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Biomedical subjects

G Yip

Publications and source records attributed to G Yip.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Nuclear morphometry in columnar cell lesions of the breast: is it useful?

AIMS: To evaluate the nuclear morphometric features of breast columnar cell lesions (CCLs) observed on mammotome core biopsies, to determine if there are significant measurable differences between those with atypia and those without. Correlation with follow-up open excision specimens was made. METHODS: Mammotome core biopsies performed on patients that contained CCLs were derived from the departmental case files. Histological material was reviewed and foci of CCLs demarcated for nuclear morphometric assessment, which was accomplished using an imaging system. Nuclear parameters studied were nuclear area and perimeter, circularity factor and feret's diameter. Statistical analysis used the GraphPad Prism software, with p<0.05 indicating significance. RESULTS: On examination of core biopsies of 40 patients with CCLs, 8 lesions were benign, 4 showed atypical lobular hyperplasia, 8 showed CCLs with nuclear atypia, 19 disclosed atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and 1 showed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The nuclear area, perimeter and feret's diameter of CCLs with atypia were significantly greater than those without (p = 0.04, 0.03 and 0.019, respectively), whereas no difference was observed in the circularity factor. Follow-up open excision biopsy specimens in 24 patients showed upgrading to DCIS in 40% of cases diagnosed initially with ADH on core biopsy compared with 20% of CCLs with atypia. CONCLUSIONS: Nuclear morphometry in CCLs confirms nuclear size as the key parameter in the assessment of nuclear atypia. Whether it can be potentially used as an adjunctive tool depends on the establishment of appropriate cut-offs.

Adult↗

Variable left ventricular activation pattern in patients with heart failure and left bundle branch block.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the left ventricular (LV) activation pattern in patients with chronic heart failure and left bundle branch block (LBBB) on ECG. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary cardiology referral centre in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Seven patients with LV ejection fraction < 35% and typical LBBB on ECG with QRS duration > or = 130 ms were recruited. Five of them had non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Non-contact mapping was used to investigate the LV global activation sequences. Tissue Doppler imaging was performed with the LV mapping and correlated with the activation sequences. RESULTS: Three patients had preserved left bundle activation despite LBBB on ECG. Conduction block was detected in four patients during LV activation and the other three had homogeneous depolarisation propagation within the left ventricle. The latest segment of activation was located in either the lateral or the posterior region. Tissue Doppler imaging correlated well with non-contact mapping to locate the conduction block and the latest segment of activation. CONCLUSIONS: LV endocardial activation sequences in patients with chronic heart failure and LBBB are variable. This may have implications for patient selection for treatment with cardiac resynchronisation.

Aged↗

Left ventricular long axis function in diastolic heart failure is reduced in both diastole and systole: time for a redefinition?

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that, when measured in the long axis, left ventricular systolic function is abnormal in patients with diastolic heart failure. DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING: University teaching hospital (tertiary referral centre). PATIENTS: 68 patients with heart failure, 29 with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of > 0.45 and diastolic dysfunction (diastolic heart failure), 39 with an LVEF of </= 0.45 (systolic heart failure), and 105 normal subjects, including 33 age matched controls. METHODS: LVEF was measured by cross sectional Simpson's method, and mitral annular amplitudes and velocities by M mode and tissue Doppler echocardiography, respectively, along with mitral Doppler inflow velocities. Results were compared between the three groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak systolic mitral annular velocity and amplitude between the different groups. RESULTS: The mitral annular peak mean velocity and amplitude in systole were lower in the patients with diastolic heart failure (mean (SEM), 4.8 (0.2) cm/s) than in the age matched normal controls (6.1 (0.14) cm/s), but higher than those with systolic heart failure (2.8 (0.13) cm/s) (all p < 0.001). Similar changes were seen the mitral annular amplitude during systole. Peak early diastolic velocity and amplitude were also significantly reduced in the group with diastolic heart failure. Left ventricular hypertrophy was evident in over 95% patients in both diastolic and systolic heart failure groups, with a comparable left ventricular mass index. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with diastolic heart failure and evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy, there is systolic left ventricular impairment as measured by myocardial Doppler imaging of the longitudinal axis. Thus subtle abnormalities of systolic function are present in patients with heart failure and a normal left ventricular ejection fraction, and there appears to be a continuum of systolic function between those with truly normal, mildly impaired (labelled diastolic heart failure), and obviously abnormal left ventricular systolic function. Isolated diastolic dysfunction is uncommon.

Adult↗

Beta-blockade in heart failure: a comparison of carvedilol with metoprolol.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to compare the long-term clinical efficacy of treatment with metoprolol versus carvedilol in patients with chronic heart failure. BACKGROUND: Beta-adrenergic blockade is of proven value in chronic heart failure. Metoprolol, a selective beta-blocker, is widely used, but recent trials suggest carvedilol, a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha-1-receptor antagonist activity and antioxidant activities, is also effective. It is uncertain, however, if these additional properties of carvedilol provide further clinical benefit compared with metoprolol. METHODS: In this randomized double-blind control trial, 51 patients with chronic heart failure and mean left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of 26% +/- 1.8% were randomly assigned treatment with metoprolol 50 mg twice daily or carvedilol 25 mg twice daily in addition to standard therapy after a four-week dose titration period for a total of 12 weeks. Response was assessed by a quality of life questionnaire, New York Heart Association class, exercise capacity (6-min walk test), radionucleotide ventriculography for LV ejection fraction, two-dimensional echocardiography measurement of LV dimensions and diastolic filling and 24-h electrocardiograph monitoring to assess heart rate variability. RESULTS: Both carvedilol and metoprolol produced highly significant improvement in symptoms (p < 0.001), exercise capacity (p < 0.05) and LV ejection fraction (p < 0.001), and there were no significant differences between the two drugs. Carvedilol had a significantly greater effect on sitting and standing blood pressure, LV end-diastolic dimension and normalized the mitral E wave deceleration time. CONCLUSIONS: Both metoprolol and carvedilol were equally effective in improving symptoms, quality of life, exercise capacity and LV ejection fraction, although carvedilol lowers blood pressure more than metoprolol.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Crystalloids vs. colloids in fluid resuscitation: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the effects of isotonic crystalloids compared with colloids in fluid resuscitation. DATA SOURCES: Computerized bibliographic search of published research and citation review of relevant articles. STUDY SELECTION: All randomized clinical trials of adult patients requiring fluid resuscitation comparing isotonic crystalloids vs. colloids were included. Pulmonary edema, mortality, and length of stay were evaluated. Independent review of 105 articles identified 17 relevant primary studies of 814 patients. Weighted c about article inclusion was high (0.76). DATA EXTRACTION: Data on population, interventions, outcomes, and methodologic quality of the studies were obtained by duplicate independent review with differences resolved by consensus. Weighted ic on the validity assessment was moderate (0.54). DATA SYNTHESIS: No difference was observed overall between crystalloid and colloid resuscitation with respect to mortality and pulmonary edema; however, the power of the aggregated data was insufficient to detect small but potentially clinically important differences. Subgroup analysis suggested a statistically significant difference in mortality in trauma in favor of crystalloid resuscitation (relative risk 0.39, 95% confidence intervals: 0.17 to 0.89). Several methodologic issues are noteworthy regarding the primary studies, including lack of blinding (except in three studies). The type, dose, and duration of fluid administration and outcomes measured were different across these trials. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is no apparent difference in pulmonary edema, mortality, or length of stay between isotonic crystalloid and colloid resuscitation. Crystalloid resuscitation is associated with a lower mortality in trauma patients. Methodologic limitations preclude any evidence-based clinical recommendations. Larger well-designed randomized trials are needed to achieve sufficient power to detect potentially small differences in treatment effects if they truly exist.

Colloids↗

Differences in the effect of cigarette smoking on endothelial function in chinese and white adults.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of coronary artery disease in southern China is approximately one fifth that in "westernized" countries, even though approximately 70% of Chinese men smoke cigarettes and Chinese women have substantial passive exposure to cigarette smoke. OBJECTIVES: Endothelial dysfunction is an early event in atherosclerosis and occurs in young white active and passive smokers; we compared endothelial physiology in healthy young Chinese and white smokers and nonsmokers. PATIENTS: 144 healthy adults who were 16 to 45 years of age: 72 Chinese persons in a village in southern China and 72 white persons in Australia and England who were matched for exposure to cigarette smoke. Each ethnic group comprised 36 controls (lifelong nonsmokers with no regular exposure to cigarette smoke; 16 men and 20 women) and 36 active or passive smokers (15 men and 21 women). MEASUREMENTS: Arterial endothelial function was tested with high-resolution external vascular ultrasonography, and brachial artery diameter was measured at rest, after flow increase (which causes endothelium-dependent dilatation), and after administration of sublingual nitroglycerin (an endothelium-independent dilator). RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent dilatation was similar in Chinese (7.9%) and white (8.4%) nonsmokers (P > 0.2). Among white persons, endothelium-dependent dilatation was lower in active or passive smokers (3.9%) than in nonsmokers (8.4%) (P < 0.001). Among Chinese persons, dilatation was not significantly lower in active or passive smokers (7.3%) than in nonsmokers (7.9%) (P > 0.2). Dilatation was higher in Chinese active or passive smokers (7.3%) than in white active or passive smokers (3.9%) (P < 0.001). Dilatation responses to nitroglycerin were similar in all groups (P = 0.17). CONCLUSION: Young Chinese adults have less evidence of arterial endothelial dysfunction than young white adults with similar direct or indirect exposure to cigarette smoke.

Adolescent↗

The distribution and binding of cadmium in oyster, soybean, and rat liver and kidney.

Exposure to Cd and/or 109Cd has shown that the element was efficiently accumulated in oysters and soybeans as well as in rats. Differential centrifugation of oyster, soybean, rat liver, and rat kidney homogenates followed by analysis showed that Cd was associated primarily with proteins in the 105,000 X g supernatants. Separation of these proteins by Sephadex chromatography and subsequent analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy or by radioactivity measurements revealed that Cd in oysters and rat organs was principally bound to proteins of 9,200 to 13,800 molecular weight. A significant amount of Cd in oysters was also associated with fractions of greater than 50,000 and less than 3,000 molecular weights. Almost all of the Cd in soybeans was found to be bound to molecules of greater than 50,000 molecular weight.

Animals↗

Gas chromatographic determination of pentachlorophenol in gelatin: collaborative study.

Eleven collaborators participated in this study of a gas chromatographic method for the determination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in gelatin. Following acid hydrolysis of a 2 g sample, PCP is extracted with hexane and partitioned into KOH solution. After reacidification, PCP is again extracted with hexane for determination by electron capture gas chromatography on a 1% SP-1240DA column. Three duplicate practice samples (0.0, 0.5, and 1.5 ppm) and 5 blind duplicate collaborative samples (0.0, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, and 2.0 ppm) were analyzed by each collaborator. Mean recoveries of PCP in the collaborative samples ranged from 88% at the 0.02 ppm fortification level to 102% at the 0.1 ppm level; the overall mean recovery was 96%. Interlaboratory coefficients of variation ranged from 16.4% for the 0.1 ppm fortification level to 22.9% for the 0.5 ppm level; the overall interlaboratory coefficient of variation was 19.5%. The method has been adopted official first action.

Chlorophenols↗