous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients with advanced breast cancer. 14 women with stage IIIB and 36 women with stage IV breast cancer received cyclosporine (CsA) 2.5 mg kg-1 i.v. daily, d 0-28, and interferon-gamma (IFNg) 0.025 mg/m2 s.c. qod, d7-28, following PBPC-T +/- bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Preceding high-dose chemotherapy consisted of cyclophosphamide 6 g/m2 and thiotepa 800 mg/m2. Histologically proven > or = grade II cutaneous GVHD was induced in18/50 (36%) of patients and was independent of the source of haematopoietic support. In vitro studies showed that post-transplant, 76% of patients had developed auto-cytotoxicity against their own pre-transplant PHA-lymphoblasts. A significant correlation between the occurrence of GVHD > or = grade II and cytolysis was observed in the NK cell-line K562 and the T47D breast cancer cell-line. With a median follow-up of 2(1/2) years, the overall survival (OS) is 58%, the disease-free survival (DFS) 26%, both independent of the development of GVHD and similar to what has been observed in other studies on high-dose chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer. It therefore remains unclear whether the induction of autologous GVHD with the occurrence of auto-cytotoxic lymphocytes can result in an anti-tumour effect in this group of patients.

Adult↗

A comparative pharmacodynamic study of IY-81149 versus omeprazole in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the pharmacodynamic effects of IY-81149 and omeprazole on gastric pH in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: Sixty male and female volunteers with gastroesophageal reflux disease were enrolled in a double-blind, two-way, crossover, dose-ranging study. Subjects were randomized into three groups, with each group comparing the effect of one of three doses of IY-81149 (5, 10, or 20 mg) with 20 mg omeprazole. IY-81149 and omeprazole were administered once daily for 5 days. Continuous 24-hour pH measurements were performed before the first dose (baseline) and after the fifth dose in both periods. Gastric acid suppression was evaluated on the basis of the following parameters: AUC(0-24), median pH in a 24-hour interval (pHmedian), and the percent time in a 24-hour interval in which the gastric pH was greater than 4 (tpH > 4). The truncated AUC parameters AUC(0-8), AUC(8-16), and AUC(16-24) were also calculated. The effects of IY-81149 and omeprazole on gastric pH were compared by use of analyses of covariance. The dose-response relationship for IY-81149 was also evaluated. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between 5 mg IY-81149 and 20 mg omeprazole in terms of AUC(0-24), pHmedian, tpH, 4, AUC(0-8), and AUC(8-16). IY-81149, at 10 mg, produced a significantly greater gastric acid suppression than omeprazole on the basis of the values of AUC(0-24), pHmedian, tpH > 4, AUC(8-16), and AUC(16-24). Administration of 20 mg IY-81149 produced a significantly greater gastric acid suppression on the basis of all parameters. All doses of IY-81149 were more effective than omeprazole during 16 to 24 hours after the dose was administered. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of 10 and 20 mg IY-81149 produced a statistically significantly greater and prolonged suppression of gastric pH than 20 mg omeprazole.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Human intravenous immunoglobulin preparation and virus inactivation by pasteurization and solvent detergent treatment.

Human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) solutions were prepared by two different methods and compared to each other. The crude immunoglobulin fraction obtained from Cohn-Oncley fractionation of plasma was further purified and subjected to virus inactivation, either by polyethylene glycol precipitation and pasteurization at 60 degrees C for 10 hours, or by ion exchange chromatography and solvent/detergent treatment. The final preparations, formulated in 5% immunoglobulin solutions were characterized by in vitro analyses of biochemical and biological properties and compared with the samples of other manufacturer's IVIG solution products. The critical properties evaluated in this study were purity, molecular intactness, and the biological functions such as Fc function and anticomplementary activity. Virus inactivation and removal by processing steps and by deliberate virucidal steps, as described above, were tested on various human pathogenic viruses, such as human immunodeficiency and experimental model viruses. The tested viruses were successfully inactivated and removed. We conclude that the intravenous immunoglobulins prepared by two different methods, as described above, provide an equivalent viral safety and quality.

Antibodies↗

Ethanol reduces metabolic uncoupling following experimental head injury.

Previous investigations have shown that ethanol is neuroprotective following experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study sought to determine if the neuroprotective effects of ethanol in a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury model are related to its effects on cerebral glucose metabolism and blood flow. Adult rats were given ethanol (1.0 g/kg) or saline by intraperitoneal injection followed 40 min later by injury. Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (CMRglc) were determined immediately, and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 72 h postinjury using quantitative autoradiography. Immediately after injury, CMRglc in the contusion core and penumbra was reduced in the ethanol group compared to the saline group: (core CMRglc: 52.2 +/- 16.0 versus 94.2 +/- 14.1 micromol/100 g/min, respectively,p < 0.001; penumbral CMRglc: 58.2 +/- 12.8 versus 82.8 +/-19.7 micromol/100 g/min, respectively; p < 0.05) However, at 24 and 72 h postinjury, penumbral CMRglc in the ethanol group was increased compared to the saline group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Regarding CBF, contusion core values in the ethanol group were elevated compared to the saline group immediately postinjury, (70.4 +/- 17.1 versus 31.5 +/- 27.8 mL/100 g/min, respectively (p < .05), and at 6, 12, and 24 h postinjury (p < 0.05). Penumbral CBF was also higher at 6 and 72 h in the ethanol group compared to the saline group (p < 0.05). These results indicate that low-dose ethanol is associated with a marked attenuation of immediate postinjury hyperglycolysis and with more normal glucose metabolism in the injury penumbra over the ensuing 3 days. Simultaneously, the reduction in CBF typically seen within the contusion core and penumbra after CCI is less severe when ethanol is present. The net effect of these changes is a decreased degree of uncoupling between glucose metabolism and CBF that otherwise occurs in the absence of ethanol. These changes may likely explain the neuroprotective effect of ethanol.

Animals↗

Dissociation of cerebral glucose metabolism and level of consciousness during the period of metabolic depression following human traumatic brain injury.

Utilizing [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), we studied the correlation between CMRglc and the level of consciousness within the first month following human traumatic brain injury. Forty-three FDG-PET scans obtained on 42 mild to severely head-injured patients were quantitatively analyzed for the determination of regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc). Reduction of cerebral glucose utilization, defined as a CMRglc of < or =4.9 mg/100 g/min, was present regionally in 88% of the studies. The prevalence of global cortical CMRglc reduction was higher in severely head-injured patients (86% versus 67% mild-moderate), although the absolute magnitude was similar across the injury severity spectrum (mean CMRglc 3.9 +/- 0.6 mg/100 g/min). The level of consciousness, as measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale, correlated poorly with the global cortical CMRglc value (r = 0.08; p = 0.63). With regards to severity of head injury, this correlation was worst for the severely injured (r = -0.11; p = 0.58) and better for the mildly injured patients (r = 0.50; p = 0.07). In most cases, intraparenchymal hemorrhagic lesions were associated with either focal CMRglc reduction or elevation. It is concluded that the etiologies of CMRglc reduction are likely multifactorial given the complex nature of traumatic brain injury and that the reduction of CMRglc represents a fundamental pathobiologic state following head injury that is not tightly coupled to level of consciousness.

Adult↗

Inhibition of neocortical plasticity during development by a moderate concussive brain injury.

To determine if a moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained early in life alters the capacity for developmental plasticity, 17-20-day-old rat pups received a lateral fluid percussion and then reared in an enriched environment for 17 days. Compared to sham-injured controls, this moderate TBI prevented the increase in cortical thickness (1.48 vs. 1.68 mm, p < 0.01) as well as the corresponding enhancement in cognitive performance in the Morris Water Maze (39 vs. 25 trials to criterion, p < 0.05). These injured animals exhibited no significant neuronal degeneration and no evidence of neurologic or motor deficits. These findings strongly support the conclusion that a diffuse brain injury is capable of inhibiting both anatomical and cognitive manifestations of experience-dependent developmental plasticity.

Animals↗

Intraocular pressure in anisometropic children.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that intraocular pressure (IOP) is higher in myopes than in hyperopes or emmetropes, and it has been suggested that myopia may be the result of a high IOP. We studied IOP in the two eyes of anisometropes, thus controlling for nuisance variables affecting IOP measurement. METHODS: Sixty-seven Chinese children, aged between 8 and 14 years, with anisometropia not <2 D were studied. A Topcon CT-60 noncontact tonometer was used for IOP measurement. Cycloplegia was achieved using two drops of tropicamide 1%, and retinoscopy was performed after residual accommodation had decreased to <2 D. A-scan ultrasonography was carried out using a Storz Alpha II Biometric Ruler. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in IOP between the less myopic and more myopic eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Refractive error and axial length differences in anisometropic children are not related to differences in IOP and seem more likely to be due to genetically determined discrepancies in scleral structure, as previously proposed.

Adolescent↗

Hepatic injury and lipid peroxidation during ischemia and reperfusion.

We determined the relationship between lipid peroxidation and alterations in hepatic secretory and microsomal function during various periods of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. Rats were pretreated with alpha-tocopherol or vehicle and then subjected to 30, 60, and 90 min, no-flow hepatic ischemia in vivo with 1 or 5 h of reperfusion. Serum aminotransferase (ALT) level, wet-dry weight ratio, and lipid peroxidation were increased at 1 and 5 h of reperfusion, and these changes were significantly attenuated by alpha-tocopherol. Na+, K+-ATPase activity, and glucose-6-phosphatase activity were significantly decreased in 90-min ischemic rats, and these decreases were ameliorated by alpha-tocopherol. After 90 min of ischemia, bile flow, cholate output, and bilirubin output were markedly decreased by ischemia/reperfusion, and alpha-tocopherol restored the secretion. Cytochrome P450 content was decreased by ischemia/reperfusion and restored by alpha-tocopherol to the level of that found in the sham-operated group. Aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was decreased, and aniline p-hydroxylase was increased in 60-min ischemic rats. The changes in the activities of the two enzymes were prevented by alpha-tocopherol. Our findings suggest that ischemia/reperfusion diminishes hepatic secretory functions and microsomal drug metabolizing systems in proportion to the duration of ischemia and reperfusion in vivo, and this is associated with increased lipid peroxidation.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Supine lower body negative pressure exercise during bed rest maintains upright exercise capacity.

Bed rest and spaceflight reduce exercise fitness. Supine lower body negative pressure (LBNP) treadmill exercise provides integrated cardiovascular and musculoskeletal stimulation similar to that imposed by upright exercise in Earth gravity. We hypothesized that 40 min of supine exercise per day in a LBNP chamber at 1.0-1.2 body wt (58 +/- 2 mmHg LBNP) maintains aerobic fitness and sprint speed during 15 days of 6 degrees head-down bed rest (simulated microgravity). Seven male subjects underwent two such bed-rest studies in random order: one as a control study (no exercise) and one with daily supine LBNP treadmill exercise. After controlled bed-rest, time to exhaustion during an upright treadmill exercise test decreased 10%, peak oxygen consumption during the test decreased 14%, and sprint speed decreased 16% (all P < 0.05). Supine LBNP exercise during bed rest maintained all the above variables at pre-bed-rest levels. Our findings support further evaluation of LBNP exercise as a countermeasure against long-term microgravity-induced deconditioning.

Adult↗

Randomized phase II study of docetaxel versus doxorubicin in first- and second-line chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcomas in adults: a study of the european organization for research and treatment of cancer soft tissue and bone sarcoma group.

PURPOSE: To assess antitumor response and time to progression (TTP) with docetaxel compared with doxorubicin in first-line treatment of advanced and/or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with measurable soft tissue sarcoma lesions and adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function were entered onto the study. They were randomized to either docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) given as a 1-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks or doxorubicin 75 mg/m(2) given as a bolus injection every 3 weeks. A maximum of seven cycles of treatment were scheduled. The study was designed as a randomized phase III study evaluating TTP by log-rank model. There was a clause for premature closure of the trial if fewer than five responses were observed among the first 25 assessable patients in the docetaxel treatment arm. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were entered onto the study; 85 were assessable for toxicity and 83 for response. The rate of severe granulocytopenia was not significantly different between the two arms. Nausea (P =.001), vomiting (P <.001), and stomatitis (P =.005) were more common with doxorubicin therapy, whereas neurotoxicity was more frequent with docetaxel treatment. The response rate to doxorubicin therapy was 30% (95% confidence interval, 17% to 46%), whereas no responses to docetaxel therapy were seen (P <.001). In view of this, the trial was closed prematurely and the phase III study part was not conducted. CONCLUSION: Docetaxel is inactive in soft tissue sarcomas and cannot be recommended for further use in treatment of this disease.

Adult↗

A local Wnt-3a signal is required for development of the mammalian hippocampus.

The mechanisms that regulate patterning and growth of the developing cerebral cortex remain unclear. Suggesting a role for Wnt signaling in these processes, multiple Wnt genes are expressed in selective patterns in the embryonic cortex. We have examined the role of Wnt-3a signaling at the caudomedial margin of the developing cerebral cortex, the site of hippocampal development. We show that Wnt-3a acts locally to regulate the expansion of the caudomedial cortex, from which the hippocampus develops. In mice lacking Wnt-3a, caudomedial cortical progenitor cells appear to be specified normally, but then underproliferate. By mid-gestation, the hippocampus is missing or represented by tiny populations of residual hippocampal cells. Thus, Wnt-3a signaling is crucial for the normal growth of the hippocampus. We suggest that the coordination of growth with patterning may be a general role for Wnts during vertebrate development.

Animals↗

Preparation of monoclonal antibody against ginsenoside Rf and its enzyme immunoassay.

A rapid and sensitive indirect competitive enzyme immunoassay method has been developed for quantitating ginsenoside Rf (Rf) in crude total Panax ginseng saponins and in rat plasma using high titer mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised against a conjugate of Rf and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The isotype of mAb against Rf was IgG3 with a K chain. The presence of Rf inhibited the binding of the mouse anti-Rf mAb to a Rf-BSA solid phase coating antigen. The working range was 0.01-10 ng/assay and detection limits were 20 pg in various ginseng extract fractions or 34 pg in rat plasma per assay. The anti-Rf mAb cross-reacted with ginsenoside Rg2 by 57.5%, but not with other ginsenosides. However, this anti-Rf mAb did not cross-react with BSA or cellubiose, which is a carbohydrate component of Rf. Using this standard curve, we could measure the amount of Rf in ginseng total extract, ginseng total saponins, protopanaxadiol saponins, and propanaxatriol saponins. We could also measure the amount of Rf in rat plasma after the oral administration of Rf and found that Rf reached a maximum level in rat plasma after 16 h. These results indicate that the anti-Rf mAb could be useful for the quantitation of Rf in crude ginseng fractions and in body fluids.

Administration, Oral↗

Islet cell hyperplasia of the pancreas presenting as hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in an adult.

A 72-year-old man who had suffered several episodes of syncope was diagnosed as having hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Although imaging studies and percutaneous transhepatic portal venous sampling did not reveal the existence of any tumors in the pancreas, distal pancreatectomy was performed because the possibility of a small pancreatic endocrine tumor could not be completely rejected. External examination of the surgically removed pancreas did not reveal any tumors. Microscopically, the pancreas exhibited diffuse islet cell hyperplasia without nesidioblastosis. The patient remains euglycemic and has tolerated 24-hour fasting without any medication for a period of 10 months after the operation.

Aged↗

Protein-protein interaction of FHL2, a LIM domain protein preferentially expressed in human heart, with hCDC47.

In the yeast two-hybrid library screening, the heart-specific FHL2 protein was found to interact with hCDC47. In vitro interaction study between FHL2 protein and hCDC47 was demonstrated. From the results of domain studies by the yeast two-hybrid assay, the second and third LIM domains in conjunction with the first half LIM domain of FHL2 were identified to be important in binding with hCDC47. Besides, in Northern blot hybridization of human cancer cell lines, the highest FHL2 mRNA expression was detected in colorectal adenocarcinoma SW480 and HeLa cell S3. Our results imply that FHL2 protein may associate with cancer development and may act as a molecular adapter to form a multicomplex with hCDC47 in the nucleus, thus it plays an important role in the specification or maintenance of the terminal differentiated phenotype of heart muscle cells.

Base Sequence↗

Core temperature measurement during supine exercise: esophageal, rectal, and intestinal temperatures.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to characterize intestinal temperature (T(in)) in comparison to esophageal (T(es)) and rectal temperature (T(re)) during supine exercise. METHODS: Seven subjects completed a continuous supine protocol of 20 min of rest, 20 min of cycle exercise at 40% peak oxygen consumption (V(O2peak)), 20 min of cycle exercise at 65G% V(O2peak), and 20 min of recovery. T(es), T(re), and T(in) were recorded each min. RESULTS: Temperatures were not different after 20 min of rest, but T(es) and T(in) were greater than T(re) at the end of the 40% (T(es): 37.38 +/- 0.11; T(in): 37.35 +/- 0.06; T(re): 37.20 +/- 0.10 degrees C) and 65% V(O2peak) stages (T(es): 37.83 +/- 0.10; T(in): 37.75 +/- 0.05; T(re): 37.63 +/- 0.08 degrees C). After 20 min of recovery, T(es) (37.24 +/- 0.011 degrees C) was less than either T(re) or T(in), which were not different from each other (T(in): 37.39 +/- 0.09; T(re): 37.44 +/- 0.09 degrees C). Time to threshold for increased temperature from rest (+0.10 degrees C) for T(es) (10.0 +/- 1.1 min) was not different from T(in) (14.0 +/- 1.2 min) but less than T(re) (15.7 +/- 1.6 min). Time to reach peak temperature was less for T(es) (36.6 +/- 1.8 min) than T(in) (40.6 +/- 0.9 min) and T(re) (41.4 +/- 0.5 min). Similarly, time to a decrease in temperature (-0.10 degrees C) after exercise was less for T(es) (3.7 +/- 0.4 min) than T(in) (7.1 +/- 1.5 min) and T(re) (10.6 +/- 1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of T(in) may be an alternative to T(es) to measure T(core) specific time points during exercise with an understanding of the slower response of Tin compared with T(es).

Adult↗

Serum 6-beta-naltrexol levels are related to alcohol responses in heavy drinkers.

BACKGROUND: There is strong evidence for the role of the endogenous opioid system in alcohol reinforcement and consumption; however, recent human laboratory studies and clinical trials have reported mixed effects of naltrexone (a nonselective opioid antagonist) on alcohol-related behaviors. This paper reports a secondary data analysis of a human laboratory study that examines the relationship between serum levels of 6-beta-naltrexol, the major, biologically active metabolite of naltrexone, and subjective effects of alcohol. METHODS: The study used a within-subjects design to examine the effects of naltrexone (0, 50, and 100 mg/day) on subjective responses to alcohol (none, moderate, and high dose) in heavy drinkers (n = 23). Each subject received three doses of naltrexone in random order; each naltrexone dose was administered over an 8 day period on an inpatient unit, with a 1 week outpatient washout between doses. After stabilization at each of the naltrexone doses, subjects participated in three alcohol challenge sessions (none, moderate, and high dose) in random order; thus, each subject participated in a total of nine alcohol administration sessions. RESULTS: Doubling the naltrexone dose (50 vs. 100 mg/day) doubled the mean serum 6-beta-naltrexol levels. At each naltrexone dose, there was a 4-fold range in 6-beta-naltrexol levels across subjects. Before alcohol administration, higher 6-beta-naltrexol levels were associated with higher ratings of sedation. After high-dose alcohol administration, higher 6-beta-naltrexol levels were associated with significantly lower ratings of liking and best effects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide further evidence of the involvement of the opioid system in the modulation of alcohol effects and suggest that serum 6-beta-naltrexol concentrations may be important in predicting therapeutic response to naltrexone.

Adult↗