Fooyin Journal of Health Sciences

Noninvasive Imaging of Reporter Gene Expression and Distribution In Vivo

Kuo-Hsiang Chuang, Tian-Lu Cheng — 2010-02-01

Repeated noninvasive imaging of reporter gene expression is increasingly used for monitoring the expression and location of genes and cells in experimental animals and humans. Development of transgenic animals that express reporter genes in specific tissues/organs or the whole body possess the potential for understanding the course of disease or serve as a syngenic cell/tissue/organ donor to study transplant survival in recipients. In this review, we discuss the major reporter genes used in gene therapy, cell therapy and transgenic animals, including exogenous reporters (herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase, fluorescent proteins and luciferase) and endogenous reporters (dopamine 2 receptor, transferrin receptor, sodium iodide symporter, β-glucuronidase, and antibody reporter). The clinical potential of these reporter genes is also discussed with regard to their imaging specificity and immunogenicity in humans.

Surface Antimicrobial Effects of Zr61Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5Si4 Thin Film Metallic Glasses on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans

2010-02-01

Zr61Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5Si4 (ZrAlNiCuSi) thin film metallic glasses (TFMGs) can modify the surface of 304 stainless steel, and they are widely used in health care systems. We investigated modified surfaces with ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs and their antimicrobial effects on those five microbes which are the most common nosocomial infection pathogens. The transformation of ZrAlNiCuSi bulk metallic glass into TFMG was achieved by sputtering onto stainless steel. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans were then isolated. The microbes were sampled on ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs, and this was compared with stainless steel plates. After microbe-material interaction under humidity at room temperature for 3 hours, the specimens were attached to a Mueller-Hinton agar plate (Gibco, Middleton, WI, USA) and incubated at 37.0°C for 24, 48 and 96 hours. The areas of microbe growth were recorded by serial subtraction photography and then assessed using Image-Pro Plus software (Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD, USA). ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs presented an amorphous rough surface and exhibited hydrophobic properties. ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs suppressed E. coli growth on Mueller-Hinton plates for 96 hours, and there was no E. coli growth on blood agar plate enriched media and eosin-methylene blue agar selective media after 96 hours of incubation. The five microbes tested on ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs showed a decreased growth curve after 24 hours. After 24 hours, P. aeruginosa showed a slow growth curve and A. baumannii had a sharp growth curve with TFMG interaction. ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs prolonged the lag phase of the microbes' growth curve in S. aureus and C. albicans for 48 hours. ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs were able to modify the surface of stainless steel, which was very hard and was found to have scratch adhesion abilities and smooth surface effects against five different microbes for at least 24 hours. This is the first description of microbe interactions with zirconium-based TFMGs. Further studies to investigate the mechanism of antimicrobial effects on ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs are now required.

The Reduction Effect of Extracts of Soybean Seeds on Acute Radiation Dermatitis

2010-02-01

Radiation injury to the skin is one of the major limiting factors in radiotherapy. This study investigated whether extracts of soybean seeds (EOS), [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], reduced radiation dermatitis induced by radiation. We studied 27 Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into three groups, to evaluate the reduction in skin injury using natural products from soybean seeds as protection against radiation. Radiation dermatitis in EOS-treated animals (0.25 g/cm2 skin once daily) was less severe than that in the control group after 50 Gy of radiation. Within 29 days after radiation, the skin scores in the control group were higher than those in the EOS group (0.5 in the EOS group vs. 1 in the control group; p < 0.05). The histologic findings indicated that skin reactions after 50 Gy of radiation were mild in both groups. However, the skin reactions in the EOS group were less prominent than those in the control group. The EOS-treated rats had normal hair growth, but hair growth was suppressed in control rats. We conclude that EOS are able to reduce reactions to radiation and can achieve a better recovery in the skin.

Burdock Essence Promotes Gastrointestinal Mucosal Repair in Ulcer Patients

2010-02-01

Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease and produces mucosa erosion. The current study assessed the ability of burdock essence to repair gastrointestinal mucosa in clinical trials. In the experimental group, two tablets of burdock essence (500 mg/tablet) were administered three times a day after meals and a placebo was administered in controls. Four weeks after drug administration, the subjects in the study underwent an assessment for the efficacy of burdock essence as health supplements before and after administration of the drug. The presence of gastric mucosal lesions was determined in all of the peptic ulcer patients using electronic endoscopy before and after taking burdock essence. A rapid urease test on tissue samples from ulcers was conducted to verify Helicobacter pylori infection. Endoscopy confirmed gastric or duodenal ulcers in 30 patients. In clinical trials of 27 patients, 20 patients took burdock essence; 17 (85%) recovered completely and three (15%) did not. Of the seven patients who took placebos, five (71%) did not completely recover and two (29%) recovered. In the experimental group, the ulcer wounds of the three patients who had taken burdock essence did not completely heal, but wounds were reduced in size by 30%, 75%, and 33%. Moreover, 10 out of 11 patients who originally were positive for H. pylori infections no longer had the pathogen by the end of the trial. These results indicate that burdock essence has an inhibitory effect on H. pylori. This study confirms that two tablets (500 mg/tablet) of burdock essence taken orally three times a day after meals can help abolish H. pylori infection and promote the therapeutic effect of conventional medication on gastric mucosal repair in gastrointestinal ulcer patients.

Metastatic Omental Tumor Secondary to Occult Ovarian Serous Adenocarcinoma

Hsiang-Lin Tsai, Shao-Hsia Chang, Eing-Mei Tsai, Chee-Yin Chai, Jaw-Yuan Wang — 2010-02-01

Primary tumors within the abdomen frequently spread to the mesentery and omentum, but these deposits may not cause symptoms until they grow large enough to displace organs or cause intestinal obstruction. We present an uncommon case of occult ovarian serous adenocarcinoma presenting as a solitary metastatic omental mass. A 72-year-old female patient found a hard, mobile subcutaneous mass located at the umbilical area. This mass gradually became larger, but there were no symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a homogenous, hypoechoic lesion. A preoperative diagnosis of a huge intra-abdominal lipoma was made, and surgical intervention was carried out. Intraoperatively, we found a tumor mass located in the greater omentum without ascites. The surgical procedure consisted of a complete resection of the omental mass. Frozen section analysis by the pathologist revealed a metastatic serous adenocarcinoma. Intra-abdominal organs including the gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, uterus and pancreas were examined carefully; however, no abnormal lesions were identified either grossly or palpably. Two months after the operation, a computed tomographic scan of the abdomen was performed, and a cystic mass lesion with a 0.9-cm lobulated margin was confirmed in the posterior wall of the right ovary. The patient was then referred to a gynecologist for further survey and underwent another operation. Finally, a pathologic report of the right ovary showed that the primary lesion of this metastatic omental cancer originated from right ovarian cancer. This case demonstrates the possibility of development of a metastatic omental mass from an occult ovarian serous adenocarcinoma.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Ileum Causing an Unusual Ileocecal Intussusception

Yung-Sung Yeh, Cheng-Jen Ma, Sheau-Fang Yang, Ming-Chen Paul Shih, Jaw-Yuan Wang — 2010-02-01

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), also known as inflammatory fibrous polyps or inflammatory pseudotumor, is a rare mass-forming lesion characterized by fibroblastic or myofibroblastic spindle cell proliferation with varying degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration. IMTs usually present in children and young adults. IMTs occur only rarely in the gastrointestinal tract, and these usually occur in the stomach as well as in the small and large bowel. When localized in the small bowel, the presenting symptoms are colic abdominal pain and obstruction. Intussusception due to IMT is uncommon. We report one case of an IMT of the terminal ileum in a 50-year-old female with presentation of ileocecal intussusception and intestinal obstruction.