Biomedical subjects

Ching-Yu Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Ching-Yu Chen.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Inocalophyllins A, B and their methyl esters from the seeds of Calophyllum inophyllum.

Fractionation of the ethanolic extract of the seeds of Calophyllum inophyllum L. has resulted in the isolation of four novel pyranocoumarin derivatives, designated as inocalophyllins A (1), B (2) and their methyl esters (3, 4) in addition to the known calophyllolide. The structures of these compounds have been determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including MS, heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity (HMBC) and two dimensional incredible natural abundance double quantum transfer experiment (2D-INADEQUATE). Two new methylated products, 5 and 6 were also prepared by methylation of compounds 1 and 2, respectively.

Calophyllum↗

PubMed2002

Solving family-related barriers to truthfulness in cases of terminal cancer in Taiwan. A professional perspective.

The study investigated the puzzling factors and solutions of family-related barriers to truthfulness with patients with terminal cancer through a nationwide survey conducted in Taiwan. Two-hundred twenty-nine valid questionnaires were retrieved (91.6%) from 250 palliative care workers at 15 Taiwan hospices. Most of the respondents were nursing staff (72.5%), and only 38 respondents were physicians (16.6%). Canonical correlation analysis was used to examine the association between the puzzling factors and solutions, which revealed that the value of the first variate was 0.39 (P < .05). Results showed that the puzzling factors of barriers and canonical loadings were families do not know how to tell the truth (.85), families believe it is unnecessary to tell aged patients the truth (.71), and patients can be happier without knowing the truth (.70). The valid solutions correlated significantly with the above puzzling factors and were ranked in the following order: communicate with and encourage families to accept patients' prognoses (.83), discuss the sickness gently with patients and determine what patients know (.76), and tell the families about the possible emotional reactions in patients and how to provide support (.72). In conclusion, for solving family-related barriers to truthfulness in cases of terminal cancer, the results suggest that health professionals communicate with families first and discuss the possible emotional reactions from patients, give patients enough time to reflect on their sicknesses and discuss further what patients have been told, and then disclose information based on patients' expectations and support them.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effects of a major earthquake on the status of pre-existing physical illness and levels of psychosocial distress in community inhabitants.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A major earthquake struck central Taiwan on September 21, 1999, causing a tremendous amount of damage in a very short time. This study surveyed the changes in the status of pre-existing physical illness and levels of psychosocial distress in a community after this earthquake. METHODS: One hundred and thirty inhabitants of Lu-Gu who were more than 40 years old were surveyed in June 2000, 9 months after the earthquake. A medical team in the disaster area carried out personal interviews using a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, common physical illnesses, and psychologic distress and resource loss measures. RESULTS: Subjects reported more rapidly declining visual acuity (11.5%) and worse upper respiratory (7.7%) and gastrointestinal tract symptoms (3.8%) after the earthquake. The mean value of the psychologic distress scores was significantly higher than before the earthquake (12.16 +/- 3.28 vs 10.75 +/- 2.63; p < 0.01). Women and the elderly had higher psychologic distress scores. Subjects had considerable loss in financial resources, including home contents, adequate food, and sentimental possessions, (3.57 +/- 3.94, assessed using a resource loss measure on a 0-3 Likert scale with a possible range of 0-12). Women, the elderly, those who lived alone, and those with severe damage to their homes reported more loss than others in personal resources such as "feeling that my life is peaceful", "personal health", and "sense of optimism", but not in financial resources or interpersonal resources such as companionship, intimacy with at least one friend, and support from co-workers. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased level of psychologic distress and financial burden among community members 9 months after the earthquake. The findings of this study suggest the need to strengthen community-based health care systems in disaster-prone areas, so that they can provide continuous care, especially related to the psychosocial impacts of these events.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Travel health knowledge, attitudes and practices among Australasian travelers.

BACKGROUND: Although the Asia Pacific region is the focus of the fastest-growing tourist and travel industry, few data are available on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of travelers from this region with regard to travel-related infectious diseases. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among travelers at the departure lounges of five airports in Australasia (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipeh, Melbourne, Seoul) whose travel destinations were Asia, Africa or South America. Two standardized questionnaires directed towards KAP in travel health, travel immunizations and malaria were administered. RESULTS: Of 2,101 respondents (82% Asian, 17% Western), 31% had sought pretravel health advice and only 4% sought travel health advice from the travel medicine specialist. The risk of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases and malaria at the destination country was perceived to be low. Overall, fewer than 5% of travelers had been vaccinated in preparation for their trip. The most frequent travel vaccinations were for hepatitis A and B. Only 40% of travelers to malaria-endemic areas carried malaria prophylaxis. Compared to Western travelers, those of Asian nationality were significantly less likely to obtain pretravel advice and malaria prophylaxis and to receive travel vaccinations. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for increased awareness about travel-related infectious diseases among Asian travelers, and greater uptake of pretravel health advice, vaccinations and malaria prophylactic measures.

Adult↗