Biomedical subjects

Hui-Ling Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Hui-Ling Huang.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

SODOCK: swarm optimization for highly flexible protein-ligand docking.

Protein-ligand docking can be formulated as a parameter optimization problem associated with an accurate scoring function, which aims to identify the translation, orientation, and conformation of a docked ligand with the lowest energy. The parameter optimization problem for highly flexible ligands with many rotatable bonds is more difficult than that for less flexible ligands using genetic algorithm (GA)-based approaches, due to the large numbers of parameters and high correlations among these parameters. This investigation presents a novel optimization algorithm SODOCK based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) for solving flexible protein-ligand docking problems. To improve efficiency and robustness of PSO, an efficient local search strategy is incorporated into SODOCK. The implementation of SODOCK adopts the environment and energy function of AutoDock 3.05. Computer simulation results reveal that SODOCK is superior to the Lamarckian genetic algorithm (LGA) of AutoDock, in terms of convergence performance, robustness, and obtained energy, especially for highly flexible ligands. The results also reveal that PSO is more suitable than the conventional GA in dealing with flexible docking problems with high correlations among parameters. This investigation also compared SODOCK with four state-of-the-art docking methods, namely GOLD 1.2, DOCK 4.0, FlexX 1.8, and LGA of AutoDock 3.05. SODOCK obtained the smallest RMSD in 19 of 37 cases. The average 2.29 A of the 37 RMSD values of SODOCK was better than those of other docking programs, which were all above 3.0 A.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2007

Intramedullary fixation of tibial shaft fractures: a comparison of the unlocked and interlocked nail.

The study is a prospective evaluation and comparison. Eighty-two patients with tibial shaft fractures were treated with intramedullary fixation by either an unlocked nail (ULN) or an interlocked nail (ILN). All patients were followed up for 12 months with a functional score evaluation. The patients were divided into two groups, based on the method of treatment. The ULN group included 42 patients with an average age of 43.1 years. The ILN group included 40 patients with an average age of 40.0 years. Both groups were similar in the injury mechanism, fracture location, open fracture type and associated medical conditions (all P > 0.05). The operative time was shorter and the wound size smaller in the ULN group when compared to the ILN group (P < 0.001). The union rate, healing time and malunion rate were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Although the functional score showed no difference between the groups (P = 0.3), the ILN group had a greater ability to return to their work 6 months after surgery (P = 0.03). In conclusion, unlocked nailing for tibial shaft fractures is a simple and effective method especially in the treatment of middle-third fractures. Interlocked nailing gives stable fixation without cast immobilisation, which resulted in a greater ability for the patients to return to their previous work 6 months after surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Lateral fixation of AO type-B2 ankle fractures in the elderly: the Knowles pin versus the plate.

The study was a retrospective evaluation and comparison. Seventy-five elderly patients (>50 years) with AO type-B2 ankle fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. All patients were followed up retrospectively for at least 12 months. The 75 patients were divided into two groups, based on the method of treatment. The Knowles pin (KP) group included 45 patients with an average age of 62.7 years. The tubular plate (TP) group included 30 patients with an average age of 60.0 years. The clinical results were compared between the two groups. Both of the groups were similar in respect to the injury mechanisms, fracture pattern, open fracture grade, compounding medical conditions, and ankle score (all P values <0.28). However, the KP group had significantly smaller wound incisions, shorter surgery time, shorter hospital stay, less meperidine use, less symptomatic hardware, and lower complication rates than the TP group (all P values <0.03). In conclusion, lateral fixation of AO type-B2 ankle fractures in the elderly by the Knowles pin is recommended due to its simplicity, efficacy and low complication rate.

Bone Nails↗

PubMed2006

Dynamic hip screw in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures: a comparison of two fixation methods.

The study is a prospective evaluation and comparison. A minimally invasive Dynamic Hip Screw (MIDHS) technique is presented. One hundred and two patients with intertrochanteric fractures were treated with either a MIDHS or a conventional dynamic hip screw (CDHS). We used the Singh index as a measure of osteoporosis and also classified the fractures according to three different systems (OTA, Boyd-Griffin, and Evans). All patients were followed up for 12 months with a hip score evaluation. The patients were divided into two groups, based on the method of treatment. The MIDHS group includes 42 patients with an average age of 72.6 years. The CDHS group includes 60 patients, with an average age of 71.3 years. Both groups were similar in injury mechanism, fracture types, mean Singh index and confounding medical condition (all p values >0.05). The CDHS group had significantly larger wound incision, greater haemoglobin level drop, higher pain level, more total analgaesic use and longer hospital stay than the MIDHS group (all p values<0.05). The hip score, union rate, healing time, adequate reduction and adequate screw position rate was not significantly different between the two groups (all p values >0.05). In conclusion, either a MIDHS or a CDHS in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures is an effective, simple and safe method. The mini-invasive technique as opposed to the conventional technique has smaller wound size, lower pain level, and lower blood loss. Hospital stay and total analgaesic use were decreased, benefitting the patient and reducing hospital cost.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Interpretable gene expression classifier with an accurate and compact fuzzy rule base for microarray data analysis.

An accurate classifier with linguistic interpretability using a small number of relevant genes is beneficial to microarray data analysis and development of inexpensive diagnostic tests. Several frequently used techniques for designing classifiers of microarray data, such as support vector machine, neural networks, k-nearest neighbor, and logistic regression model, suffer from low interpretabilities. This paper proposes an interpretable gene expression classifier (named iGEC) with an accurate and compact fuzzy rule base for microarray data analysis. The design of iGEC has three objectives to be simultaneously optimized: maximal classification accuracy, minimal number of rules, and minimal number of used genes. An "intelligent" genetic algorithm IGA is used to efficiently solve the design problem with a large number of tuning parameters. The performance of iGEC is evaluated using eight commonly-used data sets. It is shown that iGEC has an accurate, concise, and interpretable rule base (1.1 rules per class) on average in terms of test classification accuracy (87.9%), rule number (3.9), and used gene number (5.0). Moreover, iGEC not only has better performance than the existing fuzzy rule-based classifier in terms of the above-mentioned objectives, but also is more accurate than some existing non-rule-based classifiers.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

[The nursing experience of a primary caregiver providing care to a patient with moderate mental retardation].

This case report shares the researcher's experience and observations with regard to a primary caregiver responsible to provide nursing care to a patient suffering from moderate mental retardation during the time period October 1st, 2003 to July 31st, 2004. The writer collected subjective and objective information using observation, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews and scales, including the Caregiver Burden Scale and Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire. A holistic nursing assessment established that the primary nursing problem faced was caregiver anxiety. Through continuous caring and empathetic listening, the researcher encouraged the caregiver to describe her perceptions. Nursing intervention included providing information regarding professional patient care and encouraging support of the caregiver from the patient's family. Results demonstrated that, by the end of this study, the primary caregiver was better able to execute her duties and that her anxiety had been significantly relieved.

Caregivers↗

PubMed2002

Role of hypolipidemic drug clofibrate in altering iron regulatory proteins IRP1 and IRP2 activities and hepatic iron metabolism in rats fed a low-iron diet.

In addition to reducing the expression of transferrin and ceruloplasmin genes, hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators may alter iron homeostasis in the liver. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of clofibrate on proteins related to liver iron metabolism in a rat model using a 2 x 2 experimental design: two dose levels of clofibrate in diet (0 and 0.5%) and two dietary iron levels (35 ppm as normal level and 15 ppm as low-iron diet). Twenty-four Wistar rats were assigned to the four diets and fed for 6 weeks. Subsequent measurements of iron parameters in the blood and the liver indicated that, in addition to mild anemia and the reduction in serum iron and total iron-binding capacity, clofibrate treatment altered IRP1 and IRP2 activities differentially and increased mitochondrial aconitase both at activity and protein levels. At both normal and low-iron intakes, clofibrate caused a 50% reduction in serum iron and TIBC with a corresponding reduction in transferrin mRNA. The RNA-binding activities of IRP1 were selectively activated by clofibrate treatment even though liver iron concentration was not depleted. The RNA-binding activity of IRP2 was selectively activated by the low iron intake and correlated with an increase of transferrin receptor mRNA, while clofibrate treatment offset the effects of the low iron intake.

Aconitate Hydratase↗