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Biomedical subjects

W C Chen

Publications and source records attributed to W C Chen.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and krestin on cellular immunocompetence in gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

The effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) and Krestin (PSK) extracts on cellular immunocompetence, leukocyte counts and differential count in gamma-irradiated mice were investigated in this study. ICR strain male mice were used and randomly divided into five groups. Group A is normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with Gl. Group C, the radiation treatment control, was treated with whole body exposure to 4 Gy gamma-irradiation (RT). Group D was treated with RT and Gl. Group E was treated with RT and PSK. The dosage of Gl was 400 mg/day/kg body weight and PSK was 500 mg/day/kg body weight. After irradiation, six mice from each group were sacrificed on day 7 and the other six on day 28. Cellular immunocompetence was measured by means of 3H-thymidine incorporation with splenic cells stimulated through mitogens such as PHA, Con A and LPS. The results revealed that relative splenic weight in Groups D and E were higher than group C on day 28 after gamma-irradiation, Group D was the highest in all the experimental groups. Leukocyte counts were decreased significantly in Groups D and E on day 7, the former was a little higher than the latter. Gl administration showed an increase in the leukocyte count in Group D on day 28. The blastogenic response of splenocytes to PHA and Con A in groups D and E were higher than in Group C on days 7 and 28. We suggested that Gl and PSK were effective in enhancing the recovery of cellular immunocompetence from gamma-ray irradiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and krestin on subset T-cell in spleen of gamma-irradiated mice.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) and Krestin (PSK) extracts on spleen, thymus and splenocytes in gamma-irradiated mice were investigated in this study. ICR strain male mice were divided into five groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with Gl. Group C, the radiation treatment control, was treated with whole body exposure to 4 Gy gamma-irradiation (RT). Group D was treated with RT and Gl. Group E was treated with RT and PSK. The dosage of Gl was 400 mg/day/kg body weight and PSK was 500 mg/day/kg body weight. Our results indicated that the relative thymus weight in groups D and E were higher than group C on day 28 after gamma-irradiation. Group D was the highest in all the experimental groups. CD4 and CD8 splenocytes in group D were higher than group C on days 7 and 28. Gl was better than PSK in repairing the damage of subset T-cells in the spleen of gamma-irradiated mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Blood-brain barrier damage in children with central nervous system infections.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) function in childhood central nervous system (CNS) infections was evaluated, using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and paired serum samples from 30 controls and 74 patients aged from 1 to 15 years with various CNS infections. The 74 patients included 34 cases of aseptic meningitis, 24 of encephalitis and 16 of purulent meningitis. The degree of BBB damage was graded by CSF/serum albumin ratio, and IgG production by IgG index (IgG ratio/albumin ratio of CSF to serum). In the acute stage, patients with purulent meningitis had greater elevation of the albumin ratio than other study groups. The patients with encephalitis, especially chronic encephalitis, had a selectively elevated IgG index compared to other groups. Most patients with aseptic meningitis showed little or no elevation of albumin ratio and IgG index. This study demonstrated the nature of various degrees of BBB damage and intra-BBB IgG production in different infectious CNS diseases in children. BBB damage is most severe in cases of purulent meningitis, while the intrathecal IgG production is greatest in chronic encephalitis. These abnormalities disappear as the inflammatory processes subside.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Role of protein kinase C subtypes alpha and delta in the regulation of bradykinin-stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown in astrocytes.

Cultured astrocytes express bradykinin (BK) receptors coupled to phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis. Short term (10- or 90-min) treatment of cells with 1 microM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) decreased BK-induced PI breakdown, but this inhibitory action was lost after 3-hr TPA treatment. Extended (6- or 24-hr) pretreatment resulted in marked potentiation of the BK response. Western blot analysis using protein kinase C (PKC) isozyme-specific antibodies indicated that astrocytes express PKC-alpha, PKC-delta, and PKC-zeta. With TPA treatment of the cells for various times (10 min, 90 min, 3 hr, 6 hr, or 24 hr), translocation of PKC-alpha and PKC-delta from the cytosol to the membrane was seen after 10- or 90-min treatment and restoration to basal levels in the membrane fraction was seen after 3-hr treatment. However, partial or complete down-regulation of PKC-alpha and PKC-delta was seen after 6- or 24-hr treatment, respectively. No translocation or down-regulation of PKC-zeta was seen after either short term or long term TPA treatment. The inactive phorbol ester alpha-TPA had no effect on BK-induced PI hydrolysis or on the translocation or down-regulation of PKC-alpha and PKC-delta. These results suggest that, in unstimulated astrocytes, both PKC-alpha and PKC-delta, but not PKC-zeta, may exert tonic inhibition of BK-mediated PI turnover. After 10- or 90-min TPA treatment, AIF4(-)--but not Ca2+ ionophore-induced PI hydrolysis was inhibited, whereas [3H]BK binding was unaffected, indicating that the site of action of PKC-alpha and PKC-delta in the BK receptor/G protein/PLC pathway is after the receptor and before PLC, i.e., the G protein. After down-regulation of PKC-alpha and -delta, increases in both AIF4(-)-induced inositol phosphate formation and [3H]BK binding contributed to marked potentiation of BK-induced PI responses. Scatchard plot analysis showed an increase in both the maximal number of binding sites and the binding affinity. Both the up-regulation of [3H]BK binding and the subsequent BK-induced PI turnover were blocked by 0.5 microM cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor. The increase in AIF4(-)-induced PI hydrolysis after 24-hr TPA treatment was also inhibited by cycloheximide, indicating that new synthesis of BK receptors and G proteins was required after down-regulation of PKC-alpha and PKC-delta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Glomus tumors of the upper extremity: experience with twelve cases.

BACKGROUND: The glomus tumor is an uncommon tumor of the hand, which presents with much pain. It is a benign neoplasm composed of a glomus body, which is located in the dermis. Glomus tumors present a classic clinical picture of pain, sensitivity to cold and local tenderness over the lesion. METHODS: Twelve patients underwent surgical removal for glomus tumors of the upper extremity from 1983 to 1992. There were three males and nine females; their average age was 37 years (25 to 60 years). The clinical manifestations were pain and local tenderness in 12 patients, and cold intolerance in 6 patients. RESULTS: There was a difference in gender in the anatomical site of the tumor. In three male patients, only one tumor was found in the digit. In female patients, all nine tumors were located in the digits. The average tumor size was 0.6 cm in diameter. After follow-up of 4.5 years (average), no recurrence, no residual pain or cold intolerance was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of glomus tumor consisted of local excision or curettage, with or without reconstruction of the nail bed. Recurrence is not a problem after complete removal of the tumor tissue. Permanent nail deformity is still a problem. Efforts to prevent this sequelae are worth trying.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Combination chemoimmunotherapy with interferon-alpha and cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a relatively low response rate to systemic chemotherapy. Recently, several investigations have shown that interferon may augment the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic agents and may improve the result of chemotherapy in treating cancers. METHODS: An open-label noncomparative phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of combined chemoimmunotherapy for NSCLC using IFN-alpha, given by intramuscular injection with 9 million units thrice a week for a maximum of 26 weeks, and cisplatin by intravenous infusion, 100 mg/m2, every 4 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles. Ten patients, with histology-confirmed NSCLC at stage IV of their diseases were enrolled. They included 5 men and 5 women, with an average age of 53.7 year. Five of them had adenocarcinoma; the other five had squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: Five patients, including two patients with squamous cell carcinoma and three with adenocarcinoma, obtained a partial response (response rate 50%). The time needed to achieve a sustained response ranged from 5 to 13 weeks with a median of 8 weeks. The response duration ranged from 14 to 37 weeks with a median of 20 weeks. The overall survival time for the ten patients ranged from 2 to 20 months with a median of 8 months. All 10 patients needed dose modifications of IFN-alpha and/or cisplatin because of myelosuppression and/or impaired renal function. Other frequently encountered side effects included gastrointestinal disturbances and a flu-like syndrome, but these were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results indicate that chemoimmunotherapy with IFN-alpha and cisplatin can be an effective alternative therapy for patients with advanced NSCLC, but there are significant side effects.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

The role of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the diagnosis of infected hydronephrosis and pyonephrosis.

Serum C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were prospectively evaluated in 38 patients with dilated pyelocaliceal systems in an attempt to distinguish simple hydronephrosis from infected hydronephrosis and pyonephrosis. The clinical presentations of infected hydronephrosis and pyonephrosis were extremely variable, ranging from no constitutional complaints to urosepsis. Renal sonography detected only 6 of 16 patients with pyonephrosis (specificity 96%, sensitivity 38%, accuracy 72.5%). Using a cutoff value of 3.0 mg./dl. for C-reactive protein and 100 mm. per hour for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the diagnostic accuracy of detecting infected hydronephrosis and pyonephrosis increased to 97%, with a specificity of 89% and sensitivity of 100%. Based on our experience, we believe that the serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels can be used as screening tests to distinguish pyonephrosis and infected hydronephrosis from simple, uncomplicated hydronephrosis.

Blood Sedimentation↗
PubMed1994

[Longitudinal surveillance of chloroquine resistance of Plasmodium falciparum after cessation of medication in south Yunnan].

The resistance of P. falciparum to chloroquine was assayed by in vitro microtest in 1981 and after cessation of medication in 1984, 1988-1990 and 1992 in south Yunnan Province of China. The resistance rates were 97.4% (38/39), 100% (25/25), 96.1% (73/76) and 93.7% (59/63), respectively; ID50 were 170, 132, 125 and 110 nmol/L; ID95 were 1,000, 740, 707 and 576 nmol/L; mean dosages for complete inhibition of schizont formation were 55.4, 46.7, 45.8 and 35.4 (pmol/well). A comparison of the results in 1981, 1984, 1988-1990 and 1992, the resistance rate showed no marked change, ID50 dropped 22.3% (P < 0.05), 26.4% (P < 0.05) and 35.3% (P < 0.01); ID95 declined 26.0% (P < 0.05), 29.3% (P < 0.05) and 42.2% (P < 0.01); mean dosage of inhibition dropped 15.7% (P > 0.05), 17.3% (P < 0.05) and 36.1% (P < 0.01). The results show that the extent of resistance in chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum to chloroquine in south Yunnan has been declined markedly, indicating that coresistance was variable and dropped along with the declining of drug pressure.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Percutaneous nephroscopy in the diagnosis of renal pelvic filling defect: a report of two cases.

The major differential diagnosis of a radiolucent filling defect within the renal pelvis is among tumor, blood clot and radiolucent stone. In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish tumor from other benign lesions by imaging study. Two patients with renal pelvic filling defect were diagnosed by percutaneous nephroscopy, using the 27 Fr. rigid nephroscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). Both patients got conclusive diagnosis by percutaneous nephroscopy; the morbidity was extremely minimal. The diagnostic percutaneous nephroscopy was a safe and effective procedure with minimal morbidity. For those patients without a conclusive diagnosis in noninvasive procedures, the percutaneous nephroscopy could be an alternative for flexible ureteroscopy, especially for the extremely tortuous ureters.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Experience using extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy to treat urinary calculi in problem kidneys.

Seventeen patients with urolithiasis in problem kidneys which comprised horseshoe kidneys, medullary sponge kidneys (MSKs), polycystic kidneys and duplex kidneys presented to our hospital and were evaluated for treatment with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). A total of 21 renal units were treated with ESWL. Auxiliary procedures included preoperative retrograde ureteral catheterization (1 horseshoe kidney) placement of a retrograde double-J catheter stent (1 MSK), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL; 2 MSKs) and postoperative PCNL (1 MSK). The outcome showed that 5 renal units (23.8%) were stone free, 15 renal units (71.4%) had a decreased stone load with residual stone and improved symptoms, and 1 renal unit (4.8%) had residual stone with persistent symptoms. We conclude that ESWL can be used as a primary management tool for calculi in problem kidneys.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of radiotherapy and surgical results of early stage glottic cancer: a retrospective analysis.

From March 1977 to October 1989, 85 patients with early stage glottic cancer were treated with either radiotherapy or surgery at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH). Patients were excluded from the analysis of local control if they died or remained disease-free with a follow-up period of less than two years. Of the 26 patients treated with definitive radiotherapy, initial control of the primary lesions was achieved in 100% of stage T1s, 76% of T1, and 57% of T2 patients. Surgical salvage of radiation failure was achieved in 83% of the patients, giving the ultimate local control of 100% for T1s, 94% for T1, 86% for T2 patients. Of the 44 patients treated with definitive surgery, initial control of the primary lesions was achieved in 100% for T1s, 95% for T1, and 78% for T2 patients. Salvage of the surgical failure was 50%, giving the ultimate control in this group of 100% for T1s, 95% for T1, 83% for T2. There was no difference in either initial or ultimate control of T1 and T2 lesions between patients treated with primary radiotherapy and primary surgery. Voice preservation rates were 73% and 34% in the radiotherapy and surgery group, respectively. When divided into two groups according to the times they were being treated, we found that surgery preserved a comparable number of larynges as radiotherapy did after 1988 (60% vs 77%, p = 0.33). It is concluded that radiotherapy and surgery could achieve the same good local control results and long-term survival and comparable functional results of early stage glottic cancer, if conservative surgery is carefully selected for each patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Improving the curative effect of chemotherapy on gynecological malignant tumor by catheterization of internal iliac artery].

Seventeen cases of gynecological malignant tumor received 27 infusion chemotherapy by selective catheterization via internal iliac artery. Among them, 14 cases (82.4%) were cancer of advanced stage. All of the cases were followed up. 77.8% of cases showed short-term good response. The intermittent mean duration without tumor growth was 12.5 months. The determination of platinum confirmed that the vascular embolism chemotherapy of tumor is one of the best approaches for pelvic tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula in the adult: a case report.

The case of a 50-year-old woman with congenital bronchoesophageal fistula is presented. The patient had symptoms of hemoptysis provoked by ingestion of liquids for 2 years. A barium swallow examination showed a bronchoesophageal fistula communicating between the middle third of the esophagus and right intermediate bronchus. An orifice of the fistula at the esophagus was revealed by esophagoscopy. The clinical and operative features and diagnosis of congenital origin are discussed.

Bronchial Fistula↗
PubMed1991

Cell-cell contacts mediated by E-cadherin (uvomorulin) restrict invasive behavior of L-cells.

L-cells were cotransfected with plasmids coding for mouse E-cadherin (uvomorulin) and the neophosphotransferase gene, and stable transfectants expressing E-cadherin at the cell surface were selected and cloned. Control transfection was done with the neophosphotransferase gene alone. The invasive migration of transfected and untransfected L-cells into three-dimensional collagen gels was then analyzed. L-cells not expressing E-cadherin migrated efficiently into the gels, whereas invasion of the E-cadherin-expressing L-cells was restricted in a cell density dependent manner. At sparse density, when the cells exhibited little cell-cell contacts, no difference was observed between the level of invasion of the cadherin-expressing cells and the control cells. However, with increasing cell density, decreasing amounts of the cadherin-expressing cells but increasing amounts of the control cells migrated into the gels. At confluent density hardly any cadherin-expressing cells were able to migrate into the gels. The inhibition of the invasion of the cadherin-expressing cells could be reverted if confluent cells were cultured in the presence of monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin. Since the expression of E-cadherin did not influence the invasive mobility of single cells, these results indicate that E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell contacts inhibited invasive cellular migration. Time-lapse videoscopy and studies of cell migration from a monolayer into a cell-free area demonstrated that the restricted invasion could be explained by contact inhibition of cell movement of the cadherin-expressing cells.

Animals↗