-
Taiwanese journal of obstetrics & gynecology 09/2012; 51(3):458-9.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Ovarian stimulation is a unique aid for patients treated for anovulation and an important tool in various assisted reproduction treatments. Clomiphene citrate, an orally active, non-steroidal triphenylethylene derivate, is a commonly prescribed agent for ovulation induction. Clomiphene citrate is considered a safe agent and has rarely been associated with significant side effects. This report describes a case of unilateral adnexal torsion after ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate; we performed unwinding of the adnexum, which appeared ischemic via laparoscopy. Unfortunately, the affected adnexum became hemorrhagic after this approach, which invariably led to its resection.
Archives of Gynecology 09/2011; 285(1):271-3. · 0.91 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Approximately 4% of women are admitted to hospitals because of ovarian cyst rupture, hemorrhage, or torsion. Endometriotic cyst rupture is a rare surgical emergency associated with severe peritonitis and pelvic adhesion, and we aimed to determine its prognosis and long-term outcome.
We reviewed and analyzed the medical records of 11 patients (mean age, 31.8 ± 7.2 years) with ruptured endometrioma and a history of dysmenorrhea (4.9 ± 2.3 of maximum 10) who were surgically treated, and then regularly followed-up for more than 3 years (range, 35-261 months).
Previous ultrasound examinations revealed pelvic cysts in seven patients. Three patients had a history of endometrioma surgery. In the emergency room, eight patients complained of uterine motion tenderness. Sonography revealed residual ovarian tumors (size range, 4.2-10.4 cm), with or without fluid accumulation in the cul-de-sac. Surgical enucleation by laparoscopy or laparotomy revealed high revised American Fertility Society endometriosis scores (78 ± 20.1) as well as high adhesion scores (48.7 ± 11.3). In the postoperative period, four patients had recurrent ovarian tumors that were related to elevated serum cancer antigen 125 levels and high postoperative pain scores. In contrast, three patients who became pregnant during the postoperative period had low serum cancer antigen 125 levels and pain scores.
Endometrioma rupture should be considered in females presenting with sudden lower abdominal pain, associated with a history of dysmenorrhea and preexisting pelvic cysts. Emergency surgical intervention may lead to a better prognosis, particularly in patients without a history of previous endometrioma surgery.
Taiwanese journal of obstetrics & gynecology 09/2011; 50(3):306-11.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To report the incidence, prenatal diagnostic rate, and postnatal outcomes of fetal orofacial cleft at a tertiary referral center in Taiwan.
The demographic data, maternal and fetal characteristics, and postnatal outcomes for fetuses with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) born between January 1998 and December 2008 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, were reviewed retrospectively, and diagnostic rates were evaluated according to cleft type.
Among 26499 deliveries, 84 were affected with CL/P. The mean maternal age and gestational age at detection of CL/P were 30.37 years (range 21-41 years) and 24.7 weeks (range 18-33 weeks), respectively. Thirty-one fetuses had associated structural anomalies, 5 of which involved chromosomal aberrations. CL/P was diagnosed prenatally for 74 (88%) fetuses. After consultations, 17 pregnancies (20%) were aborted. The postnatal survival rate was 95.5% (64/67 infants). The type of cleft had a significant influence on correct prenatal diagnosis (P<0.001).
For fetuses diagnosed prenatally with an orofacial cleft, access to an experienced craniofacial team, well-planned delivery, and pediatric intensive care led to favorable postnatal outcomes after lethal malformations were excluded through detailed sonographic and chromosomal evaluations.
International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 03/2011; 113(3):211-4. · 1.41 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Pemetrexed disodium (Alimta), LY231514, is an antifolate that is able to simultaneously inhibit the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines. Pemetrexed has been approved for first- and second-line treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is still a lack of clinical biomarkers for predicting the therapeutic response to pemetrexed. The aim of this study is to establish new biomarkers for pemetrexed treatment in NSCLC.
Human NSCLC cell lines were exposed to pemetrexed. The antitumor effect was measured by growth inhibition with MTT assay and expression of cell cycle mediators with immunoblots. Using the Superarray cancer pathway gene array, 482 genes were screened for differential expression in A549 cells that were untreated or treated with pemetrexed.
A549 cells exhibited sensitivity but H1355 cells showed resistance to pemetrexed. To investigate the mechanisms of responsiveness and nonresponsiveness to pemetrexed in these cell lines, we measured the expression levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), reduced folate carrier, and folylpoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase genes. TS, DHFR, and reduced folate carrier gene expressions were significantly reduced in A549 and H1355 cells. Pemetrexed caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and S phase in H1355 and A549 cells, respectively. Significantly higher expressions of many genes, especially lipocalin-2 (Lcn-2) and nm23-H1 proteins, were noted in A549 cells treated with pemetrexed in comparison with untreated cells. Furthermore, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot showed that Lcn-2 and nm23-H1 expressions increase in response to pemetrexed treatment in a dose-responsive manner in pemetrexed-sensitive A549 cells but not in resistant H1355 cells.
Our results indicated that downregulation of TS and DHFR genes and upregulation of p21, p27, Lcn-2, and nm23-H1 genes may serve as new biomarkers for predicting responsiveness to pemetrexed.
Journal of thoracic oncology: official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 08/2010; 5(8):1143-51. · 4.55 Impact Factor
-
Circulation 04/2008; 117(10):1351-2. · 14.74 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Fermentative H(2) production microbial structure in an agitated granular sludge bed bioreactor was analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction-denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). This hydrogen-producing system was operated at four different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 4, 2, 1, and 0.5 h and with an influent glucose concentration of 20 g chemical oxygen demand/l. According to the PCR-DGGE analysis, bacterial community structures were mainly composed of Clostridium sp. (possibly Clostridium pasteurianum), Klebsiella oxytoca, and Streptococcus sp. Significant increase of Clostridium/total cell ratio (68%) was observed when the reactor was operated under higher influent flow rate. The existence of Streptococcus sp. in the reactor became more important when operated under a short HRT as indicated by the ratio of Streptococcus probe-positive cells to Clostridium probe-positive cells changing from 21% (HRT 4 h) to 38% (HRT 0.5 h). FISH images suggested that Streptococcus cells probably acted as seeds for self-flocculated granule formation. Furthermore, combining the inspections with hydrogen production under different HRTs and their corresponding FISH analysis indicated that K. oxytoca did not directly contribute to H(2) production but possibly played a role in consuming O(2) to create an anaerobic environment for the hydrogen-producing Clostridium.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 07/2007; 75(3):693-701. · 3.42 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Two novel yeast splicing factors required for spliceosome disassembly have been identified. Ntr1 and Ntr2 (NineTeen complex-Related proteins) were identified for their weak association with components of the Prp19-associated complex. Unlike other Prp19-associated components, these two proteins were primarily associated with the intron-containing spliceosome during the splicing reaction. Extracts depleted of Ntr1 or Ntr2 exhibited full splicing activity, but accumulated large amounts of lariat-intron in the spliceosome after splicing, indicating that the normal function of the Prp19-associated complex in spliceosome activation was not affected, but spliceosome disassembly was hindered. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that Ntr1 and Ntr2 formed a stable complex with DExD/H-box RNA helicase Prp43 in the splicing extract. Ntr1 interacted with Prp43 through the N-terminal G-patch domain, with Ntr2 through a middle region, and with itself through the carboxyl half of the protein. The affinity-purified Ntr1-Ntr2-Prp43 complex could catalyze disassembly of the spliceosome in an ATP-dependent manner, separating U2, U5, U6, NTC (NineTeen Complex), and lariat-intron. This is the first demonstration of physical disassembly of the spliceosome, catalyzed by a complex containing a DExD/H-box RNA helicase and two accessory factors, which might function in targeting the helicase to the correct substrate.
Genes & Development 01/2006; 19(24):2991-3003. · 11.66 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: HHR23A and hHR23B are the human homologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad23. hHR23B is associated with the nucleotide excision repair (NER) factor xeroderma pigmentosum C (XPC) protein and is required for global genome repair. The function of hHR23A is not yet clear. In this study, the potential function of the hHR23A protein was investigated using RNA interference techniques. The hHR23A knock-down (KD) construct diminished the RNA level of hHR23A protein by approximately 60%, and it did not interfere with expression of the hHR23B gene. Based on Southwestern immunoblot and host-cell reactivation assays, hHR23A(KD) cells were found to be deficient in DNA repair activity against the DNA damage caused by UVC irradiation. In these hHR23A(KD) cells, the XPC gene was not normally induced by UVC irradiation, indicating that the hHR23A protein is involved in NER through regulation of the DNA damage recognition protein XPC. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that hHR23A was associated with a small portion of hHR23B and the majority of p53 protein, indicating that hHR23A regulates the function of XPC by its association with the NER activator p53.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 10/2005; 335(1):181-7. · 2.48 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Xeroderma pigmentosum C (XPC) is a DNA repair factor essential for global genome repair (GGR) in nucleotide excision repair (NER). In the present study we screened for factors regulated by XPC after DNA damage. Ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation-induced stress response factors were analyzed by a cDNA microarray chip system in HeLa and XP4PA-SV xpc mutant cell lines. The principal component analysis (PCA) method was employed to identify groups of genes with similar expression patterns over time after UVC irradiation. The growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene gadd45, as well as a small group of other genes, was found to exhibit an inducible expression pattern after 30 min of incubation in xpc mutants but not in HeLa cells. Subsequent studies showed that gadd45 gene expression post-UVC irradiation was also present in the GGR mutant cells xpa and xpd, but not in TCR mutant csb cells. This evidence indicates that gadd45 plays a regulatory role in GGR of NER.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 07/2003; · 2.48 Impact Factor
-
