Biomedical subjects

K W Chen

Publications and source records attributed to K W Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Extreme insulin resistance syndrome.

Congenital extreme insulin resistance syndrome has rarely been reported in Taiwan. In 1982, a girl of a consanguineous marriage was noted to have increased body hair, an enlarged clitoris, and acanthosis nigricans at birth. Two months later, she received an operation for bilateral polycystic evaries. She was found to have diabetes at 8 years old and was treated with insulin. In March 1999, she was referred to our clinic with growth retardation and poor glycemic control. She had a characteristic face with a saddle nose, broad mouth, large low-set ears, absence of subcutaneous fat, and deformed nails. Although a very high dose of insulin (> 10 IU/kg/day) was used, her glycemic control was very poor (HbA1c 13.8%). Pediatricians should remain alert for the manifestations of extreme insulin resistance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Video-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Several experimental and clinical reports concerning endoscopic parathyroid surgery have appeared. However, reports concerning minimally invasive surgery for thyroid remains rare. Herein we present a new method, called video-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy (VAET), for the management of various benign thyroid diseases. METHODS: In all, 16 consecutive patients who underwent VAET for benign thyroid diseases were retrospectively studied. The study group included nodular hyperplasia in 8 patients, follicular adenoma in 6, and Hurthle's tumor and simple cyst in 1 each. A 2 to 3 cm transverse incision was made on the suprasternal notch. The wound was deepened to expose the underlying trachea from which the plane of the thyroid fascia was accessed directly, and the working space was established with lifting method using conventional instrument. All surgical procedures could be manipulated and monitored under laparoscopy without gas insufflation. The ultrasonically activated scalpel was the principal instrument used for VAET. RESULTS: All 16 patients underwent VAET successfully without conversion to open thyroidectomy. The surgical procedures included lobectomy in 13 and extirpation in 3. The operation time ranged from 28 minutes to 5 hours (mean 1 hour, 42 minutes). For the 5 most recent cases, lobectomy took an average of 2 hours, whereas extirpation less than 40 minutes. The tumor size ranged from 3.5 cm to 8.0 cm (mean 5.8 cm). There were no surgical complications. All patients but 1 were discharged on postoperative day 2. During follow-up, all patients demonstrated euthyroid function and satisfactory cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: VAET emerges as a promising minimally invasive surgical technique replacing conventional thyroidectomy for benign thyroid diseases in selected cases, with the advantage of satisfactory cosmetic results.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2000

Diagnostic efficacy of (13)C-urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori infection in hemodialysis patients.

The noninvasive urea breath test (UBT) avoids the discomforts and risks of invasive endoscopic methods of Helicobacter pylori detection. This study investigated the diagnostic efficacy of carbon 13 ((13)C)-labeled UBT for H pylori detection in 70 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and 70 dyspeptic controls without renal impairment. With H pylori infection defined as a positive result on either histological examination or culture of gastric biopsy specimen, we evaluated the reliability of the (13)C-UBT in detecting H pylori infection in both groups. To ascertain whether HD therapy affects the diagnostic efficacy of the UBT, the test was performed twice in patients with ESRD (before and after HD) at least 72 hours apart. In each UBT session, the baseline, 10-minute, and 15-minute (Delta15) gas samples were obtained to analyze excess (13)CO(2)/(12)CO(2) ratio (ECR). Histological stain and/or culture studies found that 33 of the patients with ESRD (47. 1%) and 42 of the control patients (60%) had H pylori infection. (13)C-UBT for H pylori detection in patients with ESRD was found to be only 93.8% sensitive and 85.3% specific. These results were achieved by gas sampling (Delta15) after HD therapy with a cutoff ECR value greater than 5. Conversely, the UBT in the control group achieved the greatest diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity, 97.6%; specificity, 96.4%) with a comparatively lower ECR cutoff value of 4. We conclude that the diagnostic accuracy for H pylori detection in patients with ESRD could be improved by performing (13)C-UBT (Delta15) after HD therapy and assessing the UBT with a cutoff ECR value greater than 5. However, the diagnostic efficacy of the UBT for patients with ESRD remained less accurate than that for dyspeptic patients without renal impairment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Association of CYP1A1 and microsomal epoxide hydrolase polymorphisms with lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among cancers in Taiwan. Although the etiology of lung cancer has yet to be defined, genetic variability in activities of metabolic enzymes has been correlated with lung cancer. In the present study, the possibility of association of CYP1A1 and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (HYL1) genetic polymorphisms with lung cancer was examined among 132 lung cancer patients and 259 controls in Taiwan. No significant association was observed for either CYP1A1 or HYL1 polymorphism alone and the overall incidence of lung cancer after adjusting for age, gender and smoking status. When cases were stratified according to histological type, there was significant association between CYP1A1*2A homozygote and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (odds ratio (OR) 2.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-6.12). Similarly, the proportion of HYL1 genotypes corresponding to high or normal enzyme activities was higher in SCC than in controls (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.04-3.70). A combination of susceptible CYP1A1 and HYL1 genotypes was found to be highly associated with lung cancer, especially with SCC (OR 6.76; 95% CI 2.29-19.10). Our results suggest that the combination of CYP1A1 and HYL1 polymorphisms is an important risk factor for lung SCC.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Preventing diabetes--applying pathophysiological and epidemiological evidence.

This is a review of research carried out in Japanese Americans that points towards possible approaches to prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The natural history of type 2 diabetes usually includes both insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction. Insulin secretion may compensate for insulin resistance. Alternatively, enhanced insulin sensitivity may mask an insulin secretory defect. Epidemiological data support the view that in the vast majority of cases of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance is essential to the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia. Increased diabetes prevalence as ethnic groups migrate to more urban or westernized regions has been attributed to increased occurrence of insulin resistance. Research among Japanese Americans in Seattle, Washington, showed a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes than in Japan, which suggested that factors associated with 'westernization' might be playing a role in bringing out underlying susceptibility to diabetes. Our research has shown that these impressions were correct and that the abnormalities that characterize the metabolic syndrome play a significant role. Due to increased intra-abdominal fat deposition, Japanese Americans were likely to be 'metabolically obese' despite relatively normal BMI. A diet higher in animal fat and lower levels of physical activity were risk factors leading to increased intra-abdominal fat deposition, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Information from epidemiological studies such as these may be used to determine whether diabetes may be prevented through changes in lifestyle or application of specific therapies targeted towards identified metabolic abnormalities.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

A comparison of the morphological changes after Nd-YAG and CO2 laser irradiation of dentin surfaces.

The purpose of this study was to compare the morphological changes after Nd-YAG and CO2 laser irradiation on dentin surfaces with or without the smear layer. Eighty-one 3-mm-thick dentin specimens collected from the middle third of molar crowns were used. The dentin surfaces were ground to #320, #400, and #600 grit in series to create a smear layer. Half of the specimens were treated with 14% EDTA for 2 min to remove the smear layers. The lasers were applied on each specimen perpendicularly with 1-mm focus distance to the dentin surface for 4 s. The parameters for the Nd-YAG laser were 50 mJ, 100 mJ, and 150 mJ at 10 pps, 20 pps, and 30 pps, and for the CO2 laser were 2 W, 3 W, and 4 W at 5 ms x 20 pps, 10 ms x 10 pps, 20 ms x 20 pps, 50 ms x 2 pps, 100 ms x 2 pps, and 200 ms x 2 pps. The results showed that the Nd-YAG laser caused crater and melting of the dentin surface, especially in dentin specimens with smear layers. The CO2 laser produced extensive cracking lines on dentin surfaces with a smear layer, whereas surface erosion and crater formation were found on specimens without a smear layer. In conclusion, both the laser types and smear layer have a significant influence on the morphological changes of dentin surfaces irradiated by lasers.

Carbon Dioxide↗

PubMed2000

Clinical presentations and prognostic factors of a glyphosate-surfactant herbicide intoxication: a review of 131 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Suicide attempts with agricultural chemicals are common in southern Taiwan. Among them, glyphosate-surfactant herbicide (GlySH) intoxication has been encountered with increasing frequency. Although a number of reports have described the clinical course and outcomes following ingestion, predictors of serious complications and mortality have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to define predictors of serious complications and probable mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 131 GlySH-intoxicated patients treated at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital from 1988 to 1995. Medical charts were reviewed and clinical and laboratory variables were abstracted, looking for predictors of mortality. RESULTS: The most common symptoms included sore throat (79.5%), and nausea with or without vomiting (73.8%). The most common laboratory findings were leukocytosis (68.0%), low serum bicarbonate (48.1%), and acidosis (35.8%). Overall, 11 of 131 patients (8.4%) died; the mean +/- SEM time to death was 2.8 +/- 0.8 days after presentation. When comparing the clinical and laboratory characteristics among the survivor and fatality groups, significant differences were identified. Respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, respiratory distress necessitating intubation, shock (systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg), altered consciousness, abnormal chest x-ray, renal failure necessitating hemodialysis, larger amount of ingestion (>200 mL), and hyperkalemia were predictors highly associated with poor outcomes and mortality. Using multiple logistic regression, three predictors were identified, which may predict mortality in severely intoxicated patients. CONCLUSIONS: In managing patients who have larger amount of GlySH ingestion, airway protection, early detection of pulmonary edema, and prevention of further pulmonary damage and renal damage appear to be of critical importance.

Female↗

PubMed2000

The effects of glurenorm on plasma glucose and lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The effects of sulfonylureas on plasma glucose, lipids, and macrovascular complications are of interest. This study was designed to investigate the effects of glurenorm on plasma glucose and lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Nineteen patients, 15 men and 4 women, with an age range of 38-69 years, and with type 2 diabetes mellitus, were studied. Plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and lipids were compared before and 3 months after glurenorm treatment. RESULTS: Fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, and HbA1c significantly improved after 3 months of glurenorm treatment. The mean (+/- SD) triglyceride level of 10 patients with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia decreased from 279 +/- 66 to 219 +/- 100 mg/dl (p = 0.054). The total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of 14 hypercholesterolemic patients did not change significantly. Their mean body weight increased significantly from 65.7 +/- 9.6 to 67.2 +/- 9.9 kg (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Glurenorm was effective for glycemic control but caused weight gain in type 2 diabetic patients. Triglycerides in hypertriglyceridemic patients, and total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C in hypercholesterolemic patients did not improve after glurenorm treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Cytochrome P4502E1 genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer in a Taiwanese population.

Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) is involved in metabolic activation of carcinogenic nitrosamines, benzene and low molecular weight halogenated hydrocarbons. In this study, we assessed the association between CYP2E1 RsaI and DraI genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer in a Taiwanese population. The RsaI genotype distribution was significantly different between 119 lung cancer patients and 231 non-cancer controls. The homozygote variants of RsaI genotypes were more common in controls (6.9%) than in lung cancer patients (0.8%). The estimated odds ratio (OR) was 0.11 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01-0.87). After adjusting for age, sex, and smoking status, the OR was 0.12 (95%, CI, 0.02-0.95). This is the first observation of a positive association between this locus and lung cancer in an Asian population. No significant differences in CYP2E1 DraI genotype distributions were found between cases and controls. The results of this study indicate that CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism, but not DraI polymorphism, may contribute to the development of lung cancer in Taiwan.

Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1↗

PubMed1999

Acute poisoning with a herbicide containing imazapyr (Arsenal): a report of six cases.

BACKGROUND: Acute pesticide poisoning is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Taiwan and herbicides are most frequently implicated. Imazapyr [2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2 imidazoline-2-yl)nicotinic acid] is a new herbicide, recently registered in Taiwan under the tradename "Arsenal" (Imazapyr 23.1%, Cyanamid Taiwan Corporation, Taipei). Imazapyr is also marketed as Assault, Chopper, Contain, and Pivot. To the best of our knowledge, there is no information in the literature concerning acute toxicity in humans after ingestion of herbicides containing this compound. METHOD: Six cases of acute poisoning with Arsenal occurred during the period 1993-1997 in a single hospital. Emergency room records and medical charts were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 6 cases, 5 were suicide attempts and 1 was an act of violence inflicted on a child. Three of the 6 patients (50%) presented with severe symptoms, including impairment of consciousness and respiratory distress requiring intubation. Other presentations included metabolic acidosis (2), hypotension (2), leukocytosis (3), fever (2), mild elevation of hepatic transaminase and creatinine (2), unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (2), oral ulceration (2), pharyngolaryngitis (2), and chemical burns of the cornea (1). All cases had copious vomiting after ingestion of Arsenal. No mortality occurred. CONCLUSION: According to our observations, it appeared the toxic syndrome that results from a large quantity (> 100 mL) of Arsenal herbicide ingestion consists of hypotension, pulmonary dysfunction, oral mucosal and gastrointestinal irritation, and transient liver and renal dysfunction. However, the existence of a dose-response relationship, with increasing amounts of ingestion resulting in more severe symptoms, needs further observation and studies that include a larger series.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Factors related to the survival of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma patients with distant metastases.

There is limited clinical information comparing presentations and results of treatment of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma patients with distant metastases. We retrospectively analyzed data of 1,257 thyroid cancer patients who received their treatment and follow-up at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. We found 992 patients with papillary carcinoma and 205 patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma. Of these, 68 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (6.9%) had distant metastases at the time of diagnosis or during the follow-up period. Of the follicular thyroid carcinoma patients, 69 (33.7%) had distant metastases. Of the 68 patients with papillary carcinoma, only 33 were categorized as stage IV at the time of diagnosis. Nine of the patients were categorized as clinical stage I carcinoma, 10 as stage II, and 16 as stage III. Sixteen patients (23.5%) died during the study period, all but 2 of thyroid cancer. Twelve of the 68 patients were disease-free after treatment. Of the 69 patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma, 58 were categorized as stage IV at the time of diagnosis. Six of the patients were categorized as clinical stage I carcinoma, 2 as stage II, and 3 as stage III at the time of diagnosis; all of these patients deteriorated to stage IV during the follow-up period. Of the 42 patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma involving bone, 24 presented with bone metastases during the initial diagnosis. After treatment, 25 of 69 patients with follicular carcinoma died of follicular carcinoma. Only 3 patients were disease-free after the treatment. In patients with follicular carcinoma, only tumor size was an important prognostic factor. In this study, 8 patients categorized as clinical stages I to III at the time of operation had thyroglobulin (Tg) levels less than 5 ng/mL and developed distant metastases during the follow-up period. In conclusion, at diagnosis a large group of Asian patients with metastatic well-differentiated thyroid cancer was more likely to have follicular than papillary histology, and that, as expected, metastases from follicular cancer were present earlier and more frequently, were more likely to involve bone, were more likely to be associated with mortality, and were linked to tumor size but not gender. Also unlike some other reports, treatment producing a low Tg did not always produce a good outcome. More aggressive surgical procedures may be able to improve outcomes.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

PubMed1999

Assessing distributions of estimated drug shelf lives in stability analysis.

A stability study is usually conducted to ensure that a drug product can meet the approved specifications prior to its expiration dating period (shelf life). Several approaches for determination of drug shelf life assuming random batches have been proposed. In this paper, we examine sampling distributions of the estimated shelf lives proposed by Shao and Chow (1994, Biometrics 50, 753-763). An application to some stability data from the pharmaceutical industry is presented.

Biometry↗

PubMed1999

Hemodynamic abnormalities in sodium monofluoroacetate intoxication.

Hypotension is one of the most important predictors of mortality in sodium monofluoroacetate (SMFA) intoxication. This paper reports the hemodynamic response in one fatal and another survival case of SMFA intoxication. Despite correction of hypovolemia and with inotropic support, the patients remained in shock. Hemodynamic observations have provided evidence that shock after SMFA intoxication is due to diminished systemic vascular resistance and increased cardiac output. This is the first report in which such an invasive hemodynamic investigation has been recorded in a clinical case of SMFA intoxication.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Visceral adiposity and incident coronary heart disease in Japanese-American men. The 10-year follow-up results of the Seattle Japanese-American Community Diabetes Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for incident coronary heart disease (CHD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 175 Japanese-American men without CHD were followed for up to 10 years. Baseline variables were blood pressure, weight, BMI, fat areas by computed tomography, skinfold thicknesses, abdominal circumference, plasma insulin, C-peptide, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, and HDL3 cholesterol, triglycerides, apoproteins A1 and B, and diagnosis of diabetes and hypertension. CHD was diagnosed by electrocardiogram and clinical events. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio. RESULTS: There were 50 incident cases of CHD. Using univariate logistic regression analysis, significant risk factors were intra-abdominal fat (P = 0.0090), fasting glucose (P = 0.0002), 2-h glucose (P = 0.0008), fasting HDL cholesterol (P = 0.0086), fasting HDL2 cholesterol (P = 0.030), fasting HDL3 cholesterol (P = 0.018), fasting triglycerides (P = 0.013), systolic (P = 0.0007) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.0002), and presence of diabetes (P = 0.0023). Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for BMI and age showed that intra-abdominal fat accounted for the effects of HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. In a multiple logistic regression model that included intra-abdominal fat, all systolic blood pressure and fasting glucose were significant. Substituting diastolic blood pressure for systolic blood pressure and 2-h glucose or diabetes status for fasting glucose produced similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral adiposity, blood pressure, and plasma glucose are important independent risk factors for incident CHD in this population of diabetic and nondiabetic Japanese-American men.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1999

Determination of benzodiazepines in clinical serum samples: comparative evaluation of REMEDi system, aca analyzer, and conventional HPLC performance.

Emergency toxicology or drug screening in clinical settings requires rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis with acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the performance of the multi-column HPLC-based REMEDi drug profiling system (Bio-Rad), the aca analyzer (Du Pont), and the bench standard conventional HPLC method in the identification of 12 clinically important benzodiazepines. In this study, the presence of benzodiazepines in 133 patients' serum samples were qualitatively and comparatively analyzed by these three procedures. Among these methods, 120 of 133 samples were identified as benzodiazepine-positive by conventional HPLC (90%); 127 by aca analyzer (95%); and 84 by REMEDi (63%). Detection sensitivity of REMEDi for most of the benzodiazepines was found satisfactory when concentrations were greater than 1.0 microg/mL. When benzodiazepine concentrations were in the ranges of 0.3-1.0 microg/mL, detection sensitivity became varied among the benzodiazepine family of drugs by REMEDi method. REMEDi procedure should not be considered as the method of choice for detection of benzodiazepines if expected concentration levels are below 0.3 microg/mL, with the exception of bromazepam. Conventional HPLC displayed the highest sensitivity and specificity for the detection of benzodiazepines. In our studies, 36 REMEDi-negative samples were positive by HPLC, although in 16 of the 36 REMEDi negative samples (13.3%), the presence of benzodiazepines was detected but only listed as candidates without positive identification of the individual compounds by REMEDi. In our series, however, there were no false positives by the REMEDi method whereas aca procedure showed 13 false positive results (9%) and 6 cases of false negative (4%). Our data indicate that the REMEDi procedure can be used on serum samples for rapid qualitative screening of clinically important high levels of benzodiazepines with high specificity. However, due to the relatively low sensitivity of REMEDi in samples with low benzodiazepine levels and relatively low specificity by aca, all samples should be further confirmed by conventional HPLC procedure.

Autoanalysis↗

PubMed1999

Ultrastructural changes of the tooth root surface by Nd:YAG laser irradiation followed by citric acid and tetracycline.

The neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has been used for treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity, eradicating periodontal pathogens, and facilitating calculus removal. However, Nd:YAG laser irradiation exerts potentially harmful effects on the tooth root surface. The purpose of this study was to examine the ultrastructural changes of the tooth root surface caused by Nd:YAG laser irradiation, and to determine whether chemical and mechanical preparations can correct these ultrastructural changes. Eighteen tooth specimens (3 x 3 x 0.5 mm) with healthy root surfaces were prepared and irradiated with an Nd:YAG laser at various power densities. Root surfaces were irradiated at 100 mJ at 20 pulses per second (pps) for 2 seconds followed by the application of citric acid (pH 1.2) or tetracycline solution (100 mg/mL) for 3 and 5 minutes, respectively, or ultrasonic scaling for 5 strokes of 3 seconds per stroke. As observed with low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy, (Wet-SEM), Nd:YAG laser irradiation at 70 to 100 mJ, 20 pps for 2 seconds caused surface cratering, areas of porosity, pitting, fissures, and lava-like structures in an area 140 to 280 microns in diameter. Irradiation of 50 mJ, 20 pps for 2 seconds, led to only mild surface charring. No evidence of morphologic changes was found when root surfaces were irradiated with the Nd:YAG laser at 20 mJ, 20 pps for 2 seconds or at 50 mJ, 10 pps for 8 seconds. The laser-induced lava-like structures were partially detached by citric acid (pH 1.2) etching and ultrasonic scaling, but not by tetracycline (100 mg/mL). These results indicate that chemical and mechanical preparations can be used effectively in conjunction with Nd:YAG laser irradiation for root surface preparation during both nonsurgical and surgical periodontal treatments.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1999

Identification of familial hypercholesterolemia in Taiwan: report of eleven cases.

BACKGROUND: Familial hypercholesterolemia is associated with a very high risk of premature coronary heart disease. In order to identify cases of familial hypercholesterolemia in Taiwan, we screened the hyperlipidemic patients in our metabolic clinics. METHODS: Hyperlipidemic patients were screened in the metabolic outpatient department and the cases which fulfilled the clinical criteria of definitive or possible familial hypercholesterolemia were further analyzed. Their clinical characteristics, including age, gender, physical findings, past history of coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), family history, and lipid profiles before and after medical treatment, were reviewed. RESULTS: Eight women and 3 men fulfilled the diagnostic criteria. The mean age at diagnosis was 51.1 +/- 11.9 years old. Tendon xanthomas were found in 5 patients with definitive familial hypercholesterolemia. Coronary heart disease was confirmed in one patient and old CVA was noted in another 2 patients. The mean total cholesterol level was 390.3 +/- 88.9 mg/dl and the mean low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) level was 309.6 +/- 89.9 mg/dl before treatment. After a mean treatment duration of 45.2 months, the mean total cholesterol level and LDL-cholesterol level were 326.8 +/- 87.8 mg/dl and 249.1 +/- 91.1 mg/dl, respectively. CONCLUSION: Clinically diagnosed familial hypercholesterolemia indeed exists in Taiwan. As compared to other reports, the mean age at diagnosis in our series was older and the majority of patients were women. Most patients were not vigorously treated and the family members were not thoroughly screened. Adequate treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia in clinical practice and screening their family members are crucial in preventing new or recurrent coronary heart disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Studies of the correlations between DNA fingerprints and meat production traits in chickens].

This study revealed correlations between DNA fingerprints (DFPs) and slaughter traits of SR92A male x Xiaoshan female hybrids with EAV (endogenous avian retroviral element) as the probe. In the DFP patterns, the band J with molecular weight of about 4 kilobasepairs correlated significantly with alive weight, dressing weight, semi-eviscerated weight, talon weight, breast muscle weight, head weight and thigh weight. The mean alive weight, dressing weight, semi-eviscerated weight and breast muscle weight are 280 g (28.57%), 225 g (28.87%), 216 g (28.76%) and 16.71 g (54.00%) higher respectively in individuals without band J than in those with band J. With the following formula: delta W = (XJ(-) - XJ+) x N x FJ+, it was estimated that an addition of 165.2 kilograms of alive weight can be achieved in a hybrid population with size of 1,000 chickens established by selecting parents without band J.

Animals↗