Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W C Lee

Publications and source records attributed to W C Lee.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Hepatectomy for hepatitis B-, hepatitis C-, and dual hepatitis B- and C-related hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan.

To evaluate the surgical results of patients with hepatitis B-, hepatitis C- and dual hepatitis B- and C-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we reviewed the clinical records 252 patients (196 men and 56 women) with complete profiles of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection who had hepatectomies to treat HCC from March, 1992, to August, 1998. The patients were divided into four groups, 30 patients (11.9%) without either hepatitis B surface antigen or anti-hepatitis C antibody (N-HCC group), 133 patients (52.8%) with hepatitis B infection only (B-HCC group), 66 patients (26.2%) with hepatitis C infection only (C-HCC group), and 23 patients (9.1%) with dual hepatitis B and C infection (BC-HCC group). Compared with the patients in the other groups, the patients in the C-HCC group were older and had more severe cirrhotic change of the liver. The surgical complication rates and hospital mortalities in the C-HCC and BC-HCC groups were 30.3% and 12.1% and 30.4% and 17.4%, respectively, which were higher than those in the N-HCC (13.3%, 3.3%) and B-HCC (15.8%, 3.8%) groups. The mean disease-free survivals for the N-HCC, B-HCC, C-HCC, and BC-HCC groups were 31.4, 25.4, 38.9 and 13.8 months, respectively, with the difference between the four groups being significant (P < 0.05). However, the mean overall survival times, 38.3 months for the N-HCC group, 37.2 months for the B-HCC group, 52.1 months for the C-HCC group, and 32.7 months for the BC-HCC group, were not significantly different (P = 0.146). In conclusion, surgical treatments for HCC related to hepatitis C or dual hepatitis B and C infection were associated with a higher surgical complication rate and hospital mortality. Hepatocellular carcinoma related to dual hepatitis B and C infection recurred earlier after hepatectomy, but the overall survival of the four groups was not significantly different.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Muscle regulatory factor gene: zebrafish (Danio rerio) myogenin cDNA.

Myogenin is one of the basic helix-loop-helix proteins that regulate muscle-specific gene expression. Using reverse transciption-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), zebrafish myogenin cDNA was cloned from mRNA of embryos at 10-96 h post-fertilization. The cDNA, at 1384 base pairs (bp), contained a 771-bp open reading frame with 113- and 500-bp flanking regions at the 5'- and 3'-ends, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of zebrafish myogenin encoded a 256-amino-acid polypeptide. In a comparison with myogenin of carp, trout, Xenopus, chicken and human, zebrafish myogenin shared 90.9, 77.6, 70.3, 62.9 and 51.5% amino acid identity, respectively. The basic helix-loop-helix domains in myogenin are all conserved. The molecular phylogenic tree demonstrated that myogenin of zebrafish is more closely related to that of fish than to the myogenin of other vertebrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Multicenter study of the treatment of erectile dysfunction with transurethral alprostadil (MUSE) in Korea.

A Korean multicenter study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of transurethral alprostadil with MUSE in 334 subjects with chronic erectile dysfunction (ED) who were enrolled in 21 clinical centers. Patients with psychogenic impotence comprised about 30% of subjects. Intraurethral alprostadil was titrated in a stepwise fashion in the clinics from 250 to 500 or 1000 mcg based on erectile response and tolerability. The erectile responses were evaluated using an erection assessment scale (score of 1-5). The dose that produced a maximal penile response of score 5 (full rigid erection) or 4 (full tumescence, partial rigidity) was selected for home treatment. Patients who showed partial erection (score of 3) with 1000 mcg were also included in the home-treatment group. In-clinic phase: 198 men (59.3%) had maximal penile responses of score 4 or 5. The rate of maximal responses was not related to patient age, etiology or duration of the ED. A total of 228 (68.3%) men progressed to home treatment. The overall level of comfort of the transurethral alprostadil was rated as uncomfortable or very uncomfortable in 12%. Home phase: During the two-month period of home treatment, 178 (78.1%) men had successful sexual intercourse at least once, and 78.2% of administrations (1976) resulted in successful intercourse. The main causes of drop-out were insufficient erectile response in 27 men (11.8%), adverse reactions (mostly penile or urethral pain) in 7 (3.1%) or both in 7 (3.1%). In conclusion, transurethral alprostadil could be a suitable treatment option for patients with ED regardless of age and etiology of ED. Efficacy in an Asian population (Korea) is comparable to that reported previously in Caucasians.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A bioelectrode for penicillin detection based on gluten-membrane-entrapped microbial cells.

A bioelectrode for penicillin detection was established using gluten membrane in which cells of Escherichia coli harbouring the plasmid pUC18 coding for penicillinase synthesis were entrapped. For the entrapment preparation, lyophilized cells were mixed with gluten solution during the formation of gel, and the resultant gel was hardened by the addition of oxidized starch. The immobilization procedure employed an inexpensive base material and avoided the use of purified enzyme. When the membrane with a thickness of 30 microm and a cell content of 33% (w/w) was used, the steady response of the bioelectrode to increasing concentrations of penicillin G buffered with 0.025 M phosphate was linear over the range of 1-16 mM. The response time was less than 3 min. Decreasing the cell content decreased the steady response due to a decline in enzymic activity. The treatment of lyophilized cells with ultrasonication or chemically with either N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide or guanidine hydrochloride rendered cells permeabilized and exposed the periplasmic enzyme to penicillin. The response time became shorter, but a serious decline in steady responses was observed because of the loss of enzyme activity during the cell permeabilization. The microbial electrode also showed different responses to penicillin G solution, depending on the pH and buffer concentration.

Buffers↗
PubMed2000

Late diagnosis of Kawasaki disease is associated with haptoglobin phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness characterized by multiple clinical and biochemical features of inflammation and the most common complications of coronary artery abnormality (CAA). Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute-phase protein whose phenotype is known to be involved in coronary artery diseases. In this paper, we report the investigation of the association of Hp phenotype with the formation of CAA in KD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed KD were admitted. Sera were taken before therapy of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) plus aspirin, and levels of serum proteins were measured by a rate immunonephelometer. The echocardiographic criteria for coronary artery abnormality were evaluated during acute or subacute stages. Hp phenotyping was performed by Western immunoblotting. RESULTS: Duration of fever at diagnosis of KD was significantly different between patients with Hp 2-2 (6.4 +/- 1.2 days, n = 25) and with Hp1 allele (Hp 2-1 plus Hp 1-1; 8.8 +/- 3.5 days, n = 22). In contrast, serum levels of Hp between KD patients with Hp2-2 and with Hp1 allele (297 +/- 121 mg dL-1 vs. 330 +/- 101 mg dL-1, respectively) was not significantly different. On the other hand, no patients with Hp 2-2 (0/25) were recognized as having KD in subacute stage. However, 5 out of 20 patients with Hp 2-1 were recognized in subacute stage, and their incidence of CAA was 80.0% (4/5). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Hp 2-1 have patterns of delayed or incomplete presentation of clinical symptoms. Therefore, the late diagnosis of KD is associated with haptoglobin phenotype.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Contrasting effects of myeloid dendritic cells transduced with an adenoviral vector encoding interleukin-10 on organ allograft and tumour rejection.

Mouse bone marrow-derived myeloid dendritic cells (DC) propagated in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) (so-called 'TGF-beta DC') are phenotypically immature, and prolong allograft survival. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been shown to inhibit the maturation of DC by down-regulating surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, co-stimulatory and adhesion molecule expression. Genetic engineering of TGF-beta DC to overexpress IL-10 might enhance their tolerogenic potential. In this study, adenoviral (Ad) vectors encoding the mouse IL-10 gene were transduced into B10 (H2b) TGF-beta DC. Transduction with Ad-IL-10 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 50-100 resulted in a modest reduction in the incidence of DC expressing surface MHC class II, CD40, CD80 and CD86. Paradoxically, Ad-IL-10 transduction enhanced the allostimulatory activity of DC in mixed leucocyte reactions and cytotoxic T lymphocyte assays, and increased their natural killer cell stimulatory activity. Systemic injection of normal C3H recipients with Ad-IL-10-transduced B10-DC 7 days before organ transplantation, exacerbated heart graft rejection and augmented circulating anti-donor alloantibody titres. Contrasting effects were observed in relation to tumour growth. All mice preimmunized with Ad-IL-10-transduced, tumour antigen (B16F10)-pulsed DC developed palpable tumours, associated with significant inhibition of splenic anti-tumour cytotoxic T lymphocyte generation. Animals pretreated with control Ad-LacZ-transduced, B16F10-pulsed DC however, remained tumour free. These findings are consistent with the multifunctional immunomodulatory properties of mammalian IL-10.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed2000

New guidelines for endoscopic localization of the anterior ethmoidal artery: a cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine objective data to improve the methods of identification of the anterior ethmoidal artery during endoscopic dissection. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric dissection of adult human heads. METHODS: A 0 degrees, 4-mm rigid endoscope was used to guide uncinectomy and frontoethmoidectomy. The location of the anterior ethmoidal artery was first determined visually and then confirmed by passing a needle through the anterior ethmoidal foramen from the orbit into the nose in all cases. The distances were endoscopically measured using a simple ruler between two nasal landmarks and the anterior ethmoidal artery. RESULTS: Fifty-six nasal fossae in 28 cadavers were dissected endoscopically. The median distance between the artery and the "axilla" formed by the anterior attachment of the middle turbinate to the lateral nasal wall was 20 mm (range, 17-25 mm), irrespective of the side. The measurement differed by less than 2 mm between the sides in the same individual. The median distance between the artery and the "axilla" formed by the medial and lateral crura of the lower lateral cartilage (superomedial edge of the nostril) was 62 mm (range, 55-75 mm) for both sides. The artery was found to be in direct alignment with the two "axillae" formed by the middle turbinate and the nostril edge. CONCLUSIONS: The distance between the ethmoidal artery and the axilla of the middle turbinate showed the least intraindividual and interindividual variations. The tip of the endoscope (or the ruler) points directly at the anterior ethmoidal artery in the fovea ethmoidalis when its edge is aligned with the two nasal landmarks. These simple guidelines can aid the identification of the artery in endoscopic frontoethmoidectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy for impacted ureteral stones.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and endourological procedures have greatly diminished the need for open ureterolithotomy, invasive open surgery is still necessary in some cases of obstinate ureteral stones when less invasive methods fail. Since Wickham first performed a retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy in 1979, procedures which are less invasive than open ureterolithotomy have been available in some selected cases. METHODS: In 1997, retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy was performed in 5 patients with ureteral stones, in whom treatment with other minimally invasive procedures had failed. Using Gaur's technique of balloon dissection of the retroperitoneal space, retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy was successfully performed in all cases. RESULTS: All the patients were treated successfully with the retroperitoneoscopic maneuver. The average operating time was 125 (90 to 175) minutes, and the average blood loss was 75 (20 to 200) ml. No patient required an analgesic injection postoperatively. The average postoperative hospital stay was 5.5 (4 to 8) days, and there were no immediate operative complications in any case. Patients were followed an average of 18.5 (13 to 24) months. A ureteral stricture developed in one patient and was resolved by ureteroureterostomy 3 months after the first operation. CONCLUSION: As an impacted ureteral stone is always associated with chronic ureteritis, firmness and adhesion of the periureteral tissue make the retroperitoneoscopic procedure difficult. In one case, a late complication of ureteral stricture may have been due to pre-existing severe chronic inflammation. Based on our limited experience, retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy provides a practical alternative for the management of ureteral stones in selected patients. An expert clinician with experience in this procedure will provide the best results.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver mimicking a malignancy: case report.

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a rare lesion of the liver that can be clinically indistinguishable from a malignant tumor. A 51-year-old woman was hospitalized for upper abdominal pain and a weight loss of 5 Kg in 2 months. Radiological examination showed a large heterogenous hypervascular mass in the left lobe of her liver, strongly in favor of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy revealed the typical characteristics of IPT, which consist of plump spindle cells with dense inflammatory cell infiltration. A left lobectomy was performed. No microorganisms were found on stained sections. The markedly elevated eosinophil count reverted to normal postoperatively and she remained well on follow-up examination 8 months after discharge. This case exemplifies the difficulty in radiological diagnosis of hepatic IPT and underscores the importance of its histological differentiation from malignancy before laparotomy.

Female↗