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Biomedical subjects

C F Lee

Publications and source records attributed to C F Lee.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Factors related to the choice of clinic between Chinese traditional medicine and Western medicine].

The study applied Andersen's health-service utilization model to analyze the basic demographic, enabling and need factors related to the choice of traditional Chinese medicine clinic or modern Western medicine clinic by single-method-treatment (i.e. traditional Chinese medicine or modern Western medicine only) patients. During the period from August 1989 to October 1989, systemic sampling was done and a structured questionnaire survey was carried out among patients from the Out-patient Departments of 13 teaching hospitals accepting reimbursement by Labor Medical Insurance in Taiwan. The total number of valid respondents was 579: 378 (65.3%) were visiting modern Western medicine clinics and 201 (34.7%), traditional Chinese medicine clinics. There were 339 (58.6%) males and 240 (41.4%) females, aged from 15 to 85 years old, with a mean of 40.7 years. Under univariate analysis, the significant variables (p < 0.05) related to visiting the two types of clinics were: nativity, religious belief, career, general health condition, severity of illness of this episode, types of disorder as neuromusculoskeletal, digestive, circulatory, endocrine-metabolic and sense-and-skin. By logistic regression analysis, the significant variables (p < 0.05) relating to visiting two types of clinics were religion, career, and two kinds of disorders. Folk-religion believers, farmers and businessmen favored traditional Chinese medicine; and patients who suffered from musculoskeletal, sense organs or skin disorders were also likely to visit traditional Chinese medicine clinics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Taiwan: a population study of urban, suburban, rural differences.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of symptomatic rheumatic disease in rural, urban and suburban areas of Taiwan by a 2-staged population survey. METHODS: Nine thousand subjects over 20 years old were sampled proportional to age and sex for the area from 3 administrative areas in Taiwan. A pretested questionnaire to screen for potential rheumatic disorders and/or disability was administered in the communities by health workers. Subjects who screened positive were examined by a rheumatologist who assigned a final diagnosis based on established criteria. RESULTS: A total of 8998 persons over age 20 residing in Hen-San (rural area), Sien-Dien (suburban), and Cu-Tien (urban) were studied. Twenty-five percent (2272) of the population indicated rheumatic problems: 1124 of 2271 were evaluated by a rheumatologist with serological and radiological testing. The response rates were 49.7% in Hen-San, 50.7% in Sien-Dien and 48.5% on Cu-Tien. After age and sex adjustment, the prevalence of rheumatic symptoms in Hen-San, Sien-Dien, and Cu-Tien was 24.3, 18.4 and 26.3% respectively. It was significantly higher in rural Hen-San and urban Cu-Tien than in Sien-Dien. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Hen-San, Sien-Dien, and Cu-Tien was 0.26, 0.78, and 0.93%, osteoarthritis (OA) was 6.3, 5.8, 5.1%, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was 0.54, 0.19, 0.4%, gout was 0.16, 0.67, 0.67%, respectively. The prevalence of RA in Sien-Dien and Cu-Tien was significantly higher than in Hen-San (p < 0.05) but were not statistically different for OA, AS and gout among those 3 sites. Only one case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was found in urban Cu-Tien for a prevalence of 0.033%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the prevalence of RA and AS is similar to that reported in Caucasians. We could not confirm anecdotal reports that SLE was common or that it is more common than RA in people of Chinese ancestry. The prevalence of OA of the hip is comparatively uncommon in our population. The difference in prevalence of rheumatism, RA, OA and gout in these areas suggests areas of further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A coupled assay detecting defects in fibroblast isoleucine degradation distal to enoyl-CoA hydratase: application to 3-oxothiolase deficiency.

We developed a coupled NaH14CO3 fixation assay to detect 3-oxothiolase deficiency in extracts of cultured human fibroblasts. Cell extracts were incubated with tiglyl-CoA, NAD, CoASH, ATP and NaH14CO3. The enzymatic activities of tiglyl-CoA (enoyl-CoA) hydratase, 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase and 2-methylacetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (3-oxothiolase) were coupled to produce propionyl-CoA. Propionyl-CoA produced in the assay was estimated by fixation of NaH14CO3 into [14C]methylmalonyl-CoA employing endogenous propionyl-CoA carboxylase. The control activity was 32 +/- 23 pmol/min per mg protein (+/- 1 S.D., range 7-94; 28 cell lines). Five known cases of 3-oxothiolase deficiency had a mean activity of 2% of the control; a sixth case of 3-oxothiolase deficiency was significantly higher at 27% of the mean control value. Coupled assay activity was also low (3% of control) in the cells from a patient with propionyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase↗
PubMed1992

Respite service to family caregivers by the senior companion program: an urban-rural comparison.

The Senior Companion Program (SCP), a federally sponsored program, aims to enlist older volunteers to provide in-home services to the homebound elderly. A survey of 48 sample SCP projects providing family caregiver services reveals a distinctly different trajectory of urban and rural project development. In both environments, the longer a project has been in existence, the greater the number of volunteers in service. However, the number of clients served increases for urban projects, but not for rural projects. Relatedly, the unmet need for family caregiver services, the number of referrals unserved by the project, is considerably greater in rural areas. These results suggest that because of factors unique to rural areas, the expansion of clientele may be more restricted in rural settings compared to that in urban settings, thereby implying that rural-urban differences should be reflected in project planning and implementation.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Comparative studies on thermoregulatory responses to heat between Japanese Brazilians and Japanese.

Eight male Japanese Brazilians (20-32 yrs) and 11 male Japanese (22-24 yrs) volunteered for this study. The Brazilians had been staying for about 2-21 weeks in Japan. Their physical characteristics are not significantly different from those of the Japanese. Each one of them sat on a chair for 45 min at 40 degrees C (R.H. 50%) in a climatic chamber. Then, they exercised using a bicycle ergometer in a semi-reclining position for 45 min at 40% of maximal oxygen uptake. Forearm blood flow (FBF), oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), skin temperature (Tsk), sweat rate (SR) at chest region and body weight loss (delta Wt) were measured. Thermal sensation and thermal comfort were also measured. Thermal and comfort sensation confirmed that Japanese Brazilians felt cooler and more comfortable in 40 degrees C environment than the Japanese. VO2, SR and delta Wt for both groups were not significantly different. FBF and HR for Brazilians were significantly lower than those for Japanese. Tsk at chest region for Brazilians was found to be significantly higher than that for Japanese. Thus the thermoregulatory responses observed in Japanese Brazilians may be largely attributed to the climate in their native places located on the Tropic of Capricorn.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The effect of bead attachment systems on casting patterns and resultant tensile bond strength of composite resin veneer cast restorations.

This study compared the difference in tensile bond strength between the composite resin veneer and the cast Ni-Cr disk when different bead adhesives were used to make the laboratory patterns. Visio-Gem, cyanoacrylate, and shellac were the adhesives tested. Fifty-six composite resin bonded Ni-Cr disks were prepared and tested to tensile failure with the Kemper-Kilian device. All tested samples showed a complex failure pattern. The results showed that the mean tensile bond strength of the cyanoacrylate group was significantly higher than the other two groups. No significant difference in the mean tensile bond strength was observed between the Visio-Gem and shellac groups. The higher tensile bond strength in the cyanoacrylate group is thought to be attributed to the low rheological property of the adhesive that allowed greater exposure of the bead for retention. Using different adhesives in the fabrication of composite resin veneered-castings may affect the bond strength in the composite resin-metal interface.

Acid Etching, Dental↗
PubMed1991

Video microscope observations of human premolar eruption.

It is now possible to observe with an accuracy of 1-2 microns the pattern of eruptive movements of a human premolar as it moves from gingival emergence to the occlusal plane. This was accomplished by use of a video microscope to track the position of an optical ruling on the erupting tooth relative to a reference ruling mounted on adjacent teeth that were in occlusion. Net eruptive movements averaging 25-75 microns occurred from one day to the next until the tooth was almost in occlusion; then the eruptive rate slowed. Eruption occurred almost entirely at night. During the day, there was a marked slowing or cessation of eruption and often intrusion, which appeared to be related to masticatory activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Maintenance lithium levels could be lowered: based on Taiwanese and Danish studies.

Twenty-two patients, 8 males and 14 females, who had been lithium-free for at least 1 week were included in this study. All patients took 900 mg of Lithonate at 8:00 a.m. while in a fasting state. A 5 ml blood sample was taken at 9:00 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m., and at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the next day. Plasma was separated immediately, and the lithium level was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: K12 (microconstant) = 0.3455 +/- 0.5345 (mean +/- SD) h-1; K21 (microconstant) = 0.1691 +/- 0.1242 h-1; K10 (microconstant) = 0.1320 +/- 0.1112 h-1; Vl (volume of distribution of central compartment) = 16.9057 +/- 5.9384 1; Vss (volume of distribution at steady state) = 38.8917 +/- 11.4540 1; V-beta (volume of distribution of elimination phase) = 46.3809 +/- 13.8742 1; alpha (distribution rate constant) = 0.5932 +/- 0.7090; and beta (excretion rate constant) = 0.0361 +/- 0.0141. The mean elimination half-life, AUC (the area under the curve) and clearance were 22.5 +/- 9.9 h (range from 9.6 to 50.4 h), 16.33 +/- 5.52 mmoll-1h (8.69 to 31.81 mmoll-1 h), and 1.65 +/- 0.53 1h-1 (0.76 to 2.28 1h-1) or 28.59 +/- 9.58 ml/kg-1 h-1, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in beta, AUC and clearance between Taiwanese/Chinese and Danish results. The possibility of lowering the traditional prophylactic therapeutic range of lithium to around 0.5-0.8 mmol/L is supported by the results of this study.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigen from clinical specimens in viral transport media.

A total of 301 clinical specimens (229 culture positive and 72 culture negative) were assayed retrospectively by an enzyme immunoassay. Specimens were transported to the virus lab in viral transport media (VTM), and were inoculated into HF and A549 cell culture tubes for viral isolation with the remainder of the sample being saved at -70 degrees C. Specimens were thawed, vortexed and resuspended in 10 x Herptran concentrate and each sample was then added in duplicate to designated wells of a microtiter plate for the EIA assay. The EIA detected 147/150 (98%) culture positive specimens from symptomatic patients, 63/79 (79.7%) culture positive specimens from patients considered asymptomatic and 210/229 (91.7%) culture positive specimens overall. The EIA was negative for 70/72 (97.2%) culture negative specimens. These data suggest that the EIA test can be used with clinical specimens submitted in conventional VTM. However, VTM samples which are EIA negative, particularly with EIA values close to the EIA positive cutoff value, need to be cultured.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1990

Steroid receptors in benign mastectomy tissue.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors (ERs and PRs, respectively) were measured in both cancerous and noncancerous components of 104 modified radical mastectomy specimens. In addition, ER and PR levels were determined for 14 benign breast specimens obtained by reduction mammoplasty. The receptor levels were measured by scatchard method. Each of these groups--cancerous, corresponding noncancerous, and mammoplasty specimens--were divided into subgroups according to their receptor levels. Fourteen of the 104 noncancerous specimens were found to be ER positive (ER+). Most cases of ER+ noncancerous tissue (13 of 14 cases) were associated with ER+ tumors. The reverse was not true because only 13 of 64 cases of the ER+ tumors were associated with positive ER in their noncancerous counterparts. Comparable results were obtained for PR. The average ER-PR level of the noncancerous mastectomy tissue was significantly higher than that of the mammoplasty specimens despite the similar histologic findings in both groups.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1990

Interferon production from peripheral blood, synovial fluid, and synovial tissue lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

A previous study demonstrated that interferon was present in the serum of 30% of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which was significantly higher than the 4.5% found in normal controls. We also recently reported that interferon production was deficient from SLE mononuclear cells, which has been attributed to immunodeficiency of the lymphocytes. In this study, interferon measurement included lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood (PB), synovial fluid (SF) and synovial tissue (ST) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). PB from normal subjects (NS) was used as a control. The results showed with PHA stimulation, that the interferon level in PBL (L = lymphocyte) in NS (70.0 +/- 67.5) was significantly higher when compared with PBL in RA (27.9 +/- 21.6). However, there was no difference between PBL in NS and AS. With ConA stimulation, the interferon level was significantly higher in the PBL of NS (130 +/- 59) and as compared with the PBL in RA (83.6 +/- 53.5). The SFL in RA (67.8 +/- 31.1) and the STL in RA (77.2 +/- 93.2) were also significantly different. It is concluded that interferon production was deficient not only in PBL in RA, but also in SF and STL in RA. The reduced interferon production from PB, SF and ST lymphocytes in RA patients may be due to previous release or immunodeficiency. Lymphocyte interferon production was normal in AS, which suggests that the lymphocyte abnormality between RA and AS may be different.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The occurrence and clinical significance of antibodies to type II collagen in sera and synovial fluid of Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Antibodies to type II collagen (Col II) in sera and synovial fluid (SF) were measured with an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a solid phase sandwich method. The subjects included: 42 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); 31 cases of osteoarthritis (OA); 10 cases of gouty arthritis; 4 cases of ankylosing spondylitis (AS); 5 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); and 44 normal controls. The antigens used to detect antibodies against Col II were in native and heat-treated denatured forms, both of which were purified from chicken sternal cartilage by limited enzyme digestion and differential precipitation with salt. The reactivity to native type II collagen was generally higher than the reaction to the denatured collagen. In sera, significant higher levels of Col II were detected in the different arthritis groups when compared with the normal control group, with the exception of AS. In SF, the Col II was significantly higher in RA than it was in OA (p less than 0.001), while no difference was present between gout and OA (p less than 0.05). When native Col II was simultaneously measured in sera and SF among arthritics, positive rates were both higher among RA (65% and 58%, respectively). Positive rates were only higher in sera among OA (59% in sera and 3% in SF) and were both lower among gouty arthritis. The above findings show that the measurement of Col II is more important in SF than in sera.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1990

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase deficiency as detected by radiochemical assay in cell extracts by thin-layer chromatography, and identification of three new cases.

In this rapid radiochemical assay for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase (I) activity in cell extracts, DL-3[glutaryl-3-14C]hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A is used as substrate and the radiochemical product, [3-14C]acetoacetic acid, is converted to the more stable [3-14C]-3-hydroxybutyric acid in the presence of added NADH and 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. Substrate and product are separated and quantified by thin-layer chromatography on cellulose (solvent system: butanol/water/formic acid, 77:13:10 by vol). All reagents for the assay are commercially available. No detailed column chromatography or spectrophotometry is required. Thus the assay is suited for any clinical laboratory. Using this procedure, we studied cultured fibroblasts or lymphocytes isolated from whole blood from five patients in whom the urinary organic acid profile was suggestive of deficiency of I. Three patients had less than or equal to 18% of control I activity in fibroblast or lymphocyte extracts. The other two had activity within the normal range. In one of the latter cases, urinary excretion of three of the characteristic acids disappeared with age, and 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid excretion was within normal limits. The other case presented with urinary excretion of moderate amounts of all four metabolites and the characteristic absence of urinary ketone bodies. Evidently, confirmatory enzyme studies should be undertaken, even when the profile of urinary organic acids appears definitive for this deficiency.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1989

Immunohistochemical studies of Peters' anomaly.

Peters' anomaly is a congenital abnormality that affects mainly the posterior cornea. The pathogenesis is unclear. By immunohistochemical methods, the authors determined the presence of extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin, laminin, and collagen types I, III, IV, V, and VI, in seven corneal buttons from five patients with Peters' anomaly. Type III collagen was the only protein absent in either the pathologic or normal human corneas. Compared with normal controls, the stromal lamellae in Peters' anomaly corneas were more irregular and more closely packed. In addition, the fibronectin staining was markedly enhanced in all seven Peters' anomaly corneas. Staining with collagen type VI was also mildly increased. These results suggest that extracellular matrix elements such as fibronectin may be important factors in this developmental disorder.

Aged↗