Biomedical subjects

Dong-Sheng Tzeng

Publications and source records attributed to Dong-Sheng Tzeng.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A module map showing interaction between apolipoprotein E and phospholipase A2 polymorphism in lipid profiles.

OBJECTIVE: Establish a possible conceptual relationship among Apo E and PLA2 polymorphism and lipid profiles. METHODS: Five hundred subjects aged 65 to 74 years were randomly selected from a community in southern Taiwan to assess the relationship between Apo E and PLA2 polymorphisms and lipid profiles. Two hundred fifty-six participants agreed to have venous blood drawn for DNA studies. RESULTS: By multiple linear regression, the PLA2 A2 allele showed a statistically significant influence on LDL-C (p = 0.0097), and the Apo epsilon2 allele showed a statistically significant influence on HDL-C (p = 0.0004), however, the interaction between the PLA2 A2 allele and the Apo epsilon2 allele was found to be significant in the blood fraction of HDL-C (p = 0.0388) and LDL-C (p = 0.0002). Decreasing HDL-C and increasing LDL-C were found when the PLA2 A2 and Apo epsilon2 allele co-existed. CONCLUSION: The presence of a physiologic balance contributes significantly to homeostatic and compensatory responses regulating blood HDL-C and LDL-C profiles. A module map of the generation-control cycle and conditional activity among Apo E, PLA2, and lipid levels is presented, and both behaviours and biological perspectives under the consilience model may suggest a new approach to many kinds of complex disorders.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Operating room costs of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: does surgeon volume matter?

Very few studies have addressed the issue of surgeon volume on cost savings of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in Asian countries. The objectives of the study were to analyze LC operating-room (OR) costs between two study hospitals and to examine the effect of surgeon volume on OR costs. Patients diagnosed with gallbladder disease who underwent LC in October through December 2002 at two acute tertiary-care hospitals were included. Patient demographics and clinical information were derived from patient charts. Cost information was obtained from purchasing departments or specific cost centers. Three multivariate linear regression models were performed to examine the association between surgeon volume, cost, and utilization. There were no significant differences in patient demographics and disease severity between the two hospitals. Hospital A consumed fewer resources than did hospital B (NTdollars 21,674 vs NTdollars 26,417). Direct materials cost, direct professional costs, and indirect costs varied significantly by study hospital and by surgeon volume. High-volume surgeons incurred lower costs and shorter stay as compared with low-volume surgeons. Patients who scored in the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA PS) 3 incurred significantly higher costs and longer hospital stays than did patients with ASA PS 1. The present study supports the proposal that hospital management and experience of surgeons are of equal importance in maintaining the standing of hospitals in competitive positions. In addition to the differences in hospital management and surgeon volume, the patient severity of illness also needs to be taken into consideration in cost containment.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Comparison of quality of life for people with schizophrenia and mental health of caregivers beteen commn-based and hospital-based services.

This study is a comparison of the quality of life and family stress levels in community-based and hospital-based services for people with schizophrenia. Fiscal considerations of the health insurance industry in Taiwan require the evaluation of a community support program versus the traditional, hospital-centered program for reform of mental health policy concerning schizophrenia. The study involved 52 schizophrenic patients, 27 in a community-based program and 25 in a hospital-based treatment model, and was conducted from January to December 2001 in the psychiatric department of a general teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. Outcomes were determined using the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF, Taiwan version), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), General Health Questionnaire (Chinese version), rate of loss to follow-up, job conditions, and social function. Comparisons of quality of life and caregiver mental health between the two groups were accomplished using descriptive analysis, independent sample t test, and the generalized estimating equation-I. No significant differences between the two groups were found in quality of life or family mental stress according to the General Health Questionnaire after controlling for sex, age, disease duration, full IQ, and total BPRS score. Long disease duration predicted a hospital setting, while a high IQ was predictive of a community setting. We found no decrease in quality of life for schizophrenic patients in a hospital-based program and no increase in family mental stress among the community-based group. To improve patients' quality of life and the mental health of caregivers in both services, it is important to ameliorate severe symptoms associated with schizophrenia.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in colorectal cancer in Taiwan.

Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53 have been reported as occurring prevalently in a wide range of human tumors. Detection of a mutated p53 is thought to provide useful information for the clinical management of colorectal neoplasm. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR/SSCP) and sequencing analysis to rapidly screen for mutations in p53 in colorectal cancer in Taiwan. Genomic DNA was purified from colorectal cancer specimens obtained from 80 patients at a teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. Primer sets were designed to amplify fragments within exons 4-8 of p53. We found p53 mutations in 38 of 80 patients. This is the first identification of a mutation at codon 143 of p53 in colorectal cancer in Taiwan. In addition, we found two insertions in exon 5 of p53. The p53 mutation rate among colorectal tumors in Taiwan, found in this study, is 43%. The results indicate that p53 mutation is not significantly associated with tumor grade, age, or gender (p > 0.05). We found that two-fifths of colorectal cancer patients in Taiwan have a p53 mutation, which could be used as a marker of colorectal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Ethnic heterogeneity in allele variation in the DRD4 gene in schizophrenia.

The goal of the present study was to use a meta-analysis on previous studies plus our own unpublished data to confirm and extend findings which indicate that the variation in the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene is best represented by a mixture of two different ethnic groups. The genotype distribution was divided into either a long or short form using a mixture analysis of normal controls of different ethnic origins under the assumption that there is a single major gene. The meta-analysis was based on the data from 19 independent samples, 18 association studies, and from our own unpublished data, including a total of 1431 schizophrenic patients (sporadic cases 1309, familial cases 122) and 1439 controls. No significant genotype differences were noted between patients and controls for the whole sample. However, reorganization of the studies into different groups by the geographical origin of samples revealed significant ethnic heterogeneity. In addition, there was a significant association between the long form of DRD4 gene and schizophrenia in Caucasians, especially those with familial schizophrenia.

Asian People↗