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Biomedical subjects

C T Huang

Publications and source records attributed to C T Huang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Role of monoconjugated bilirubin in pathogenesis of gallstones.

In order to explore the substantial role of monoconjugated bilirubin (MCB) in gallstone formation, bile pigment precipitation and hemolytic jaundice, three experimental protocols have been studied, namely, (1) MCB and dietary induced pigment gallstone model, (2) MCB in human gallstone and incubated bile precipitates and (3) MCB in hemolytic jaundice. It was found that doubly increased MCB accounted for 1/3 of the total pigment in lithogenic guinea pig and CDCA plus glycine possessed certain protective effect from gallstone development; MCB was found in human gallstones both in bilirubinate and cholesterol type, and an unknown pigment, possibly an isomer of MCB, was found in black stone. During experimental hemolytic jaundice model preparation, both MCB and UCB were elevated, and MCB was found increased by 10 times, even exceeding the concentration of DCB when the injected bilirubin was about 4 mg/kg of body weight. It is reasonable to consider that MCB as a coprecipitant with UCB and a precursor of UCB played an essential role in the pathogenesis of gallstones.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[The content of ambulatory family practice in Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital].

To understand the content of ambulatory family practice and find effective ways to improve clinical service, education and research in the Department of Family Medicine of Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital, we surveyed 14,064 patients from Jan. 1984 to Feb. 1991 and analysed (a) their basic demographic data including sex, age, insurance type, source and residential district and (b) clinical health problems covering 25,679 diagnoses and 148,994 diagnostic visits. Clinical health problems were recorded by the ICHPPC-2 code system. Results of basic demographic survey were as follow: 49.1% of patients was male and 50.9% female; 58.9% fell in the age group of 16-40 years and 22.4%, 12.0% and 6.7% of patients fell into the age groups of 41-65, under 16 and over 65 years respectively; 62.8% was insured usually by labor insurance and 26.9% had no insurance; the commonest referrals were other patients, colleagues, company personnel, doctors, media ... etc.; 58.8% lived in Kaohsiung City and 19.6% in Kaohsiung county. As for clinical health problems, the data showed that the commonest thirty diagnoses encountered at our clinic accounted for 69.3% of 25,679 diagnoses and the commonest ten diagnoses in descending order were medical health examination, acute URI, abdominal pain, uncomplicated hypertension, prophylactic immunization, hepatitis B carrier, back pain, anxiety disorder, viral hepatitis and irritable bowel syndrome. By calculating the average value of each diagnosis in a sample of 148,994 diagnostic visits to evaluate the habits of practice, we found that the commonest ten diagnostic visits at clinic in descending order were diabetes mellitus, hypertension involving target organ, uncomplicated hypertension, gout, hyperthyroidism, duodenal ulcer, tuberculosis, lipid metabolism disorder, other peptic ulcer and depressive disorders; all were chronic diseases. We concluded it was very important and helpful for the development of family medicine program and primary care unit to understand the content of their own ambulatory practice.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1991

Orthostatic hypotension after spinal cord injury: treatment with fludrocortisone and ergotamine.

We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with C5 quadriplegia, unresponsive to conservative treatment for orthostatic hypotension. Ergotamine, daily combined with fludrocortisone, successfully prevented symptomatic hypotension. In this report, neural, renal, and hormonal blood pressure regulatory mechanisms are described. Experiences obtained from this case and the existing literature suggest that (1) in persons with quadriplegia, plasma catecholamine levels show little increase with sitting, indicating an inability to activate baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes, (2) elevated plasma aldosterone and renin levels indicate a renal compensatory response to decreased renal perfusion secondary to low plasma volume and/or chronic hypotension, and (3) the net effect of ergotamine and fludrocortisone is probably a combination of plasma volume expansion and direct peripheral vasoconstriction.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[A preliminary study of family Apgar index in the Chinese].

The present study was designed to evaluate the clinical availability of family Apgar index in Chinese people. From August 1987 to February 1988, 113 samples from 45 Chinese families were collected from our record family patients. The family members who were over 12 years of age were asked to complete a family Apgar questionnaire and CHQ during a family visit. The patients age, sex, marital status, education, religion, family role, socioeconomic status were also recorded. The result showed that there was no significant correlation between the family Apgar scores and all of the patient's characteristics (sex, age, marital status, education, religion, family role, socioeconomic status) except the score of CHQ. It is suggested that the family Apgar index is a simple and useful instrument to screen out family dysfunctional patients in daily office practice.

Asian People↗
PubMed1991

Effect of cimetidine on wedged hepatic venous pressure in cirrhotic patients.

According to our supposition that "humoral mechanism" plays an important role in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension due to cirrhosis, antagonists to some of humoral substances would lower the portal pressure in cirrhotic patients. Wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP) was used as an indicator for changes of portal pressure. Cimetidine was given intravenously to 8 cirrhotic patients, in whom an average lowering of 0.72 kPa (7.3 cm H2O) of WHVP was observed subsequently. This change was of clinical significance as compared with the previous results of splenorenal shunting operations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Selectivity of converting-enzyme inhibitors for angiotensin I versus bradykinin hydrolysis reactions.

Selectivity of captopril, enalapril (MK-421), enalaprilat (MK-422), ketoace, and SA-300 for inhibiting kininase II when angiotensin (ANG) I versus bradykinin (BK) is the substrate has been studied in vitro. Potency for inhibiting purified rabbit lung ANG I-converting enzyme (ACE) using a tripeptide substrate with an ANG I-like (hippurylhistidylleucine, HHL) or a BK-like (hippurylphenylalanylarginine, HPA) cleavable dipeptide was determined. Inhibition of ANG I-induced and potentiation of BK-induced contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum strips was measured. For the enzyme assay, the inhibitor concentration which reduced the rate of HHL and HPA hydrolysis 50% (IC50) from the control value was estimated. All tested compounds more potently inhibited hydrolysis of the ANG I-related tripeptide by the purified enzyme. Ketoace, with a selectivity ratio (HPA IC50:HHL IC50) of 23, was the most substrate-dependent inhibitor. For the isolated ileum assay, the inhibitor concentration which augmented the contractile response to BK by 50% (AC50) or inhibited the contractile response to ANG I by 50% (IC50) was calculated. Only enalaprilat retained a selectivity ratio (BK AC50:ANG I IC50) in the guinea pig ileum system greater than one. Ketoace, with a ratio of 0.038, was the least ANG I-selective by this criterion. In vivo selectivity data on captopril seem more in accord with the ileum, rather than the enzyme, results. It was concluded that converting enzyme inhibitors differ in their relative selectivity for inhibiting kininase II reactions using different substrates.

Angiotensin I↗
PubMed1990

Changes of blood humoral substances in experimental cirrhosis and their effects on portal hemodynamics.

The changes of humoral substances in the blood of cirrhotic rats were studied together with their effects on portal hemodynamics at different stages during the development of cirrhosis. The profiles of humoral substances and hemodynamics in two different cirrhotic rat models were also investigated. During the development of cirrhosis, glucagon increased markedly in all stages, histamine and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) increased in the early stage, serotonin (5-HT) and somatostatin (SS) increased in the middle and late stages. There were different patterns of humoral substances in different cirrhotic models. Glucagon was the main humoral substance elevated in CCL4 induced cirrhosis, but histamine and 5-HT were mainly elevated in the blood in thioacetamide (TAA) induced cirrhosis. The hemodynamics altered differently in different stages during the development of cirrhosis and differently in the two cirrhotic rat models. Exchange transfusions between normal and cirrhotic rats resulted in an elevation of portal flow in normal rats, but no such changes were found after exchange pressure and an increase of portal blood transfusions between normal rats. The relationship between the humoral substances and portal hemodynamics is discussed. The results of this study strongly support the hypothesis of "humoral mechanism" in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension due to cirrhosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Anemia in acute phase of spinal cord injury.

Anemia is a frequent complication during the acute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI), even in the absence of detectable blood loss. Since an improved understanding of the etiology of anemia in this population is a prerequisite to its ultimate prevention, a prospective study was conducted on 28 persons with SCI whose lesions were between C3 and C7. The injuries were either neurologically complete, incomplete with sensory sparing only, or incomplete with nonfunctional motor preservation. Laboratory profiles were obtained during the first few weeks postinjury. No persons had below-normal plasma volumes, while 9% had below-normal blood volumes. However, 82% had below-normal red cell masses, 25% had below-normal serum erythropoietin levels, and 11% had below-normal reticulocyte counts. Other below-normal values included erythrocyte count (75%), hemoglobin (79%), hematocrit (71%), mean corpuscular volume (11%), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (11%), serum iron (50%), total iron binding capacity (86%), iron saturation (50%), serum total protein (57%), serum albumin (89%), serum globulin (32%), and serum transferrin (79%). Most persons (71%) were found to have normochromic, normocytic anemia, although 14% had normochromic, microcytic anemia. Only 14% did not develop anemia. Although these cases of anemia were not severe enough to require transfusions, they might be an important factor in the development of other secondary complications and may combine with other nutritional and hematologic deficiencies to prolong the rehabilitation process.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[A study of the effect of patient load and diseases upon resident training in a family medicine clinic].

Patient appointments and scheduling of patients and physicians are the first step in family medicine practice. The goals of outpatient services are to train the family physicians, to provide comprehensive and continuing health care for the family and its members. We evaluated the effect of the appointment system upon residents' training in a family medicine clinic of the Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital. The results were as follows: during the period between Aug. 1985 and Nov. 1986, a total of 2,220 patients and 5,891 out-patient encounters was recorded in this module. The subject age was mostly in the range of 16-64 years for all trainees. The distribution of the chronic diseases was relatively even for all except two trainees. For 4 residents, there were 40-60% more than the ideal patient numbers per session. This abnormal situation interferes with the normal functioning of family medicine clinics. The provocative results of this study suggest at least two important avenues for improvement. The first is to modify the appointment system. The second is to schedule the ideal amount of patients and kinds of diseases in order to provide comprehensive and continuous care for the family and its members.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Nutritional status during the acute stage of spinal cord injury.

This study was designed to help clinicians establish objective guidelines for meeting the nutritional requirements of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients during their initial hospitalizations. The nutritional status of 51 SCI patients treated between 1983 and 1986 was assessed at two, four, and eight weeks after injury. Nutrient deficiencies such as albumin (100% of patients), carotene (62%), transferrin (37%), ascorbate (25%), thiamine (24%), folate (20%), and copper (11%) were documented most frequently at two weeks postinjury. There was an average of 2.0, 1.6, and 1.2 nutrient abnormalities per patient at two, four, and eight weeks postinjury, respectively. Although most depressed nutrient parameters improved with time, diet-dependent plasma proteins such as albumin and transferrin remained low throughout the entire eight-week period. Mean body weight declined 1.3 +/- 3.9 kg during the first two weeks, 2.0 +/- 4.4 kg between two and four weeks, and 0.4 +/- 2.0 kg between four and eight weeks after injury. Significant findings also included a strong correlation between plasma albumin, ascorbate, and carotene levels and maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (p less than .05). Although nutrient status usually improved with time and was not definitely associated with an increased risk of secondary medical complications, prudence dictates that these deficiencies should be prevented by appropriate intervention.

Adolescent↗