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Biomedical subjects

W Y Lui

Publications and source records attributed to W Y Lui.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Sex hormone receptors in gastric cancer.

Gastric adenocarcinoma that originates from mucosal tissue invades submucosa, muscle, and serosa in different stages. The level of progesterone receptors (PgR), estrogen receptors (ER), and androgen receptors (AdR) in the superficial part of gastric cancer tissues (CAs) from 16 patients was determined and compared with that of the corresponding normal gastric mucosal tissues (NLm). There were PgR in all CAs (100%) with values that ranged from 20.5 to 548.4 fmol/mg protein. Eight CAs (50%) had ER values that ranged from 6.8 to 325.1 fmol/mg protein. AdR was found in two CAs with values of 14.7 and 16.4 fmol/mg protein. In NLm, 15 (93.8%) had PgR values that ranged from 7.3 to 473.2 fmol/mg protein and ten (62.5%) had ER values that ranged from 0.9 to 87.9 fmol/mg protein. AdR were present in two NLm with values of 1.5 and 73.5 fmol/mg protein. There was no statistical difference in levels of PgR and ER between CAs and NLm. There were PgR in all gastric cancers and in 93.8% of NLm. The results suggest that gastric mucosa may be the target tissues for progesterone action. Furthermore, the lack of correlation between the levels of ER and PgR in gastric cancer tissue suggests that the PgR in gastric cancers are probably estrogen independent.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The formation of bile canaliculi in human hepatoma cell lines.

Hepatocytes, known as polarized epithelial cells, are composed of sinusoid, basolateral and bile canalicular domains. Each domain contains proteins specific for it. Our studies indicate that the well-differentiated human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and HuH-7 formed bile canaliculi in tissue culture, whereas the poorly differentiated hepatoma cell lines HA22T/VGH and SK-HEP-1 did not. We also used the 9B2 monoclonal antibody, previously shown to be specific for the human bile canalicular domain, to study formation of bile canaliculi in these human hepatoma cell lines. All four cell lines synthesize the 140-kD 9B2 antigen. Studies using peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the 9B2 antigen was first detected in cytoplasm and packaged in microvilli-lined vesicles, then vectorially transported to the cell surface and eventually fused with microvilli-lined vesicles from neighboring cells to form bile canaliculi in well-differentiated hepatoma cell lines. However, the 9B2 antigen of poorly differentiated lines was synthesized in cytoplasm, then transported directly to and evenly distributed on the cell membrane. These results lead us to conclude that human hepatoma cell lines could serve as a good in vitro model to study the formation of bile canaliculi in human hepatocytes. The bile canaliculi of human hepatocytes may be preformed and assembled in the intracellular, microvilli-lined vesicles, then vectorially transported to the cell surface, where they form the bile canaliculi through vesicles fusion. Finally, formation of bile canaliculi and transport of 9B2 antigen may be related to the differentiation of hepatocytes or progression stages of human hepatoma cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Construction of a computerized database for gastric cancer patients].

Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent malignant diseases in Taiwan. However, the result of treatment was poor. Since two years ago, we adopted the 'extended radical operation' for gastric cancer, in order to improve the post operative survival of patients with gastric cancer. For evaluating the results and prognosis, we used microcomputer and commercial software to design a computerized database for gastric cancer. The whole system includes three main operations. (1) Basic File Maintenance. (2) Data Analysis and Statistics. (3) Follow-up Data Managements. The operation is under Chinese system with pull-down menu and on-screen help. Rapid and accurate data analysis are the main advantages, and automatic plotting of data to bar/line chart is one of the characteristics by using this computerized database. Other characteristics include error-trapped function, item coding and data transformation.

Adult↗

Angiographic arterio-venous shunt and venous thrombosis in the prognosis of hepatoma.

Angiograms and clinical data for 249 patients with hepatoma were evaluated, with particular attention paid to the arteriovenous (A-V) shunt and venous thrombosis (including occlusion). There were 43 cases (17.3%) with A-V shunt and 140 cases (56.2%) with venous thrombosis. A statistically significant difference in survival was noted among the unresectable patients with and without these vascular changes. Furthermore, in the resectable patients, presence of venous thrombosis also showed a poor prognosis. A-V shunt did not influence the survival in the unresectable patients with venous thrombosis, and 93.0% of A-V shunt was associated with venous thrombosis. This seemed to imply that these two vascular changes might be the same entity. In the presence of either A-V shunt or venous thrombosis, the survival rate in the surgical group was still better than that of medical groups treated by either transarterial embolization (TAE) or conservative methods. Most of the A-V shunt (81.4%) and venous thrombosis (56.4%) occurred in the diffuse type of hepatoma, and the prognosis for unresectable patients was the worst in this type, with a mean survival time of 3 months. Since A-V shunt and venous thrombosis are factors in poor prognosis and occur frequently, careful preoperative evaluation of these vascular changes is mandatory. However, in patients with localized tumor, coexisting with such vascular involvement, surgical resection is still recommended.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗

Report of a pilot study of intra-arterial injection of I-131 lipiodol for the treatment of hepatoma.

This pilot study in 10 hepatoma patients investigated the feasibility of using selective targeting of radioisotope (I-131) lipiodol in the treatment of hepatoma patients. Lipiodol is a contrast medium that selectively goes to hepatoma and remains there for a long period as compared with that in normal liver and other tissues. Lipiodol was labelled with I-131 and infused into the hepatoma via the hepatic artery. Selective targeting of I-131 to hepatoma was demonstrated with a radiation dose ratio (hepatoma to normal liver) of up to 25 to 1. The biodistribution data of I-131-lipiodol in this study also confirmed the selective targeting of the radioisotope (I-131) to the hepatoma. Tumor radiation dose up to 26,000 rads can be delivered by this method. The treatment results were encouraging. About 70% of hepatoma patients had response to the treatment with reduction of alpha-fetoprotein and decrease of hepatoma sizes. The overall median survival was 9 months (range 2-17 months). This treatment was simple, safe, effective, non-expensive and well tolerated by all patients without major side effects. The optimal dose, schedule, duration of this treatment are still under investigation.

Adult↗

Content of glucocorticoid receptor and arginase in gastric cancer and normal gastric mucosal tissues.

The content of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and arginase in human gastric cancer and the corresponding normal gastric mucosal tissues was determined. Among the 25 patients studied, the GR content in gastric cancer tissues was 33.2 +/- 10.2 fmol/mg protein versus 7.6 +/- 3.4 fmol/mg protein in gastric mucosal tissues. This difference is statistically significant (P less than 0.005). Of the 25 paired samples, 19 cancer tissues contained GR, whereas only seven of the normal mucosal tissues had GR. The level of arginase in gastric cancer tissues in 19 patients was assayed, it was 26.6 +/- 4.2 ng/mg protein which is also significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosal tissues (13.5 +/- 1.8 ng/mg protein) (P less than 0.005). Since glucocorticoids and arginase are potent immune suppressive agents, the increased level of GR and arginase in gastric cancer tissue suggest that these glucocorticoid-related factors in gastric cancer tissue may play a partial role in regulating cellular immunity.

Aged↗

Analysis of hepatitis B virus transcripts in infected human livers.

The hepatitis B virus transcripts in human hepatoma and its adjacent nontumorous liver were examined with probes specific to hepatitis B virus surface antigen, core antigen, X region and pre-S region. The study shows that the patterns of hepatitis B virus transcripts for tumorous tissue and the counterpart in nontumorous liver differ. In most of the tissues examined, the surface antigen gene is transcribed. Most of these transcripts, besides having surface antigen sequences, also have an X region; some also include a pre-S region. The transcripts that hybridized to a core-specific probe were a pair of poly(A+) RNA, 3.5 and 2.2 kilobases in size, present in two of the nontumorous hepatocytes where the virus was actively replicating. The 3.5-kilobase transcript not only hybridized to the core probe, but was able to be hybridized to other hepatitis B virus subgenomic probes and might represent the RNA pregenome involving hepatitis B virus DNA replication. Whereas most of the transcripts hybridizable to hepatitis B virus probe are in the size range of 2.1 to 2.7 kilobases, some transcripts other than the pregenomic RNA appear to be greater than 3.2 kilobases in size and may represent the hybrid RNAs of viral and host sequences.

Blotting, Northern↗

A comparison of regional versus systemic drug injection. Adriamycin concentration in peripheral blood and gastric stump (post-Billroth II gastrectomy) in the dog.

Gastric stump cancer has a low resection rate and poor response to systemic chemotherapy. This study attempted to achieve higher drug concentrations in target tissues by way of regional arterial injection instead of systemic venous administration. A total of 12 male mongrel dogs that had undergone post-Billroth II gastrectomies were randomly divided into two groups: in group A, 1.27 mg/kg adriamycin (ADM) was injected through the left gastric artery; in group B, the same dose of ADM was injected into a vein in the left front leg. Blood samples were taken at various time intervals, and the dogs were sacrificed 2 h after drug administration. Tissues were removed from various parts of the gastric stump for measurement of the ADM concentration. The ADM content in the jejunum, heart, liver, spleen, and pancreas was also determined. The results were as follows: (1) the ADM concentration in the gastric stump near its lesser curvature and stomal mucosa was significantly higher in group A than in group B (P less than 0.05). (2) The ADM concentrations in the adjacent organs (heart, liver, and pancreas) were also significantly higher in group A than in group B (P less than 0.05). (3) The ADM levels in the venous blood were significantly higher in group B than in group A (P less than 0.05). These results indicate that a chemotherapeutic drug given through the left gastric artery provides a higher drug concentration in the area where gastric stump cancer frequently occurs and that a lower systemic blood level may cause fewer adverse drug effects. The high concentration of ADM in the heart may not be a good indication, but it may serve as an important signal either to select a less cardiotoxic drug or to monitor heart function cautiously during drug therapy.

Animals↗

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in a sample of 129 patients. The cumulative survival rate was 49% at 1 year and 22% at 2 years. The median survival time was 11.9 months. The survival rates at 1 year of 84 patients in Child's group A and 27 in Child's group B were 56% and 40%; out of 52 HCC patients with portal vein patent and 77 with portal vein invasion 75% and 40% survived, and the 1-year survival rates for 33 HCC patients with capsule intact, 14 with capsule broken and 82 with no capsule were 85%, 65% and 40% respectively. From the above results there were statistically significant differences in survival time in those with good clinical performance status by Child's classification, those showing patency of the portal vein and those where the capsule was present. Therefore, we would like to recommend, TACE of HCC in well-selected patients presenting with good clinical status, patency of the portal vein and without broken capsule, in order to achieve better clinical results.

Adult↗

Tumoricidal effect of controlled-release polymeric needle devices containing adriamycin HCl in tumor-bearing mice.

Controlled-release polymeric needle devices containing adriamycin HCL (ADH) were investigated by an in vitro dissolution study in normal saline solution and an in vivo antitumor activity in C3H mice bearing mammary carcinoma and nude mice bearing brain tumor. HPMC was used as a release rate regulator. The ADH released from needle devices was controlled by the types of polymer used and the addition of HPMC. EVA needle devices exhibit a zero order release behavior better than that of PLA needle devices. Tumor growth was markedly inhibited by treatment with needle devices after locally inserted into the solid tumor. The rank of antitumor activity of the needle devices is EVA greater than PLA greater than EVA-HPMC greater than PLA-HPMC. No significant changes in body weight of mice after treatment were found in treated groups as compared to controlled groups. The preliminary results of our study suggest that needle device dosage form shows a controlled release behavior and may be applicable as a drug carrier for delivery of antitumor drug in cancer chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Superior mesenteric vein severance from blunt abdominal trauma: report of a case.

Injury of the superior mesenteric vein from blunt abdominal trauma is an uncommon but frequently fatal injury. A 63-year-old man was injured in a motorcycle accident. He was admitted to our hospital in profound shock. Immediate celiotomy revealed superior mesenteric vein injury which was repaired by end-to-end anastomosis. Rapid fluid resuscitation and expeditious exploration are the key in saving patients with this condition. Indications for exploration of retroperitoneal hematomas, techniques of exposure, modes of reconstruction of the injured vein and the importance of a second-look operation are discussed.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Partial liver resection in the treatment of intra-hepatic duct calculi.

From Jan. 1980 to Dec. 1987, 53 patients with symptomatic intrahepatic stones were treated with hepatic resection. The indications for hepatic resections in our patients include: 1) stones located in an anatomic area, 2) extensive liver tissue damage or fibrosis, and 3) strictures of the intrahepatic bile ducts in the involved portion. The stones are located mainly on the left side. Lateral segmentectomy was performed in 31 patients. There was no operative mortality, and fourty-six patients were followed up for an average of 25 months. Results show that 67.4% were symptom free, 23.9% had occasional mild symptoms of cholangitis and 8.7% had severe cholangitis requiring further surgical intervention. The low morbidity and mortality of the operation and the good results reveal that hepatic resection is a safe and rewarding procedure in the treatment of some primary intrahepatic stones.

Adult↗

Multitest skin testing values of cell-mediated immunity among healthy individuals in Taiwan.

The multitest CMI system, a disposable device that simultaneously applies seven standardized preloaded antigens and diluent control, is a major advance for measurement of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) in assessment of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). The system was tested in 84 healthy volunteers, 42 in each sex, aged 4-62 years, to determine normal values for incidence and size of DTH responses to each of seven antigens. Incidence of positive responses to individual antigens varied from 84.5% to 11%, more than half of volunteers were reactive to Tuberculin, Candida and Diphtheria, and a third to Tetanus, Streptococcus and Tricophyton. 95.3% of volunteers to one or more antigens, and about two thirds to three or more. To better assess CMI, a two-part score based on 48-hour readings was employed. The mean number of positive antigens ranged between 2.2 and 3.3, the mean sum of their millimeter induration ranged between 10.8 and 18.2, the average sum of diameters were 16.7 mm in males and 15.2 mm in females. There was no statistic significance to sex and age during scoring, although there was somewhat higher in males, young and mature age groups. In our series, Tuberculin reaction is the highest one in this seven antigens, about 4.76% of volunteers are anergy. A statistical zone (95% confidence limits) of reduced DTH scores (hypoergy) was identified, it reveals sum of diameters less than 9mm in males and 7mm in females, number of positive antigens are less than 2 in each sex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Glucocorticoid receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent liver tissue.

Glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors, tyrosine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and alpha-fetoprotein levels were determined in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent liver tissues. Glucocorticoid receptor was present in seven of ten HCC samples, values ranged from 1.9 to 66.8 fmol/mg protein. Progesterone receptor was present in two of ten HCC samples with values of 1.7 and 7.2 fmol/mg protein, respectively. In the adjacent liver tissues, no measurable progesterone receptor was found and only one sample had glucocorticoid receptor with a value of 3.0 fmol/mg protein. The increase of glucocorticoid receptor in HCC samples was coincident with a decreased level of tyrosine aminotransferase and an increased level of gamma-glutamyltransferase. No correlation was found among glucocorticoid receptor level, serum or tissue alpha-fetoprotein levels. The presence of glucocorticoid receptors in HCC suggest that hormones may play an important role in the formation of hepatoma, and hormonal therapy may be useful for patients with HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Mass screening of primary hepatocellular carcinoma by alpha-fetoprotein in a rural area of Taiwan--a dried blood spot method.

A prospective survey of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) was conducted in a rural area of Taiwan using a two-site enzyme immunoassay for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in dried blood samples collected on filter paper. Of 1894 men over 40 years of age who were tested, 20 (1%) had AFP levels of greater than 20 ng/ml of blood on screening. Nineteen of these men received ultrasound examinations, and small PHCs were detected in 4 (21%). The remaining 15 cases had other types of hepatobiliary tract diseases, and 6 (40%) were also serum HBsAg positive. They should all be closely followed up by AFP determination and ultrasound examination of the liver. In contrast to the low resection rate of PHC in symptomatic patients who were admitted through the outpatient clinic during the period of this survey, the four cases with small PHC discovered by AFP screening had their tumors successfully removed (5/57 vs. 4/4, p less than 0.005). Our preliminary results showed that this method is a simple, sensitive and convenient assay for AFP and may be used as a first-line screening test in mass population surveillance programs for PHC, particularly in areas where PHC is highly prevalent.

Adult↗

Controlled release of adriamycin HCl from polymeric needle devices.

Two types of polymeric needle devices (reservoir type and matrix type) were prepared. The release behavior and mechanism of adriamycin HCl from these needle devices were investigated and deduced. Adriamycin HCl released from reservoir type needle devices exhibited a zero order release kinetic, but a Higuchi membrane-diffusion controlled model was shown in matrix type needle devices. A lag time and burst effect were obtained in reservoir type and matrix needle devices, respectively. The release of adriamycin HCl from these needle devices was controlled and can be monitored by adding a hydrophilic or hydrophobic additive.

Biocompatible Materials↗