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Biomedical subjects

C C Wu

Publications and source records attributed to C C Wu.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Sonographic characteristics of adenofibroma of the endometrium following tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer: two case reports.

Adenofibroma of the endometrium is thought to be a rare benign variant of the mixed mesodermal tumor, and its preoperative diagnosis is difficult. We describe the sonographic characteristics of two cases of adenofibroma of the endometrium. In both cases the patient was receiving prolonged tamoxifen therapy following surgery for breast cancer. Sonographically, this rare disease is observed as an intracavitary mass containing multiple small cysts with low-resistance intratumor blood flow. The unique sonographic findings make the preoperative diagnosis possible.

Adenofibroma↗
PubMed1996

Factors influencing postoperative morbidity, mortality, and survival after resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE; Morbidity and mortality involved in the resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed retrospectively. The clinicopathologic and laboratory parameters that might influence the patient's survival also were re-evaluated. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Although much progress has been made in the diagnosis and management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, long-term outlook for most patients remains poor. Surgical resection is usually prohibited because of its local invasiveness, and most patients can only be managed by palliative drainage. Recently, many surgeons have adopted a more aggressive resection with varying degrees of success. Several prognostic factors in bile duct carcinoma have been proposed; however, no reports have specifically focused on resected hilar cholangiocarcinoma and its prognostic survival factors using multivariate analysis. METHODS: The clinical records and pathologic slides of 49 cases with resected hilar cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed retrospectively. Twenty clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated for their correlation with postoperative morbidity and mortality, whereas 31 variables were evaluated for their significance with postoperative survival. Variables showing statistical significance in the first univariate analysis were included in the following multivariate analysis using stepwise logistic regression test for factors affecting morbidity and mortality and Cox stepwise proportional hazard model for factors influencing survival. RESULTS: There were 5 in-hospital deaths, and the cumulative 5-year survival rate in 44 patients who survived was 14.9%, with a median survival of 14.0 months. Multivariate analysis disclosed that co-existent hepatolithiasis and lower serum asparate aminotransferase levels (<90 U/L) had a significant low incidence of postoperative morbidity, whereas a serum albumin of less than 3 g/dL was the only significant factor affecting mortality. Regarding survival, univariate analysis identified eight significant factors: 1) total bilirubin > or = 10 mg/dL, 2) curative resection, 3) histologic type, 4) perineural invasion, 5) liver invasion, 6) depth of cancer invasion, 7) positive proximal resected margin, and 8) positive surgical margin. However, multivariate analysis disclosed total bilirubin > or = 10 mg/dL, curative resection, and histologic type as the three most significant independent variables. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection provides the best survival for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. An adequate nutritional support to increase serum albumin over 3 g/dL is the most important factor to decrease postoperative mortality. Moreover, preoperative biliary drainage to decrease jaundice and a curative resection with adequate surgical margin are recommended if longer survival is anticipated. Patients with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma seem to survive longer compared to those with moderately or poorly differentiated tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Humeral shaft nonunion treated by a Seidel interlocking nail with a supplementary staple.

Thirty-two adult patients with humeral shaft nonunions were treated with Seidel interlocking nails, and 6 of these 32 patients required an added staple. The indication for inserting a staple was rotational instability, despite use of a distal spreading screw. All 6 patients with nonunions were followed for at least 1 year (median, 1.5 years), and all experienced a solid union. The union period was a median of 5 months, with a range of 3 to 7 months. No complications were noted. The author believes that all humeral shaft nonunions may be treated by a Seidel interlocking nail with or without a staple supplementation and cancellous bone graft. The technique is simple, and its results are satisfactory. Predrilling the cortices of both fragments is key to successful insertion of a staple.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Distal tibial nonunion treated by intramedullary reaming with external immobilization.

Seventeen distal tibial nonunions were treated by a combination of metal removal with closed intramedullary reaming for internal bone graft and application of a long leg cast for aseptic nonunions and an external fixator for quiescent septic nonunions. The nonunions were present for a median of 1.8 years (range, 1.2-3.4 years). All achieved a solid union with a union period of 5.2 +/- 1.6 months. There was one complication of a renewed infection in a septic nonunion. The functional rating score improved from all unsatisfactory before treatment to 13 satisfactory after treatment. The other four (all were infected nonunions) also improved from poor to a fair outcome. In conclusion, the technique described is a simple and effective method to treat some complex distal tibial nonunions.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Biomechanical analysis of location of lag screw of a dynamic hip screw in treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fracture.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the most adequate location of a lag screw of a dynamic hip screw in the treatment of an unstable intertrochanteric fracture. METHODS: Six pairs of proximal femora obtained from fresh adult cadavers were inflicted with iatrogenic unstable intertrochanteric fractures. Fractures of both sides were stabilized with two different favored locations of a lag screw and tested by a Material Testing System machine with increased loads to evaluate the relative migration of the femoral head. RESULTS: There was significant difference (p < 0.05) with less migration of the femoral head by inferior insertion of a lag screw in the frontal plane and central insertion in the coronal plane. CONCLUSIONS: Based on theoretical and experimental considerations, the most adequate location of a lag screw of a dynamic hip screw should be inferior in the frontal plane and central in the coronal plane.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Visceral mycosis in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) due to Sporobolomyces salmonicolor.

One-month-old Chinook salmon fry from a cold-water hatchery were presented live for euthanasia and necropsy. Gross lesions were emaciation in 90% of the fry and ascites and increased cutaneous pigmentation in the remaining 10%. A cause for the emaciation was not determined. Histologically, the fry with ascites and increased pigmentation had visceral mycosis with aerocystitis, myositis, peritonitis, and dermatitis. Sporobolomyces salmonicolor, a rare human pathogen, was isolated and identified in tissue sections from affected fry.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of antibiotics for the elimination of the tonsillar carrier state of Streptococcus suis in pigs.

Seventy clinically normal 13-day-old crossbred pigs from 10 litters from a Streptococcus suis-infected herd were randomly assigned by litter and weight to 7 groups of 10 pigs each to determine whether different antibiotic regimens would eliminate the tonsillar carrier state of S. suis. Six antimicrobial regimens were tested: penicillin intramuscularly (IM) once daily (s.i.d.) for 3 consecutive days; penicillin IM s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; ampicillin IM s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; ampicillin per os s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; ampicillin intranasally s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; and ceftiofur sodium IM s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days. The seventh group consisted of untreated control pigs. Tonsillar swab samples were collected before treatment, and tonsillar tissue samples were collected after treatment for cultural examination for S. suis. Streptococcus suis was identified in pigs from all groups prior to treatment and after treatment. Pigs did not have clinical signs of disease during the study. All antimicrobial treatments tested in this study failed to eliminate the tonsillar carrier state of S. suis. Early weaning and medication used in this study were not effective for the elimination of the tonsillar carrier state of S. suis in pigs. Optimization of management and environment of pigs coupled with strategic medication of clinically ill animals should be used for control and prevention of mortality caused by streptococcosis.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1996

The difference that linear energy transfer makes to precursors of DNA strand breaks.

Using agarose gel electrophoresis, we have measured the yields of DN A single- and double-strand breaks (SSBs and DSBs) for plasmid DNA irradiated in aerobic aqueous solution with either 137Cs gamma rays or 4He ions with a mean LET of 94 or 150 keV micron-1. The presence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in a decrease in the yields of both SSBs and DSBs, with a greater decrease being apparent for gamma irradiation than for 4He-ion irradiation. Irradiation by 4He ions in the presence of N-(2-thioethyl)- 1,3-diaminopropane (WR-1065) resulted in a decrease in the yield of SSBs and a slightly larger decrease in the yield of DSBs. Together with results obtained previously, these observations suggest a substantial contribution to the formation of SSBs and DSBs by 4He ions by species containing at least two radicals and more than two radicals, respectively.

DNA Damage↗
PubMed1996

Pregnancy following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer by microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration from a patient with congenital absence of the vas deferens: a case report.

Congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) has been considered a virtually untreatable cause of male infertility. Men with this condition have been shown on testicular biopsy to have adequate spermatogenesis, and are theoretically producing sperm capable of fertilizing an oocyte. Yet epididymal transit was thought to be essential for the maturation of spermatozoa and development of their fertilizing ability since the characteristics of sperm motility improve as the sperm passes through the cauda. However recent studies in man have shown that spermatozoa aspirated from the obstructed caput epididymis and ductuli efferentia are, in fact, capable of fertilization in vitro. Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) from the proximal region (caput) of the epididymis, obtained 0.5 x 10(6) sperm per ml, following washing and direct swim-up. Twelve oocytes were inseminated and three embryos were generated for transfer. The patient conceived and delivered a healthy female baby weighting 2838 gm, on March 3, 1994. This is the first documentation in Taiwan of live birth resulting from MESA from a patient with CAVD combined with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Hepatic angiomyolipoma: a report of two cases.

Two cases of rare hepatic angiomyolipoma are reported. Both represented with slight abdominal discomfort. The first patient complained of abdominal fullness, and had a normal physical examination and laboratory data. The second came with epigastralgia. Tenderness over right upper quadrant was noted and positive hepatitis B antigen was found. Ultrasound demonstrated hyperechoic hepatic lesion in both. Although diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma was suspected by the radiological findings of ultrasound, CT, MRI, and angiography, it was confirmed by the histological presence of three mesenchymal components: abundant vessels, mature fat cells and smooth muscle cells. For fear of the coexistence of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially given the high prevalence area of Taiwan, surgical intervention was recommended if liver function permitted. Successful treatment was achieved by hepatic resection in both cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of the reaction rate coefficient of DNA with the hydroxyl radical.

Using agarose gel electrophoresis, we have measured the yield of single-strand breaks (SSBs) induced by 137Cs gamma irradiation in a variety of plasmid DNA substrates ranging in size from 2.7 kb to 38 kb irradiated in aerobic aqueous solution in the presence of the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Under these conditions DNA SSBs are caused mainly by the hydroxyl radical. Using the competition between DMSO and DNA for the hydroxyl radical, we have estimated the rate coefficient for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with DNA. The results cannot be characterized by conventional steady-state competition kinetics. However, it is possible to describe the second-order rate constant for the reaction as a function of the scavenging capacity of the solution. The second-order rate constant increases with increasing scavenging capacity, rising from about 5 x 10(8) dm3 mol-1 s-1 at 10(5) s-1 to about 10(10) dm3 mol-1 s-1 at 10(10) s-1. This dependence of the second-order rate constant on the scavenging capacity appears to be more pronounced for larger plasmids.

DNA↗
PubMed1996

Methylperoxyl radicals as intermediates in the damage to DNA irradiated in aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide with gamma rays.

Using agarose gel electrophoresis, we have measured the yields of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) for plasmid DNA gamma-irradiated in aerobic aqueous solution. Incubation after irradiation with the base damage repair endonucleases formamidopyrimidine-DNA N-glycosylase (FPG) or endonuclease III (endo III) results in an increase in the yield of SSBs. In the absence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) during irradiation, this increase is consistent with the yields of known substrates for FPG and endo III as determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. After irradiation in the presence of 1 mol dm-3 DMSO, the increase in the yield of SSBs after enzyme incubation was further enhanced by a factor of about 5 to 7. The magnitude of this effect, the inability of acrylamide or oxygen to suppress it, and its attenuation by N,N,N',N'-tetramethylphenylenediamine (TMPD) or glycerol all suggest that the methylperoxyl radical (derived from DMSO) is involved as an intermediate. Reactions of the methylperoxyl radical (or some other species derived from it) do not result in strand break damage, but are responsible for DNA base damages which are recognized by FPG and endo III.

Buffers↗
PubMed1996

Correlation between quantitative severity of stress thallium-201 myocardial perfusion defect and severity of coronary stenosis.

The correlation between the quantitative myocardial perfusion defect severity of stress 201Tl single-photon emission computed tomography and the severity of coronary stenosis was investigated in 28 patients with angina pectoris. Among the 28 patients, four had normal or nearly normal coronary angiograms, seven had one-vessel disease, six had two-vessel disease and 11 had three-vessel disease. Seven patients had prior myocardial infarctions and two had collateral flows to the diseased vessels. The quantitative 201Tl defect severity score was obtained by summing the standard deviations of each pixel in which the counts fell > 2.5 SD below the mean normal counts. The severity of coronary stenosis was expressed as the Gensini score. The quantitative 201Tl defect severity score correlated significantly with the Gensini score. In patients without prior myocardial infarction or collateral flow, a more significant correlation between the quantitative 201Tl defect severity score and the Gensini score was found. Quantitative analysis of stress 201Tl defect severity provides a useful, noninvasive assessment of the functional severity of coronary stenosis compared with coronary angiography.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Co-administration of midazolam decreases propofol dose during anesthesia in endoscopic laryngeal microsurgery.

BACKGROUND: Propofol is commonly used in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) for brief surgical procedures because it offers rapid recovery and has fewer side effects. However, concomittent use of other adjuvant agents has been considered so that the same anesthetic effects can be achieved at lower doses of propofol which is more expensive without compromising rapid recovery and increasing the adverse effects. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the co-administration of midazolam and propofol during anesthesia for endoscopic microsurgery and test its influences on the consumption of propofol and the quality of anesthesia. METHODS: Forty-two patients receiving selective endoscopic microsurgery were enrolled in this study. All patients received high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) under TIVA. The control group (n = 21) received propofol (20 mg/5 s) during induction and 10 mg/kg/h as maintenance. The study group (n = 21) received midazolam (0.06 mg/kg) and propofol (20 mg/5 s) for induction with propofol 8 mg/kg/hr for maintenance. Doses of propofol, vital signs, recovery time, post-anesthetic high cortical function, and adverse events were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Co-administration of midazolam and propofol in TIVA could reduce the induction dose and the total dose of propofol by 51% and 26% respectively but still achieve the same anesthetic effects. Vital signs and recovery were not influenced, and incidence of adverse effects did not increase. CONCLUSIONS: Our result suggests that co-administration of midazolam and propofol in TIVA appears to be safe, effective, and economic alternative to that with propofol alone. The effects were synergic but side effects were not.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Dobutamine stress echocardiography predicts early wall motion improvement after elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

In 24 patients with chronic coronary artery disease, dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was performed within 2 days before and after successful elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in a blinded fashion. Patients with ischemic response on DSE before PTCA had significant improvement in the global peak-dose DSE score index after PTCA (1.62 +/- 0.35 to 1.40 +/- 0.29, p < 0.001), whereas patients without ischemic response had no improvement. The positive and negative predictive values of pre-PTCA DSE on early myocardial ischemia relief after angioplasty were 93% and 80%, respectively. In patients showing contractility recruitment during low-dose dobutamine infusion in the DSE before PTCA, there was significant improvement in the global resting wall motion score index in the DSE after PTCA (1.48 +/- 0.43 to 1.34 +/- 0.33, p = 0.004), while patients without contractility recruitment showed no improvement. Again, the positive and negative predictive values of pre-PTCA DSE on early hibernation recovery following angioplasty were 80% and 89%, respectively. In conclusion, DSE in patients with chronic, stable coronary artery disease accurately predicts wall motion improvement after successful angioplasty, and the expected improvement is safely demonstrated early after the procedure.

Adult↗