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Biomedical subjects

C Hsia

Publications and source records attributed to C Hsia.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Anger-associated panic attacks in Cambodian refugees with PTSD; a multiple baseline examination of clinical data.

Despite the increasing recognition of the importance of anger as a key aspect of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the presence of anger-induced panic attacks has been understudied in traumatized groups. The present investigation determines the prevalence of anger-associated panic attacks among Cambodian refugees suffering from PTSD. Specific characteristics of these episodes that were examined included frequency, symptoms, and cognitions (in particular, fear of death from bodily dysfunction). In a survey of 100 Khmer patients suffering PTSD, 58% reported anger-associated panic attacks in the last month. These attacks occurred at a mean rate of 6.2 attacks a month and were characterized by extreme arousal and in 81% of these cases, fears of death due to bodily dysfunction during the anger-induced panic. Mechanisms for this high rate of fear of death during anger arousal are discussed with a focus on culture-specific catastrophic cognitions.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Exercise systolic blood pressures are of questionable value in the assessment of the adult with a previous coarctation repair.

BACKGROUND: The role of exercise testing in the follow up of adults with a coarctation repair is unclear. Exercise induced systolic hypertension has been advocated as an indication for further investigation; however, the value of exercise testing in this role has been questioned, especially in paediatric populations. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of resting and exercise blood pressure measurements in a cohort of adults with repaired coarctation. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre for adult congenital cardiac disease. PATIENTS: 56 patients (33 male, 23 female) with a previous coarctation repair, and 33 age matched controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resting and exercise blood pressures, including arm-leg systolic blood pressure gradients; standard echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular mass, aortic root diameter, and repair site gradient. RESULTS: The coarctation cohort had higher resting upper limb blood pressures than the controls (systolic: 129.7 v 120.7 mm Hg, p = 0.014; diastolic: 76.8 v 72.2 mm Hg, p = 0.02). Mean resting arm-leg systolic blood pressure gradient was also higher, at 3.6 v -2.2 mm Hg, p = 0.027. However, there were no differences between the peak exercise systolic blood pressures of the two groups. Peak exercise systolic blood pressure did not correlate with resting arm-leg blood pressure gradient (r = 0.24, p = 0.13) or with repair site gradient (r = 0.14, p = 0.39). Resting upper limb systolic blood pressure and resting arm-leg systolic blood pressure gradient were related to repair site gradient (r = 0.33, p = 0.03, and r = 0.47, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of upper limb blood pressure during exercise are of limited value in the assessment of the post-repair coarctation patient. If routine exercise testing is to be advocated in this population it must be for another indication.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Software scripts for quality checking of high-throughput nucleic acid sequencers.

We have developed a graphical interface to allow the researcher to view and assess the quality of sequencing results using a series of program scripts developed to process data generated by automated sequencers. The scripts are written in Perl programming language and are executable under the cgibin directory of a Web server environment. The scripts direct nucleic acid sequencing trace file data output from automated sequencers to be analyzed by the phred molecular biology program and are displayed as graphical hypertext mark-up language (HTML) pages. The scripts are mainly designed to handle 96-well microtiter dish samples, but the scripts are also able to read data from 384-well microtiter dishes 96 samples at a time. The scripts may be customized for different laboratory environments and computer configurations. Web links to the sources and discussion page are provided.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and NF-kappa B/Rel are at the divergence of CD40-mediated proliferation and survival pathways.

CD40 receptor ligation evokes several crucial outcomes for the fate of an activated B cell, including proliferation and survival. Although multiple signaling molecules in the CD40 pathways have been identified, their specific roles in regulating proliferation and maintaining cell viability are still obscure. In this report, we demonstrate that the activation of both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) and NF-kappaB/Rel transcription factors is crucial for CD40-mediated proliferation. Furthermore, our data indicate that PI-3K is indispensable for CD40-mediated NF-kappaB/Rel activation. This is achieved via activation of AKT and the degradation of IkappaBalpha. Furthermore, we show that PI-3K activity is necessary for the degradation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip. Therefore, both of these events comprise the mechanism by which PI-3K controls cell proliferation. In contrast to the absolute requirement of PI-3K and NF-kappaB/Rel for proliferation, these signaling molecules are only partially responsible for CD40-mediated survival, as blocking of PI-3K activity did not lead to apoptosis of anti-CD40-treated cells. However, the PI-3K/NF-kappaB pathway is still required for CD40-induced Bcl-X gene expression. Taken together, our data indicate that multiple survival pathways are triggered via this receptor, whereas NF-kappaB/Rel and PI-3K are crucial for CD40-induced proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A novel mechanism of TRAF signaling revealed by structural and functional analyses of the TRADD-TRAF2 interaction.

TRAF proteins are major mediators for the cell activation, cell survival, and antiapoptotic functions of the TNF receptor superfamily. They can be recruited to activated TNF receptors either by direct interactions with the receptors or indirectly via the adaptor protein TRADD. We now report the structure of the TRADD-TRAF2 complex, which is highly distinct from receptor-TRAF2 interactions. This interaction is significantly stronger and we show by an in vivo signaling assay that TRAF2 signaling is more readily initiated by TRADD than by direct receptor-TRAF2 interactions. TRADD is specific for TRAF1 and TRAF2, which ensures the recruitment of clAPs for the direct inhibition of caspase activation in the signaling complex. The stronger affinity and unique specificity of the TRADD-TRAF2 interaction are crucial for the suppression of apoptosis and provide a mechanistic basis for the perturbation of TRAF recruitment in sensitizing cell death induction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Behavioral, cognitive, and family therapy for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

Behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy, individually and combined, are a solid base in any therapy, the goal of which is to decrease the maladaptive behaviors associated with obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. Future research into this area involves two branches: (1) better resolution in what components of current treatments are effective and (2) a better understanding of the cause of OCD. The therapies of choice are behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy, but often what is described as behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy varies. Further refinement of the specific components of behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy that directly apply to OCD is needed. The specific components likely include the use of ERP and rational emotive behavioral therapy but often even these therapies can be parceled into smaller discrete parts. Many facets still have not been explored thoroughly (e.g., the extent of exposure to adverse situations needed, ideal length of therapy, time needed for exposure, and the use of virtual reality versus traditional exposures). A better understanding of the biological basis for OCD also would further the field. A better understanding of the basis of this disorder also would help clinicians to treat it with medication and behavioral therapy. Research into how behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy makes neurophysiologic changes would show the effectiveness of the treatment and a biological basis. Such studies could include the use of MR imaging during different stages in behavioral therapy and the use of functional during therapy to observe changes in the brain. Although OCD still is not fully understood, researchers are now beginning to understand how to treat it, and a solid base of empiric data now exists. The authors hope that investigators will continue research toward a better understanding of this disorder so that clinicians can better help their patients.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1991

Relationship between diabetes control and pulmonary function in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of different levels of glycemic control on the pulmonary function of subjects with type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen subjects with type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with no history or physical findings of respiratory disease. Patients were given insulin therapy with a standard twice-daily insulin injection regimen (standard treatment group) or a subcutaneous insulin infusion device (insulin pump) (intensive treatment group). Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were determined at quarterly intervals in both groups of patients (standard treatment group, n = 10; intensive treatment group, n = 8). Pulmonary function and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were measured after 6 years of continuous follow-up. RESULTS: The average HbA1c in the standard treatment group was significantly higher than that of the intensive treatment group throughout the 6 years of follow-up (p less than 0.001). The forced vital capacity of the standard treatment group was 85 +/- 3% of predicted as compared with 106 +/- 4% of predicted in the intensive treatment group (p less than 0.001). The DLCO was also significantly diminished in the standard treatment group as compared with that in the intensive treatment group (65 +/- 2% versus 87 +/- 4% of predicted) (p less than 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data confirm previous reports of abnormal respiratory function in subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and suggest that long-term near-normoglycemia may be beneficial in preventing the deterioration of pulmonary function associated with diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗