Biomedical subjects

Ming-Cheng Weng

Publications and source records attributed to Ming-Cheng Weng.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The correlation between selected measurements from footprint and radiograph of flatfoot.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the subarch angle obtained from electronic footprints using a capacitive mat transducer system in children with flatfeet, to evaluate other foot arch indexes, and to compare the results with radiographic measurements. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Rehabilitation clinic in a municipal hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two children (age range, 7-13y) diagnosed with flatfeet. INTERVENTIONS: Radiographic measurements and foot shape measurements obtained from feet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Talo-first metatarsal angle, talocalcaneal angle, talo-horizontal angle, and calcaneal angle were obtained from radiographs. Subarch angle, arch indexes, and long plantar angle were all captured and calculated via a capacitive transducer plate. RESULTS: Correlations between the subarch angle and the talo-first metatarsal angle, talo-horizontal angle, and arch height were significant, as was the correlation between midfoot arch index and talo-horizontal angle. The forefoot arch index had no significant relationship with radiographic parameters. The talo-horizontal angle and arch height had significant relationships with the long plantar angle. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of the subarch angle had significant correlation with the radiographic parameters in children with flatfeet and it was accurately and easily obtained from a capacitive forceplate. Measurement of the subarch angle can be a useful tool in the assessment and diagnosis of flatfoot.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Conversion disorder in stroke: a case report.

Conversion disorder is caused by previous severe stress, emotional conflict, or an associated psychiatric disorder, and usually presents with one or more neurologic symptoms. Clinically, it is challenging to diagnose diseases such as transient ischemia attack, stroke, brain tumor, spinal cord injury, and neuropathy. In this case report, we present a male stroke patient who had a typical conversion disorder.

Conversion Disorder↗

PubMed2005

Relationship between ankle position and pelvic floor muscle activity in female stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the influence of ankle position on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activity in women with stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: A total of 39 women, ranging in age from 38 to 72 years and clinically diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence, participated in testing of PFM activity changes during various pelvic tilt angles created by horizontal, dorsiflexed, and plantar flexed ankle positions. PFM activity was measured by an intravaginal probe with surface electromyographic electrodes. An adjustable angle platform was used to set the ankle in each of the positions to create the various pelvic tilt postures. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in resting PFM activity between horizontal standing with the ankle in the neutral position and standing with the ankle in plantar flexion (P = 0.01). Patients with ankle dorsiflexion also had greater resting PFM activity than with ankle plantar flexion (P < 0.01). Subjects showed significant changes in mean maximal PFM activity when standing with the ankle dorsiflexed and horizontal or in plantar flexion. CONCLUSIONS: A standing posture that includes various ankle positions effectively facilitates PFM activity through enhanced pelvic tilt. We recommend these ankle positions as an adjunctive option combined with PFM training for stress urinary incontinence.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Effect of glycemic control on electrophysiologic changes of diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetic patients.

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Effective blood glucose control retards changes in nerve conduction velocity in type 1 diabetes. This study examined the relationship between glycemic control and electrophysiologic changes in diabetic neuropathy in 57 type 2 diabetic patients. Nerve conduction in the peroneal motor nerve, tibial motor nerve, and sural nerve were measured at study entry and at follow-up 24+/-3.12 months later. Changes in individual nerves are expressed as a percentage change (PC) and overall electrophysiologic changes are expressed as the sum of individual PCs. The PCs for peroneal motor nerve velocity, tibial motor nerve velocity, and sural nerve velocity were all lower in patients with a mean HbA1c of 8.5% or less compared with those in patients with a mean HbA1c of more than 8.5%, and SPCV (sum of PC in velocity) was significantly inversely correlated with mean HbA1c. However, there was no significant difference in SPCV in subjects with or without hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, or low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. In conclusion, hyperglycemia is the most important etiology for electrophysiologic progression in type 2 diabetic patients. Furthermore, a mean HbA1c of more than 8.5% will result in significant deterioration in electrophysiology.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Ultrasonographic findings in hemiplegic knees of stroke patients.

Clinical and radiologic asymmetric arthritic differences between paralyzed and nonparalyzed limbs of stroke patients have been reported. Arthritic pathology aggravates motor dysfunction and compromises rehabilitation. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography plays an important role in showing soft tissue and the articular cartilage of the knee. Fifty-nine patients with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke-induced right or left hemiplegia were recruited to evaluate soft-tissue and intra-articular cartilage changes in hemiplegic knees of stroke patients using ultrasonography. An additional 15 subjects (30 knees) without knee disease or a history of knee trauma or surgery were used as controls. There were significant differences in suprapatellar effusion and patellar tendinitis between hemiplegic and nonhemiplegic knees. Suprapatellar effusion and pes anserinus tendinitis were correlated with Brunnstrom stage. The length of time since stroke onset was not significantly correlated with positive ultrasonographic findings in hemiplegic knees. In conclusion, ultrasonography is useful for detecting periarticular soft-tissue changes and intra-articular lesions in hemiplegic knees of stroke patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Acute idiopathic syringomyelia: a case report.

There have been isolated reports in the literature of the natural history and less than complete knowledge of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of syringomyelia. This article describes a clinically acute-onset abnormal patient with localized dilatation of the central canal of the spinal cord who had no evidence of present or prior Chiari's malformation, trauma, infection, tumor, or other predisposing pathologic condition. It is suggested that this distinct condition be labeled "acute idiopathic syringomyelia".

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Ultrasonographic findings in hemiplegic shoulders of stroke patients.

Shoulder problems are frequently noted in hemiplegic shoulders and compromise rehabilitation. Many tools were used to evaluate the etiology of shoulder problems but most of them are either nonspecific to the evaluation of soft tissue or not convenient. In order to evaluate soft tissue and joint change in hemiplegic shoulders, 82 patients with hemiplegic shoulders caused by cerebral vascular accident (CVA) were collected and evaluated by ultrasonography with 5-12 MHz high-resolution electronic linear scanner (ATL ultrasound HDI 1500, USA). The non-hemiplegic shoulders were also studied as control group. The results showed that ultrasonographic changes were noted in 51 (62.2%) hemiplegic shoulders while changes only occurred in 17 (20.7%) non-hemiplegic shoulders. Effusion and tendinitis were the major changes showing statistical difference compared with non-hemiplegic shoulders, but there was no significant difference in the incidence of supraspinatus tendon tear between hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic shoulders. Further, the interval from the onset of CVA was not significantly correlated with the presence of positive ultrasonographic findings in hemiplegic shoulders. The results demonstrated that ultrasonography is a potential method in the evaluation of hemiplegic shoulder.

Adult↗