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Biomedical subjects

C Z Lee

Publications and source records attributed to C Z Lee.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A classification system for long-staying psychiatric patients.

Data on a sample of 890 Veteran's Administration long-staying psychiatric patients were studied to develop a classification system that explains actual daily resource use. Disturbed patients with lengths of stay of less than three years and those with psychotic conditions who are not withdrawn represent the two groups found to use significantly more resources in their daily care. The Long-Stay Psychiatric Patient Classification (LPPC) System, with six categories, explains 11.4% of the variability in per diem resource use and can be used for case-mix adjustment of payments for psychiatric care.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

Development of a uniform system for mortality review.

Four Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Medical District 14 of the Great Lakes region collaborated in the development and implementation of a uniform, education-oriented mortality review system. Because the new review format emphasizes evaluation of care already delivered as well as planning for treatment in similar situations, the process and product of such reviews is expected to be very useful. Data derived from these mortality reviews may also be used for trending both within and between medical centers.

Great Lakes Region↗

A psychiatric patient classification system. An alternative to diagnosis-related groups.

It is generally accepted that diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) for alcohol, drug, and mental disorders are inappropriate for inpatient prospective payment. To address this issue, the Veterans Administration (VA) supported a project to construct alternative classes that are more clinically meaningful, more homogeneous in their resource use, and that account for more variation in resource use among psychiatric and substance use cases than existing DRGs. This paper reports on this project. Using a data set containing universally available discharge data plus behavioral, social, and functional information obtained by a survey of 116,191 discharges from VA psychiatric beds, and with AUTOGRP as the classifying algorithm, a classification system was formed. Twelve psychiatric diagnostic groupings (PDGs) were identified, analogous to major diagnostic groups in the DRG system. Within each PDG, from 4 to 9 terminal groups of Psychiatric Patient Classes (PPCs) were formed and validated. The 12 substance abuse PPCs explain greater than 31% of the variation in length of stay; for the mental disorder PPCs the variance explanation is greater than 11%, a substantial improvement over DRGs that, for the same data set, explain less than 2 and 3%, respectively. With the addition of only 5 variables beyond those presently included in discharge data sets, greater precision for payment purposes can be achieved. Implications for adoption of this classification system are discussed.

Algorithms↗

Changes in ploidy distributions in human liver carcinogenesis.

Cellular and nuclear DNA content was measured by flow cytometry and the fraction of binucleated cells by fluorescence microscopy in normal adult human livers, hepatocellular carcinomas, cirrhotic livers surrounding tumors, and in some benign liver conditions. In five normal livers about one-half of the hepatocytes were polyploid; the majority of these were binucleated tetraploids containing two diploid nuclei. Thus, polyploidization in human liver does not progress as far as, for example, in the rat, where 80%-90% of adult hepatocytes are polyploid, mostly with tetraploid or octoploid nuclei. In five human euploid hepatocellular carcinomas and one investigated case of focal nodular hyperplasia, the percentage of polyploid cells was significantly reduced. Four other carcinomas exhibited a prominent aneuploid (hypotetraploid) peak in addition to the diploid peak. An abnormally low fraction of binucleated cells was also indicated in these tumors. Liver tissue surrounding the tumors had a ploidy distribution similar to that of normal liver. The results suggest that, like in several models of experimental hepatocarcinogenesis, human hepatocellular tumor growth is associated with a decreased polyploidization tendency and a corresponding increase in diploid, divisional growth, which may give the tumors a growth advantage relative to the surrounding liver.

Adolescent↗

Intratumor injection of absolute ethanol under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma.

For the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma, intratumor injection of absolute ethanol under ultrasound guidance was performed in 27 tumors in 23 patients, with a tumor diameter of between 1.0 and 3.3 cm. The initially elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in 15 patients decreased during treatment, with 13 returning to normal after this regimen. In the 6 patients who finally received surgical resection, 4 had complete necrosis of the tumor, while the other 2 had a small peripheral residual cancer nest. In the remaining non-resected 17 cases, follow-up CT, multiple biopsies and angiography revealed evidence of viable tumor in only 3 cases. After additional ethanol injections, these 3 cases were successfully treated. Inhomogeneous distribution of the injected ethanol and difficulty in identifying the tumor after previous injections accounted for the incomplete necrosis of the tumor. To cope with these problems, a steel coil was implanted in the tumor before treatment, and a needle with multiple side holes was used in the last 3 cases, with satisfactory results. Ethanol injection is promising and may even be curative in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult↗

Cancer Program Administrators' survey results.

In summary, cancer programs across the country have been developing since 1975. A more formal organizational structure has been adopted to program activities since 1980. The full-time Cancer Program Administrator position exists in about one-third of the programs reporting. Persons occupying the position are at least bachelors degreed with many also having a masters degree. Strengths, weaknesses, and obstacles to program development are basically the same items across the country. It appears that programs that have one problem resolved are still working towards the solution of another problem and vice versa among programs. All programs are struggling for identity within the hospital and are in developmental stages with a lot of activity focused on clarifying the position of an organized cancer program within the hospital organization.

Cancer Care Facilities↗

Effect of hepatitis C antibody screening in blood donors on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan.

A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generation immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepatitis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 patients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, seven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti-CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of chronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-July 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening has effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.

Adult↗