Follicular Oocytes Better Support Development in Rabbit Cloning Than Oviductal Oocytes

This study was conducted to determine the effect of rabbit oocytes collected from ovaries or oviducts on the developmental potential of nuclear transplant embryos. Donor nuclei were obtained from adult skin fibroblasts, cumulus cells, and embryonic blastomeres. Rabbit oocytes were flushed from the oviducts (oviductal oocytes) or aspirated from the ovaries (follicular oocytes) of superovulated does at 10, 11, or 12-h post-hCG injection. The majority of collected oocytes were still attached to the sites of ovulation on the ovaries. We found that follicular oocytes had a significantly higher rate of fusion with nuclear donor cells than oviductal oocytes. There was no difference in the cleavage rate between follicular and oviductal groups, but morula and blastocyst development was significantly higher in the follicular group than in the oviductal group. Two live clones were produced in follicular group using blastomere and cumulus nuclear donors, whereas one live clone was produced in the oviductal group using a cumulus nuclear donor. These results demonstrate that cloned rabbit embryos derived from follicular oocytes have better developmental competence than those derived from oviductal oocytes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90481/1/cell-2E2011-2E0030.pd

Diversity of the association of serum levels and genetic variants of MHC class I polypeptide-related chain A with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

Background/Aims Genetic variants of MHC class I polypeptide-related chain A (MICA) at rs2596542 have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. The linkage between serum MICA (sMICA) and liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C is elusive. Results: Linear regression analysis revealed that sMICA were independently correlated to α-fetoprotein (β: 0.149; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.001, 0.003; P = 0.007)and MICA rs2596542 GG genotype (β: 0.209; 95% CI: 0.153, 0.483; P 50 pg/mL provided a positive predictive value of 72 % in predicting advanced liver fibrosis (F3-4) and of 90% in significant fibrosis (> F2) in MICA rs2596542 A allele carriers. Materials and Methods Serum level and single nucleotide polymorphism at rs2596542 of MICA were tested for the association with liver fibrosis in 319 biopsy proven chronic hepatitis C patients. Conclusions: Levels of sMICA were highly correlated to liver disease severity in chronic hepatitis C patients who carried the MICA rs738409 A allele. Patients possessing the genetic predisposition had a higher likelihood of progressed liver fibrosis if they expressed higher sMICA levels

High versus standard doses interferon-alpha in the treatment of naïve chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan: a 10-year cohort study

BACKGROUND: Interferon-alpha monotherapy is effective in less than one-third patients with chronic hepatitis C. The dose-effect, tolerability and durability of interferon-alpha treatment and its long-term effect on the prevention of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in naïve Taiwanese patients with chronic hepatitis C have not been well investigated. We conducted the present cohort study treated with high and standard interferon-alpha to illustrate the issues. METHODS: We performed a long-term virologic and histological follow-up of 214 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-alpha, 3 million units (3-MU, n = 80) or 6-MU (n = 134) thrice weekly for 24 weeks, in Taiwan between 1992 and 2001. RESULTS: There was no difference in the incidence of discontinuation between 3-MU and 6-MU groups (4/80, 5.0% versus 10/134. 7.5%). The 6-MU group had similar incidence of adverse events with the 3-MU group, except that 6-MU group had significantly higher incidence of psychological manifestations, mainly presented as irritability. The rates of sustained virological response (SVR) were significantly higher in 6-MU regimen (37.1%) than in 3-MU regimen (23.7%, p < 0.05) in per protocol analysis. Based on multivariate analysis, baseline viral load was strongly associated with SVR, followed by hepatitis C virus genotype, interferon-alpha regimen, and liver fibrosis. A histological improvement in necroinflammatory activity, but not in fibrosis was observed in the follow-up biopsy performed 0.5–5.5 years (mean: 1.9 years, n = 51) after end-of-treatment. Among patients without SVR, there was more activity improvement in 6-MU group. The durability of SVR was 100% (18/18) and 97.8% (45/46) for 3-MU and 6-MU group, respectively, in a mean follow-up period of 6.81 years (5.25–9.18 years). For 163 baseline non-cirrhotic patients, 9 of 84 (10.7%) non-responders and 3 of 79 (3.8%) sustained responders progressed to cirrhosis during a mean follow-up period of 5.52 and 5.74 years, respectively (p = 0.067, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank test). For all 200 patients, hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in 12 of 113 (10.6%) non-responders and one of 87 (1.1%) sustained responders during a mean follow-up period of 5.67 and 5.73 years, respectively (p < 0.01, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank test). CONCLUSION: We confirm the dose effect of interferon-alpha in chronic hepatitis C. Six-MU regimen had better efficacy than 3-MU regimen in virologic and histological responses. Both regimens had good tolerability and durability in Taiwan. Sustained response could reduce the incidence of cirrhotic change and hepatocarcinogenesis

Etiology, Severity and Recurrence of Acute Pancreatitis in Southern Taiwan

Changes in lifestyle have led to variation in the etiologies of acute pancreatitis in different areas of Taiwan. This study investigated the etiologies and factors associated with severity and recurrence of acute pancreatitis in southern Taiwan. Methods: Eighty acute pancreatitis patients (M/F: 64/16), including 53 (66.2%) with alcohol abuse, 16 (20%) with biliary disease, five (6.3%) with hyperlipidemia, and six (7.5%) with other risk factors, etiologies or idiopathic disease, were included. The mean follow-up period was 20 months. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was used to assess the severity of acute pancreatitis. Results: Biliary pancreatitis was significantly associated with females while alcoholic pancreatitis occurred predominantly in males. Univariate analysis showed that male gender, alcoholic pancreatitis, and elevated serum triglyceride (>170 mg/dL) were significantly associated with severe acute pancreatitis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male gender and abnormal serum triglyceride were independent risk factors for severity. Alcohol abuse was an independent risk factor for recurrent pancreatitis. Conclusion: Alcoholic pancreatitis was the major etiology of acute pancreatitis in southern Taiwan, exhibiting a strong male predominance and higher risk of severe CT grading. Abnormal serum triglyceride was independently associated with the severity of acute pancreatitis. Alcoholic pancreatitis had a higher risk of recurrence than other etiologies