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Biomedical subjects

C T Huang

Publications and source records attributed to C T Huang.

141 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1968

Drug sensitivity of Proteus species.

The results of sensitivity test for four Proteus species were compared. P. mirabilis was, in general, more drug sensitive than the other species and P. rettgeri was the least sensitive. The conclusion was drawn that species identification of Proteus is essential in routine bacteriological diagnosis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1966

Multitest media for rapid identification of Proteus species with notes on biochemical reactions of strains isolated from urine and pus.

Two ;multitest'(1) media for biochemical classification of the genus Proteus into species were developed. The species so determined were checked with conventional methods. Results show that these media were useful for rapid identification of species. The biochemical reactions of four Proteus species isolated from clinical specimens as tested by conventional methods are reviewed and the occurrence of some atypical strains is described.

Culture Media↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Central nervous system infection due to Clostridium septicum: a case report and review of the literature.

A patient with end stage breast cancer was admitted to hospital due to fever, chills, multiply eroded discharging wounds, and sudden onset of left hemiparesis. Clostridium septicum bacteremia and brain abscess were diagnosed. The patient was treated successfully with intravenous penicillin and clindamycin and stereotactic aspiration of the abscess. Eleven cases of C. septicum central nervous system infection are reviewed. They showed an extremely fulminant course and high fatality. Nevertheless, some relationship seems to exist between outcome and type of brain lesion. Hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with central nervous system infection is also discussed, because all these cases in the literature were due to this organism. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, including surgical drainage and appropriate antibiotics, are the key to improving the prognosis. A long-term prophylactic oral antimicrobial agent is suggested for patients who survive this infection.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancement of analgesic effect of intrathecal neostigmine and clonidine on bupivacaine spinal anesthesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intrathecal administration of neostigmine has been shown to produce analgesia in both animals and humans. The concurrent administration of intrathecal neostigmine and clonidine has been reported to produce no neurotoxicity in sheep. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combining intrathecal neostigmine and clonidine for the relief of pain in patients after cesarean delivery. METHODS: After giving their consents, 80 parturients who were scheduled for cesarean delivery during spinal anesthesia were enrolled by a double-blind randomized design into four groups: bupivacaine group (n = 20) received intrathecal (i.t.) 10 mg bupivacaine; bupivacaine + neostigmine group (n = 19) received i.t. 10 mg bupivacaine + 50 microg neostigmine; bupivacaine + clonidine group (n = 20) received i.t. 10 mg bupivacaine + 150 microg clonidine; and bupivacaine + both (n = 21) received i.t. 10 mg bupivacaine + 50 microg neostigmine + 150 microg clonidine. The maximum spread of anesthesia, duration of analgesia and motor block, vital signs, and incidence of adverse effects were recorded for 14 hours postinjection. Fifty milligrams intramuscular meperidine was given as a rescue analgesic whenever patient's pain score was greater than 5/10 by the visual analog scale. RESULTS: The demographic data were similar for all four groups. Bupivacaine + both group had a significantly higher maximum spread of anesthesia of 23.3 +/- 2.9 segments than bupivacaine group of 20.5 +/- 2.9 segment. Bupivacaine + both group showed a later onset of postsurgical pain of 6.5 +/- 1.5 hours as compared to bupivacaine group of 1.3 +/- 0.6 hours. The pain score in bupivacaine + both group was significantly lower than that of bupivacaine group during the first 10 hours. The 24-hour meperidine consumption also was lower in bupivacaine + both group than that of bupivacaine group. However, motor block was significantly prolonged from 3.5 +/- 1.1 hours in bupivacaine group to 7.1 +/- 1.6 hours in bupivacaine + both group. In addition, other side effects such as nausea and vomiting and dizziness were significantly increased in bupivacaine + both group. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the combination of 150 microg i.t. clonidine and 50 microg neostigmine provided longer postsurgical analgesia than with either drug used alone. However, this combination also produced significantly more adverse effects of prolonged motor block and nausea and vomiting. A further study combining the two study drugs but using a lower dose of i.t. neostigmine (e.g., 25 microg) is recommended.

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Spatial variations in growth rate within Klebsiella pneumoniae colonies and biofilm.

The use of acridine orange to visualize and quantify spatial variations in growth rate within Klebsiella pneumoniae colonies and biofilm was investigated. Bacterial colonies supported on polycarbonate filter membranes were grown on R2A agar plates. Some colonies were sampled for cell enumeration, while others were cryoembedded, sectioned, and stained with the fluorescent nucleic acid stain acridine orange. Spatial patterns of fluorescent color and intensity with depth in the colony were quantified using confocal microscopy and image analysis of stained cross sections. Colonies sampled in the midexponential phase were thin (20 microns), had high average specific growth rates (> 1 h-1), and had all the cells stained bright orange. Colonies sampled after more than 24 h of growth were thick (> 200 microns) and were growing slowly (mu < 0.15 h-1). These older colonies were characterized by distinct bands of orange at the colony edges and a dark green center. Stained biofilm cross sections displayed a similar orange band at the biofilm-bulk fluid interface and a green interior. Colony-average specific growth rates, determined by calculating the local slope of the cell accumulation versus time data, were correlated with colony-average fluorescence intensities. There was no correlation between average specific growth rate and orange or green intensity individually, but growth rate did correlate with the orange:green intensity ratio (r2 = 0.57). The resulting regression was used to predict specific growth rate profiles within colonies. These profiles indicated that bacteria were growing rapidly near the air and agar interfaces and more slowly in the center of the colonies when thicker than about 30 microns. The dimension of the orange bands ranged from 10 to 30 microns, which may indicate the thickness of growing regions. The inherent variability associated with this technique suggests that it is best applied in single species systems and that the results should be regarded as qualitative in nature.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro evaluation of two new dentin adhesive systems.

Two new experimental dentin adhesive systems were evaluated to determine in vitro dentin bond strengths and marginal microleakage. Scanning electron microscopy examinations were also conducted on one of the systems that was designed to modify the smear layer. Mean shear bond strength for the two experimental systems were 6.77 +/- 1.94 MPa and 18.73 +/- 2.4 MPa. Marginal microleakage from the enamel margin was not observed and the experimental primer system limited leakage from the dentin margins. The SEM examinations showed that the primer did not significantly alter the smear layer on the prepared dentin surface.

Acid Etching, Dental↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bond strength, microleakage, and scanning electron microscopy examination of the Prisma Universal Bond 2 adhesive system.

Dentin shear bond strength and marginal microleakage of a new primer/adhesive system were evaluated in this study and compared to Tenure Solution, Gluma, XR Primer/XR Bond, and Scotchbond 2. In addition, scanning electron microscopy examinations were conducted to evaluate the effect of the new primer on the smear layer, determine the film thickness of the primer/adhesive, and examine the resindentin interface of restorations placed with the new system.

Adhesives↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Japanese encephalitis surveillance in China (Province of Taiwan) during 1968-1971. I. Geographical and seasonal features of case outbreaks.

During 1968-1971 Japanese encephalitis (JE) surveillance was conducted with WHO-assisted programs in Taiwan area. Emphasis was placed on: (1) active case-finding by hospital visits; (2) blood collection from every patient at the suitable time; and (3) the enforcement of standard diagnostic criteria on the results of hemagglutination-inhibition tests. Each year, approximately 90% of reported patients were etiologically examined. JE virus etiology was established in 277 (1968), 279 (1969), 269 (1970) and 158 (1971) cases. Despite the apparent concentration of cases in several cities, practically all the cultivated plains and basins were established as potentially endemic for JE. JE outbreak is found to have been clearly associated with season, not only in subtropical but also in tropical Taiwan. Each year it occurred consistently in mid-July in the southernmost county, 2-3 weeks after the peak of rice transplantation and its duration was a few weeks. On the western side of the island, although less consistently, JE outbreak seems to occur one to three weeks later than in the south. Outbreak in eastern Taiwan was a mid-September phenomenon for 3 years. Observed seasonal lag, which was significant between two neighboring localities on same latitude, suggests that paddy water management is more directly related to date of outbreak than local climate. Seasonal characteristics further suggests that the area may be separated into eight ecologic subdivisions. JE-virus transmission to a man during April at temperatures below the average of 20 C was discussed.

Climate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Japanese encephalitis surveillance in China (Province of Taiwan) during 1968-1971. II. Age-secific incidence in connection with Japanese encephalitis vaccination program.

A baseline age/morbidity pattern for Japanese encephalitis (JE) epidemic in China (Province of Taiwan) in the 1960s was sought in JE surveillance. The pattern is characterized by: (1) high incidence in age groups 2-4 years, (2) moderately high incidence in age groups 5-7 years, (3) negligible incidence in children under 1 year of age as well as in adults, and (4) the variability of relative height of peak incidence co-incident with the JE-epidemic size in situ. Concurrently with surveillance, a JE-vaccination program was implemented by the Government. The children of target age groups received two doses of vaccine each during April. Vigilant supervision was given to the campaign to achieve a high coverage rate with two-dose vaccination and meticulous record-keeping. During 1969-1972, 2-year olds were the exclusive target; 52.2% (1969), 71.5% (1970), 74.5% (1971), and 83.0% (1972) of the target age group were covered. A considerable change from the baseline age/morbidity pattern seen in 1968 occurred during the above period. The comparison of epidemicity-adjusted incidence by year indications that incidence reduction in the 2- and 3-year old children in 1971 were substantial and suggests the possible impact of vaccination. The total JE incidence for the period 1968-1971 appears to be much lower in vaccinated population (23 reported and 8 confirmed/0.9 million) than in unvaccinated population (1,330 reported and 679 confirmed/2.2 million).

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of weight load and joint immobilization on reorganization of postural tremor.

To investigate change in coordinative strategies due to wrist immobilization and index loading, postural tremors from the index, hand, and forearm were recorded during different postural holding tasks. The wrist joint was immobilized with a thermoplastic splint in the constrained condition, and a copper mass of 100 grams was applied to the index finger in the loaded condition. The structures of the postural tremors of all upper limb segments among the unloaded-unconstrained, unloaded-constrained, loaded-unconstrained, and loaded-constrained conditions were compared. Index loading exaggerated index/forearm postural tremor, while the load-induced tremor enhancement was no longer evident for wrist immobilization. In the unloaded condition, wrist immobilization resulted specifically in enhancement of carpal postural tremor, rather than in the index and forearm. Index loading induced a marked tremor peak and relative power in the range of 5-8 Hz. Wrist immobilization potentiated the carpal tremor peak of 1-4 Hz in association with enhancement of carpal-forearm mechanical coupling. In light of structural changes in postural tremor, our data suggest that (1) a wrist splint is effective to counteract load-induced enhancement of postural tremor, and (2) freezing of the wrist joint might facilitate compensatory strategies to minimize passive fluctuation transmission from the carpal to index.

Adolescent↗