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Biomedical subjects

C C Chien

Publications and source records attributed to C C Chien.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Internal jugular phlebectasia.

Phlebectasia, defined as abnormal venous dilation, may occur in a number of different sites. Two cases with definite diagnosis of internal jugular phlebectasia were reported. The first case was a 6-year-old girl with a bulging mass on right neck for 3 years. Angiography and CT scan showed definite diagnosis, and the bulging mass was resected from the internal jugular vein (IJV). The second case was a 66-year-old female patient, also complained of a bulging mass on her right neck. Sonogram and CT scan also showed the same diagnosis. Because it did not bother the patient, she was just under close observation. From the three kinds of diagnostic modalities, we found sonography is an effective technique because of its clarity, safety and low cost.

Aged

[Iron absorption in HbH disease].

We have reported that many cases of Hb H disease have a complication of iron overload without a history of multiple blood transfusion or prolonged iron therapy. We determined their iron absorption by 59Fe whole body counting in 13 such cases. Also 10 normal subjects were studied as a control group. The results showed a significant increase in iron absorption to 20.3%, in contrast to 6.9% in the normal control. This was further documented by their RBC incorporation (i.e. the percentage of orally administered) 59Fe recovered in the total RBC mass) on day 14 (13.7% vs 6.1%). The degree of ineffective erythropoiesis might not be severe considering their similar 59Fe utilization by RBC (i.e. the percentage of absorbed 59Fe recovered in the RBC) to the normals (86.3% vs. 84.3%).

Absorption

Does Hakka ethnic group have higher incidence of thalassemia traits in Taiwanese population?

The purpose of this survey is to find out whether Hakka group has higher incidence of thalassemia traits in our population. A total of 1,115 healthy employees from a company were screened by complete blood count (CBC) with indices. Those subjects with mean corpuscular volume (MCV) less than 80 fl were further evaluated by hemoglobin electrophoresis and modified hemoglobin H (Hb H) inclusion staining to confirm the diagnosis of beta- and alpha-thalassemia traits, respectively. We evaluated and compared the crude occurrence rates of thalassemia traits in Hakka, non-Hakka, and Taiwanese. Subjects with one or both Hakka parents had higher crude incidence of alpha-thalassemia traits than other groups of subjects, but this phenomenon wasn't found in beta-thalassemia traits.

Adult

Comparison of two screening methods, modified Hb H preparation and the osmotic fragility test, for alpha-thalassemic traits on the basis of gene mapping.

We evaluated 61 patients with two screening tests for alpha-thalassemia traits on the basis of endonuclease gene mapping. Comparing these two methods--the osmotic fragility test of the red cell and modified hemoglobin H inclusion staining for the sensitivity--we found that the latter was much superior to the former with 100% sensitivity in detecting heterozygous alpha-1 thalassemia and it was also specific as a confirmatory test for thalassemia traits. Red cell indices are still the basic screening tool and can be used together with modified Hb H inclusion staining. The osmotic fragility test was not better than the red cell indices and was not confirmatory. Besides the MCV, RBC, and discrimination functions, we found that RBC distribution width-standard deviation (RDW-SD) was consistently low in heterozygous alpha-1 thalassemia but not in heterozygous alpha-2 thalassemia. None of the above tests was shown to be really helpful in screening in the latter situation. We conclude that the modified Hb H inclusion staining is superior to the osmotic fragility test in screening of alpha-1 thalassemia.

Chromosome Deletion

[Elongated styloid process syndrome].

An elongated styloid process may be a source of craniofacial and cervical pain. The syndrome is characterized by a variety of symptoms including difficulty in swallowing, sore throat, glossodynia, headache and hemifacial pain. Sometimes, the pain is localized or radiates to the jaw and ear and may simulate pain of dental origin. Diagnosis is readily made by radiographic examination and palpating the tonsillar fossa. The only effective treatment is surgical shortening of the styloid process. Three patients, two women and a man, underwent surgery in our department for symptomatic elongation of the styloid process. The surgical procedures were conducted under general anaesthesia via a cervical approach in one patient and intraoral approach in two patients. All patients were completely relieved after styloid process resection and did not have any postoperative complications, except for cervical numbness in one case.

Adult

The effect of volume of epidural morphine on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing cesarean section.

Ninety paturients undergoing elective cesarean section were included in this randomized study to compare the influence of the injected volume of epidural morphine (EM) on postoperative analgesia. Three similar groups of patients (n = 30 each) received 2 mg EM in 2 ml, 10 ml, and 20 ml saline respectively one hour after the last dose of 2% lidocaine. Pain scores (0-10) at rest (including uterine contraction pain) at the 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 18th, and 24th h were compared among the three groups. There were no statistically significant differences of pain score among the three groups although lower pain score was present in the 20 ml group since the 8th h and thereafter. Regarding the number of patients who requested additional meperidine for pain relief 3 in 2 ml group, 2 in 10 ml group and 1 in 20 ml group respectively. The result may suggest that the influence of the injected volume of EM on postcesarean analgesia is not obvious.

Adult

Diclofenac sodium and low dose epidural morphine for postcesarean analgesia.

A randomized double-blind study of parturients after Cesarean section was undertaken to assess the efficacy of the combination of single dose intramuscular diclofenac sodium and low dose epidural morphine (EM) for postoperative analgesia. 50 parturients under epidural anesthesia were divided into 2 treatment groups: group A received 2 mg EM 30 min after the last dose of lidocaine and 3 ml normal saline i.m. at recovery room; group B received the same EM and 75 mg diclofenac i.m. postoperatively. Pain scores were compared at the 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 18th, and 24th h. Results showed that group B was superior to group A in analgesic quality from the 8th h and thereafter (P less than 0.05) and 100% patients in group B were in the excellent to good analgesia categories at the 8th and 12th h record compared to 92% and 72% patients in group A respectively. Side effects were similar in both groups. The combination of NSAIDs with low dose EM could improve the analgesic quality after Cesarean section.

Adult

Significant functional recovery after delayed evacuation of traumatic thoracic intramedullary hematoma: case report.

A patient with traumatic thoracic intramedullary hematoma underwent operation 1 month postinjury. Evacuation and syringosubarachnoid shunting resulted in return of bladder control and of sufficient strength in the lower extremities to permit independent walking. The outcome is discussed in light of the literature on traumatic intramedullary hematoma. The value of magnetic resonance imaging is noted. We suggest an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach toward intramedullary spinal cord hematomas.

Hematoma

Preparation of functionalized derivatives of inulin: conjugation of erythrocytes for hemagglutination and plaque-forming cell assays.

A method is described for preparing derivatives of alkali-stable polysaccharides for coupling to immunogen carriers or to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) for use in hemagglutination (HA) and plaque-forming cell (PFC) assays. Inulin, a beta (2 leads to 1)-linked polyfructosan was partially derivatized with carboxyl, aminoethyl or (p-aminophenyl)butyryl groups; the latter derivative was coupled to SRBC following diazotization. Optimal conditions for the sensitization of SRBC with inulin were given. The immunological reactivity of the inulin molecule was unaffected by the derivatization reactions, and high, reproducible anti-inulin HA titers for inulin-binding myeloma proteins were found using these specifically sensitized SRBC. The sensitized SRBC were stable for assays for over 2 weeks. Problems with spontaneous agglutination or distortion of sensitized SRBC, normally seen in other procedures, e.g., methods using stearoyl-inulin, were not encountered.

Animals

Idiotypes of inulin-binding myeloma proteins localized to variable region light and heavy chains: genetic significance.

Idiotypes of inulin-binding myeloma proteins (InuBMP) were determined primarly by variable region light chains (VL) or by variable region heavy chains (VH) but needed both chains to be expressed. Recombinant molecules were used to show that individual idiotypes (IdI) of U61, E109, T957, and A4 InuBMP and cross-specific idiotypes (IdXB) of U61 were primarily determined by VL while cross-specific idiotype (IdXA) of A4 was determined mainly by VH. The assignment of genes controlling idiotypes to VH based on allotype linkage (e.g., IdXB) is dubious until the role of the L chain in determining that idiotype is assessed. IdXB has been shown to be a VL-VH marker which presumably is controlled by two unlinked genes. However IdXB can be used as a L chain marker in combinations of strains differing in their L chain genes but having the same permissive H chain genes. Conversely IdXB can be used as a H chain marker in strains having the same permissive L chain genes but differing in their H chain genes.

Animals

Preferential assignment of allotype a1 globulin for the production of early IgM anti-para-azobenzenearsonate antibodies in heterozygous a1a3 rabbits.

Rabbits of allotype a1a3 were injected on days 0, 2, and 4 with mixtures containing equal amounts of pigeon erythrocytes (Prbc) coupled to para-azobenzenearsonate (AA) and to para-azobenzene-N-trimethylammonium (TMA). On day 6, the allotypes of antibody from plaque-forming cells (PFC) of the blood were determined by observing the inhibition of plaque formation by anti-allotype sera. Anti-AA PFC appeared to consist for the most part of cells making antibody of allotype a1 since 65% of them were inhibited by anti-a1 serum and only 8% by anti-a3. Anti-TMA PFC, on the other hand, appeared to consist mostly of cells making antibody of allotype a3, since less than 1% of them were inhibited by anti-a1 but 47% by anti-a3. Antibody allotype for spleen PFC was also determined on day 6 and was similar to that found for blood PFC. Anti-AA PFC were inhibited 74% by anti-a1 serum and 15% by anti-a3 whereas anti-TMA PFC were inhibited 19% by anti-a1 and 43% by anti-a3. Serum hemolysin specific for AA hapten from a1a3 animals was also strongly inhibited by anti-a1 serum but not by anti-a3 whereas the converse was true for hemolysin against TMA hapten. The a1a3 rabbits, in whcih the anti-AA was restricted to allotype a1, were mated to produced homozygous a3a3 animals. When the PFC and serum antibodies of these a3a3 offspring were examined by specific inhibition, the anti-AA activity was found to be of allotype a3 rather than being a-negative. The number of anti-AA PFC in the blood of a3a3 rabbits was lower than that in blood of a1a3 or a1a1 animals. In addition, the TMA hapten appeared to inhibit the response to the AA hapten. Thus a1a3 rabbits immunized with AA-Prbc alone had 14-fold more anti-AA PFC or 18-fold higher anti-AA hemolysin titer than a3a3 animals immunized with both AA-Prbc and TMA-Prbc. Our results are discussed in relation to various explanations which have been offered for an imbalance of allotypes in a given antibody.

Amino Acids

Idiotype of inulin-binding antibodies and myeloma proteins controlled by genes linked to the allotype locus of the mouse.

The serum from non-immunized mice of strains BALB/c, C58, A/He, and RIII contained hemagglutinins for stearoyl inulin-coated SRBC. Immunization with bacterial levan slightly elevated these titers. These same sera also carried cross-specific idiotypic determinants (IdX) that are associated only with inulin-binding myeloma proteins (INBMP) of BLAB/c mice. Three InuldX specificities, A, B, and G, were identified. The InuIdX phenotypes of strains BALB/c, C58, and A/He were InuIdXA+B+G+; strain RIII was InuIdX A+B-G+; strain C57BL/6, C57BL/10, DBA/2, AKR and NH were A-B-G-. Strains CBA, C3H, PL, and C57L could not be typed because of low and inconsistent levels of InuIdX and anti-inulin hemagglutinins. The InuIdXA+B+G+ phenotype was used as a genetic marker in immunoglobulin congenic strains CB-20, BAB-14, and BC-8 and in Bailey RI strains which are derived from crosses of BALB/c (InuIdXA+B+G+) and C57BL/ka or C57BL/6, respectively (InuldXA-B-G-). Linkage of the IdXA+B+G+ to the BALB/c a allotype locus was demonstrated. In addition, the InuldXA+B+G+ marker was used as a phenotype in an analysis of 168 first generation backcorss progeny (C57BL X (C57BL X BALB/c) F). Linkage of the marker to the BALB/c allotype was found again. Two proven recombinant mice having the C57BL a allotype and the InuIdxA+B+G+ markers were identified and progeny tested. Four other potential crossover types are still being progeny-tested.

Animals