Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis is a systemic disease with amyloid deposition in the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems caused by mutation of transthyretin (TTR) gene. The mutant TTR S77Y is the second prevalent mutation in many countries. In Taiwan, A97S mutant accounts for more than 90% of cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCirculating monocytes and tissue macrophages were suggested to be susceptible to avian reovirus (ARV) infection. To determine if ARV infects and replicates in mononuclear phagocytes (KUL01-positive cells), we infected 3-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens with ARV strain 2408 by inoculation of the left footpad. The left footpads and spleens were collected for analysis at 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV/VP2) expressing infectious bursal diseases virus (IBDV) VP2 gene has been constructed. After purification and identification of rFPV/VP2, the adjuvant activity of the recombinant chicken IL-12 (rchIL-12), synthesized by our previous construct of rFPV/chIL-12, in rFPV/VP2-expressed rVP2 antigen was assessed in one-week-old specific-pathogen free chickens. The results indicated that rchIL-12 alone or rchIL-12 plus mineral oil (MO) co-administered with rVP2 antigen significantly enhanced the production of serum neutralization (SN) antibody against IBDV, compared to those with MO alone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between serum liver enzyme level, hepatic virus infectious state, and standard uptake value of liver on 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET).
Material And Methods: It is the retrospective review study from September 2005 to September 2007. A total of 354 healthy subjects referred from the Department of Community Medicine and Health Examination Center of our hospital for health screening were reviewed retrospectively and recruited for analysis.
This study was to evaluate the clinical impact of whole body positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) to detect recurrent cervical cancer based on asymptomatically elevated tumor marker levels. Whole-body FDG-PET was performed in 20 patients with suspected recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix and asymptomatic tumor marker of SCC antigen increased serum levels but negative or equivocal other imaging modality results. All of these 20 asymptomatic patients have serum levels of SCC antigen > 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for detecting recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are indeterminate. Twenty-eight NPC patients who had received radiotherapy and had indeterminate MRI findings were included in the study. We performed MRI, Tc-99m MIBI SPECT, and biopsy at least 4 months after radiotherapy and within 1 week.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSyndrome X is used to describe patients with chest pain and a normal coronary angiogram. We reviewed technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-99m TF) myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) results and clinical data of 43 syndrome X patients and 30 healthy controls with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and no cardiac abnormalities. The Tc-99m TF myocardial perfusion SPECT results showed 12 (27.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Low 24-hour thyroid uptake of I-131 (I-131 uptake) is a common finding that influences evaluation of the thyroid gland.
Methods: We studied 20 female patients aged 16-82 years with low I-131 uptake. The following causes of reduced I-131 uptake were defined as (A) six cases with subacute thyroiditis, (B) seven cases with T4 suppression therapy, and (C) seven cases with iodinated pharmaceuticals use.
To test this hypothesis, salivary function was measured by quantitative salivary scintigraphy in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients, as well as in age- and sex-matched controls for comparison. Seventy-two patients with NIDDM history of over 10 years and 36 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. All of the 72 NIDDM patients had good blood sugar control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo determine the influence of smoking on lung uptake of technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TF) during myocardial perfusion imaging, we examined 50 healthy subjects with normal myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography findings, normal coronary angiograms, and no evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy. The 50 healthy subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1: 25 healthy subjects had smoking histories of at least 10 pack-years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the association between endometriosis and the p53 polymorphism.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Department of gynecology and genetics in a medical center.