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Biomedical subjects

W Tong

Publications and source records attributed to W Tong.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Effect of atmosphere on phase transformation in plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings during heat treatment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of atmosphere on the phase transformation in hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings during heat treatment by varying the atmosphere in the furnace pipe. Heat treatment always increased the crystallinity of HA coatings regardless of the kind of atmosphere. Water molecules in atmosphere further promoted HA recrystallization during heat treatment. In a dry atmosphere, tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) were more stable than HA, so heat treatment could not convert them into HA. However, in a humid atmosphere, heat treatment would transform TCP and TTCP into HA by hydrolytic reactions.

Atmosphere↗
PubMed1997

Effect of water vapor pressure and temperature on the amorphous-to-crystalline HA conversion during heat treatment of HA coatings.

X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the increment of crystallinity of HA coatings after heat treatment. Coatings were heated over the temperature (T) interval of 300 degrees-460 degrees C with a partial water vapor pressure of 0.01 MPa and 0.001 MPa. Heat treatment also was done in air, as a contrast. It was found that the ratio (n) of the increment of crystallinity to the crystallinity of the as-received HA coatings was more significant for the coatings heated in atmosphere with water vapor than for those heated in air. This ratio also increased with water vapor pressure. The logarithm of the ratio increased linearly with 1/T, indicating that the ratio is exponential to T. The reason might be that recrystallization of the amorphous phase is a diffusion controlled process; the nucleation rate and growth velocity of the crystallites are in proportion to the diffusion coefficient, which is exponential to the temperature (T). Incorporation of water vapor in the atmosphere during heat treatment may decrease the activation energy for diffusion, which helps raise the diffusion coefficient of the atoms. Thus recrystallization of the amorphous phase can be accelerated.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of hydroxyapatite film with mixed interface by Ar+ ion beam enhanced deposition.

Ar+ ion beam enhanced deposition (IBED) was used to produce a hydroxyapatite (HA) film on polished titanium substrates. In this study, the HA ceramic target was sputtered by an argon-ion beam with an energy of 1.5 KeV, and the sputtered film was intermittently bombarded by energetic argon-ions at 60 KeV. An effective Ca-Ti mixed layer produced by the energetic argon-ion bombardment was confirmed by using Auger electron spectroscopy. The characteristics of the deposited films were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. XRD analysis revealed that the as-deposited film was amorphous, and a hydroxyapatite-type structure was obtained from the post-heat treatment of the deposited films. SEM observations showed that no distinct difference in surface morphology was found between the as-deposited and heat-treated samples for Ar+ IBED films, suggesting a strongly bonded HA film on the titanium substrate. In comparison with the HA target, some chemistry alterations were brought about in the deposited films, such as the incorporation of CO3, the loss of the OH groups and some distortion of the phosphate lattice.

Argon↗
PubMed1997

Osteogenic responses to extraskeletally implanted synthetic porous calcium phosphate ceramics: an early stage histomorphological study in dogs.

In this experiment, synthetic porous calcium phosphate ceramics (hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate) were prepared and implanted in dorsal muscles of dogs. The purpose was to study the biological processes prior to and during the morphogenesis of bone in extraskeletally implanted porous calcium phosphate ceramics. Specimens were harvested after implantation for 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 days. Decalcified and undecalcified sections were prepared for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) histochemical localization and comparative histological analysis. The results show that bone morphogenesis in the pore regions of the extraskeletally implanted ceramics follows a complex process involving clot formation, vascular invasion, granulation-like tissue formation, polymorphic cell aggregation, osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. The characteristic feature preceding bone formation was polymorphic cell aggregation on the pore inner surface and near the invading capillaries or small venules. These cells were of various sizes and shapes, and some of them were positive for ALP activity. ALP-positive cell aggregates were more numerous where capillaries or venules were close to the pore inner surface. Osteoblast differentiation occurred within the cell clusters aggregated on the pore inner surface and bone matrix was secreted in direct contact with the ceramics. During bone formation, capillaries or small venules were always found close to the developing fronts of the osseous nidi. It is suggested that those cells which first appeared near the invading vasculature, the cells which aggregated on the pore inner surface and those cells which finally differentiated into osteoblasts may be interrelated in some way.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Increased methotrexate polyglutamylation in acute megakaryocytic leukemia (M7) compared to other subtypes of acute myelocytic leukemia.

Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is a malignancy that is intrinsically resistant to methotrexate (MTX). AML blasts, when incubated with radiolabeled MTX, form lower amounts of long chain polyglutamates compared to acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) blasts, thus providing an explanation for their lack of responsiveness to MTX. Leukemic blasts obtained from two children with acute megakaryocytic leukemia (M7 subtype) when incubated with radiolabeled MTX showed increased accumulation of total as well as long chain MTX polyglutamates, comparable to levels previously demonstrated in another subtype of AML, acute monocytic leukemia (M5), as well as in blasts from patients with pre-B ALL. We suggest that M7-AML patients with blasts showing increased MTX polyglutamylation might benefit from treatment with MTX.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Phase I and pharmacologic study of paclitaxel administered weekly in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: Paclitaxel has shown significant activity in advanced ovarian cancer. In vitro studies with paclitaxel have suggested that fractionated brief infusion schedules may be more effective than the standard 24-hour infusion. We commenced a phase I evaluation of escalating-dose paclitaxel (40, 50, 60, 80, 100 mg/m2) administered weekly as a 1-hour infusion in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. All patients had received prior paclitaxel and cisplatin therapy. All patients received standard premedication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients are assessable on this phase I study. The mean age was 54 years (range, 48 to 74). The median number of prior chemotherapy regimens was three (range, two to five). The mean paclitaxel-free interval was 10.1 months (range, 1 to 24). RESULTS: A total of 194 cycles of therapy were administered, with a mean of 10 (range, one to 12) per patient. No mucositis or grade III neuropathy was seen. Alopecia occurred in one out of 18 assessable patients. The mean neutrophil nadir was 4.0 x 10(9)/L. At the top dose level (100 mg/m2) delivered, dose-intensity was 90.75% of that planned and greater than two fold the standard dose-intensity. Partial responses were seen in four of 13 assessable patients (30%). Two patients with progression of disease on standard three-week paclitaxel schedules switched to a weekly schedule with demonstrated response. Increasing paclitaxel dose correlated with measured area under the curve (AUC) (R2 = .614). Dose-limiting toxicity was reached at 100 mg/m2 with two of three patients experiencing a treatment delay, thus defining a maximum-tolerated dose of 80 mg/m2 in this group of heavily pretreated patients on this weekly schedule. CONCLUSION: (1) Paclitaxel administered as a 1-hour infusion is well tolerated; (2) this schedule of administration does not result in cumulative myelosuppression; and (3) this schedule of administration results in dose-intensive paclitaxel delivery with a favorable toxicity profile.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1997

QSAR models for binding of estrogenic compounds to estrogen receptor alpha and beta subtypes.

We have developed Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) models based on Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) for 31 estrogenic chemicals whose relative binding affinity (RBA) is available for both ER-alpha and ER-beta. The models demonstrated a significant correlation (r2>0.95) between the CoMFA-calculated steric/electrostatic fields and corresponding RBA data and a good predictive capability (q2>0.6) based on cross-validation. The CoMFA models and contour plots obtained for ER-alpha and ER-beta suggest a close similarity between the receptors in terms of mode of binding and provide a rational basis for ligand selectivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) for estrogen binding to the estrogen receptor: predictions across species.

The recognition of adverse effects due to environmental endocrine disruptors in humans and wildlife has focused attention on the need for predictive tools to select the most likely estrogenic chemicals from a very large number of chemicals for subsequent screening and/or testing for potential environmental toxicity. A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was constructed based on relative binding affinity (RBA) data from an estrogen receptor (ER) binding assay using calf uterine cytosol. The model demonstrated significant correlation of the calculated steric and electrostatic fields with RBA and yielded predictions that agreed well with experimental values over the entire range of RBA values. Analysis of the CoMFA three-dimensional contour plots revealed a consistent picture of the structural features that are largely responsible for the observed variations in RBA. Importantly, we established a correlation between the predicted RBA values for calf ER and their actual RBA values for human ER. These findings suggest a means to begin to construct a more comprehensive estrogen knowledge base by combining RBA assay data from multiple species in 3D-QSAR based predictive models, which could then be used to screen untested chemicals for their potential to bind to the ER. Another QSAR model was developed based on classical physicochemical descriptors generated using the CODESSA (Comprehensive Descriptors for Structural and Statistical Analysis) program. The predictive ability of the CoMFA model was superior to the corresponding CODESSA model.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1997

[Improvement of the assay for pre-S2 Ag/Ab detection and its application in different patients].

A new ELISA inhibition test for measuring serum Pre-S2Ab was developed to avoid the "double positive" phenomenon. One hundred and twenty samples with Pre-S2Ab negative were detected for Pre-S2Ab, the critical range for Pre-S2Ab in normal population was confirmed: a positive result was decided while the inhibition ration was over 50%, a negative result was decided while the inhibition ratio was less than 34%, and a dubious result was decided while the ratio was over 34% but less then 50%. At the same time, serum samples from sixty patients with chronic hepatitis B were detected for Pre-S2Ag and Pre-S2Ab, it showed that (1) the positive ratio of HBV DNA in patients with Pre-S2Ag positive was much higher than in patients with Pre-S2Ag negative (P < 0.01); (2) to the 46 patients with HBV DNA positive, Pre-S2Ag had a better relationship with HBV DNA than the HBeAg/Ab did (P < 0.01). Furthermore, to patients with acute hepatitis B, the presence of Pre-S2Ab was closely related to the prognosis of the disease, and the Pre-S2Ab assay could also be used to evaluate the preventive effect of HB vaccine containing Pre-S2Ag.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1997

Dose-dense therapy with paclitaxel via weekly 1-hour infusion: preliminary experience in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

In an ongoing effort to establish the most appropriate dose and administration schedule for paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ), the feasibility and safety of weekly 1-hour infusions were evaluated in 16 women with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with at least one chemotherapy regimen. Paclitaxel was administered on an outpatient basis at a starting dose of 100 mg/m2/wk for 4 consecutive weeks, with 4-week cycles continued until disease progression or the onset of intolerable toxicity. With 215 weekly infusions administered so far (median, 13 per patient), no episodes of febrile neutropenia have occurred, and no hematopoietic growth factors have been used. Plans for dose escalation were abandoned after grade 3 sensorimotor neuropathy developed in five of nine patients treated at paclitaxel 110 to 120 mg/m2. With dose escalation eliminated, further severe neurotoxicities were rare, but some degree of cumulative peripheral neuropathy was noted in all but three patients. No acute hypersensitivity reactions were noted. To date, six of 15 evaluable patients have achieved a major response to therapy, with one complete response and five partial responses. Four other patients had a minor response to therapy, one patient had an early death due to autopsy-proven extensive pulmonary microvascular carcinomatosis, and five patients have stable disease. Although the potential neurotoxicity of this regimen merits attention, the overall profile of a high therapeutic index, manageable toxicity, and convenient administration schedule makes this an attractive treatment alternative for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Autoantibodies and anti-interferon antibody in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and its clinical significance: a preliminary investigation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the antoantibodies and anti-interferon antibody in chronic viral hepatitis patients treated with interferon and the relation of the antibodies to the curative effect of interferon. METHODS: Forty chronic viral hepatitis patients (twenty cases for hepatitis B; twenty patients for hepatitis C) were studied. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to measure the autoantibodies. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to measure the anti-interferon total antibody. RESULTS: Compared with normal groups, the autoantibodies in patients increased significantly (P < 0.01), and the anti-interferon antibody in chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients had an obvious difference (P < 0.05). As for the curative effect, the presence or absence of autoantibodies did not have a distinct significance in patients treated with alpha-interferon, but the patients with anti-interferon antibody before or after therapy might have a different response to alpha-interferon. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that the presence of autoantibodies was not a contraindication to the use of interferon in patients with chronic viral hepatitis; the clinical significance of anti-interferon antibody should be further studied.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1996

Determination of insulin in single pancreatic cells by capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced native fluorescence.

Development of a method for the determination of insulin based on capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced native fluorescence detection is described. Under optimal conditions, insulin as low as 73 amol can be detected with a good signal-to-noise ratio (S/N = 10 peak-to-peak). Application of this method for the determination of insulin content in single cells from the insulin-secreting cell lines RINm5F and beta TC3 is demonstrated. Non-bonded poly(ethylene oxide)-coated and bare capillaries are evaluated for this purpose, with the latter found to be more suitable for single-cell analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Use of moment of inertia in comparative molecular field analysis to model chromatographic retention of nonpolar solutes.

A quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) was developed from chromatographic data on 31 unsubstituted 3-6 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using the 3D-QSAR method known as comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). The resulting CoMFA model gave an excellent correlation to high-performance liquid chromatography retention data for these PAHs yielding r2 values of 0.947 (conventional) and 0.865 (cross-validated). The steric and electrostatic contributions to the CoMFA model were 100% and 0%, respectively. A unique feature of this study was the use of moment of inertia, I, as a basis for CoMFA alignment of the PAH molecules. The moment of inertia also provided an alternative method for calculating the solute length-to-breadth ratio (L/B), which has been applied in previous QSRR studies as a molecular descriptor for PAH retention. By virtue of its mathematical simplicity and lack of ambiguity, the present derivation of L/B from I offers several advantages over other geometry-based schemes. Finally, Ix was evaluated for use as a molecular descriptor in QSRR regression analysis to predict the log of the retention index (log I) for these PAHs. The correlation with PAH retention was weak when the moment of inertia was considered alone but improved dramatically (r2 = 0.928) when the moment of inertia and connectivity index chi were used in combination as descriptors.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1996

A comparative molecular field analysis study of N-benzylpiperidines as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

A series of 1-benzyl-4-[2-(N-benzoylamino)ethyl]piperidine derivatives and of N-benzylpiperidine benzisoxazoles has been investigated using the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) approach. These compounds have been found to inhibit the metabolic breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and hence alleviate memory deficits in patients with Alzheimer's Disease by potentiating cholinergic transmission. Development of the CoMFA model considered two separate alignments: (i) alignment I which emphasized the electrostatic fitting of the subject compounds and (ii) alignment II which emphasized their steric fitting. In addition, the inhibitor compounds were considered both as neutral species and as N-piperidine-protonated species. The resulting 3D-QSAR indicates a strong correlation between the inhibitory activity of these N-benzylpiperidines and the steric and electronic factors which modulate their biochemical activity. A CoMFA model with considerable predictive ability was obtained.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1996

Osteogenesis in extraskeletally implanted porous calcium phosphate ceramics: variability among different kinds of animals.

Synthetic porous calcium phosphate ceramics (HA/TCP) were implanted intramuscularly and subcutaneously in dogs, pigs, goats, rabbits and rats, designed to make a comparative study of the host tissue responses to porous HA/TCP ceramics in different kinds of animals. Specimens were harvested at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 days after implantation. Decalcified and undecalcified sections were made and examined by light microscopy. Obvious bone formation could be detected in some specimens harvested from dogs and pigs after 45 days intramuscular implantation or after 60 days subcutaneous implantation. At days 90 and 120, an extensive amount of bone formed in all specimens implanted in dogs and pigs. However, no histologically detectable bone formation was observed in any specimen implanted intramuscularly and subcutaneously in goats, rabbits and rats until 120 days. It is demonstrated from this finding that the synthetic porous calcium phosphate ceramics are capable of inducing osteogenesis when implanted in non-bony sites, but this ability varies between different kinds of animals. Earlier periods of observation in specimens harvested from dogs showed that bone differentiation in the pore regions of the ceramics follows a complex process involving invasion of the fibrovascular connective tissues at day 15, appearance of polymorphic mesenchymal cells near the invading vasculature and at the interface with the ceramics at day 30, differentiation of osteoblasts and formation of bone matrix in direct contact with the surface of the ceramics at day 45, and finally remodelling of the fibrous connective tissue into an extensive amount of bone at days 60, 90 and 120.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effect of particle size on molten states of starting powder and degradation of the relevant plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings.

Crystallinity of hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings is an important parameter to evaluate their stability. Variation of the size distribution of the starting powder is one way to alter crystallinity of coatings. The fundamental reason might be the variation of molten states of HA powders with different particle sizes. In the experiments, HA particles sized between 1 and 180 microns were divided into six groups by sieving. It was observed that the trend of crystallinity of coatings on particle size is not linear but fluctuates. The fluctuation of crystallinity was caused by the alteration of molten states of HA powders with different size distributions. It is concluded that the molten state of starting powder also fluctuated with particle size but the trend was different from that of crystallinity. Coatings sprayed with different particle sizes were immersed in deionized water for 1 month. After immersion, severe degradation and break-up were observed on the surface of coatings with the highest crystallinity, which were sprayed with large sized HA powders. It may be the high porosities in these coatings that cause the severe degradation. This shows that high crystallinity is not necessarily related to high stability of coatings and microstructure is of great importance when stability of coatings is considered.

Biocompatible Materials↗