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Biomedical subjects

S M Lin

Publications and source records attributed to S M Lin.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Solitary cerebellar metastases: analysis of 11 cases.

Solitary cerebellar metastatic tumors are rarely reported in the literature. We reviewed 240 posterior fossa tumors treated in the past eight years. There were 11 cases of solitary metastases in the cerebellum. The primary tumor was lung cancer in five cases and breast carcinoma in two cases; the remaining three cases had colon cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Ewing's sarcoma, respectively. All patients underwent craniectomy and gross total excision of the tumor. Seven patients survived less than one year, two cases died in the second year, and one case of NPC survived for more than two years. The only survival is a case of Ewing's sarcoma who underwent surgery 14 months ago. The symptoms and signs of all patients improved satisfactorily after surgery. Four patients received postoperative irradiation to the posterior fossa and two cases of lung cancer had a thoracotomy for the primary lung lesion; however, the survival period was not prolonged. We suggest that a cancer patient or a patient in the fifth to seventh decades of life presenting headache, gait disturbance and vomiting should promptly undergo a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head. In selected cases, surgical intervention for solitary metastatic tumors in the tiny posterior fossa may be the best initial treatment. Adjuvant therapies should then be added according to the type of tumor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A prospective randomized controlled trial of sandostatin and vasopressin in the management of acute bleeding esophageal varices.

To study the hemostatic effect of Sandostatin, a long-acting analogue of somatostatin, in acute variceal bleeding, a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing it with Vasopressin was conducted in 41 cirrhotic patients with esophageal variceal bleeding. Initial hemostasis was achieved within 6 hours in 75% of patients treated with Sandostatin and in 61.9% treated with Vasopressin. Recurrent bleed developed in 20% of patients in Sandostatin group and 46.2% in Vasopressin group following initial hemostasis. Complete control of bleeding for 24 hours was attained in 60% of the Sandostatin group and in 33.3% of the Vasopressin group. There was no statistically significant difference in both the rate of initial hemostasis and complete bleeding control. Hospital mortality was also similar in both groups. However, transfusion requirements were less (P less than 0.05) and side effects tended to be milder in patients treated with Sandostatin. In conclusion, Sandostatin is at least as effective as Vasopressin in the treatment of acute variceal bleeding, and carries less severe complications than Vasopressin does.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Interpleural administration of bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia after thoracotomy in patients with patent ductus arteriosus.

Interpleural analgesia for postoperative pain with bupivacaine 0.25%, 0.375% and 0.5% at dosage of 1.5 mg/kg was evaluated in three randomized groups (A, B and C) of 22 children having triple ligation for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Complete pain relief was obtained within 30 min irrespective of the concentration of bupivacaine. The duration of pain relief significantly varied with the concentrations of the drug used, respectively 5.02 +/- 0.4 h, 6.88 +/- 0.7 h and 8.24 +/- 1.08 h (mean +/- SD) for 0.25%, 0.375% and 0.5% bupivacaine (p less than 0.05). No side effects were observed and no other supplemented narcotics were given. We concluded that 0.5% bupivacaine at the dose of 1.5 mg/kg was effective in postoperative pain relief after thoracotomy in patients undergoing PDA ligation surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Recombinant immunoblot assay for hepatitis C antibody in patients with posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis.

In a prospective study of 287 patients who received blood transfusion, 26 who were found positive for hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were studied by a recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). Nineteen of the 26 patients had posttransfusion non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis. Sixteen (84.2%) of the 19 patients with hepatitis had positive results by RIBA, 2 had indeterminate results, and 1 was negative. By contrast, five of the 7 recipients without hepatitis were negative, 1 indeterminate, and 1 positive by RIBA. Those with negative RIBA results had significantly lower optical density (OD) readings by ELISA than those with positive RIBA tests. Therefore, patients without hepatitis or lower OD value have a higher false-positive rate in anti-HCV ELISA than did those with a high OD value or with evidence of hepatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Prednisolone withdrawal followed by recombinant alfa-interferon in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis: interim results of a randomized controlled trial.

To determine the effect of a recombinant alpha interferon 2b (Intron-A) and possible benefit of prednisolone pretreatment in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis, 75 Chinese patients with clinico-histologically proven chronic hepatitis were randomly allocated to one of the following regimens: (A) 3 million units of Intron-A trice weekly for 6 months; (B) dose titration according to ALT-AST values; (C) prednisolone withdrawal followed by regimen A; (D) control group: no treatment for 6 months but followed by alternating treatment with 3 million units of Intron-A trice weekly for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks no treatment for 6 months. Up to September 30, 1990, 67 patients have been followed for a minimum of 2 months. At the end of the second month, complete response (normal ALT) was achieved in 71% of group A, 50% of group B, 50% of group C and 0% of group D. At the end of the 6th month, the complete response rate was 62%, 47% and 64% respectively in groups A, B and C. The response rates in groups A and C were significantly better than the 7% in the control group. Complete response usually (91%) occurred within 2 months after the first dose of interferon. Relapse occurred in 40% of the complete responders, usually within 2 months of the last dose. The cumulative relapse rate was significantly lower in responders of group C (11% vs 43% in group A and 86% in group B during a period of 6 months). Only mild adverse effects were reported though two patients withdrew because of intolerable fatigue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1991

Detection of two Zn-finger proteins of Xenopus laevis, TFIIIA, and p43, by probing western blots of ovary cytosol with 65Zn2+, 63Ni2+, or 109Cd2+.

Two Zn-finger proteins, TFIIIA (a constituent of 7S RNP particles) and p43 (a constituent of 42S RNP particles), were detected in ovary extracts of juvenile Xenopus laevis females by in vitro binding of radiolabeled divalent metals. Proteins fractionated by SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) were transferred by Western blotting onto nitrocellulose membranes, probed with 65Zn2+, 63Ni2+, or 109Cd2+, and visualized by autoradiography. Detection limits for TFIIIA were approx 0.07 micrograms/well by 109Cd(2+)-probing, 0.13 micrograms/well by 65Zn(2+)-probing, and 0.26 mu/well by 63Ni(2+)-probing. Protein p43 was more clearly visualized by probing with 63Ni2+ than with 65Zn2+ or 109Cd2+. After purified TFIIIA was cleaved with cyanogen bromide, 65Zn2+, 109Cd2+, and 63Ni2+ distinctly labeled the 22 kDa middle fragment; 65Zn2+ and 109Cd2+ also labeled the 11 kDa N-terminal fragment, but did not label the 13 kDa C-terminal fragment. These results are consistent with the notion that the radioligands were bound to finger-loop domains of TFIIIA, which occur in the middle and N-terminal fragments. Based on the abilities of nonradioactive metal ions to compete with 65Zn2+ for binding to TFIIIA on Western blots, the relative affinities of the metals for TFIIIA were ranked as follows: Zn2+ = Cu2+ greater than or equal to Hg2+ greater than Cd2+ greater than Co2+ greater than or equal to Ni2+. Even at a 1000-fold molar excess, Mn2+ did not compete with 65Zn2+ for binding to TFIIIA. Probing Western blots with the radiolabeled metal ions greatly facilitates the detection, isolation, and quantitation of TFIIIA and p43.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Hepatocyte expression of HBcAg and serum HBeAg in hepatitis B: comparison of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies during a trial of interferon.

The distribution and quantitative expression of HBcAg in relation to serum HBeAg and liver histology before and after a trial of interferon in 50 patients with chronic type B hepatitis were evaluated using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. In general, both antisera showed a similar pattern in terms of the distribution of HBcAg, with predominant localisation of HBcAg in the cytoplasm in HBeAg positive patients with chronic active hepatitis. Semiquantitative analysis showed, however, that there was a higher degree of cytoplasmic expression of HBcAg with polyclonal than with monoclonal anti-HBc. Some of the HBeAg positive patients with only a focal expression of HBcAg in the cytoplasm by polyclonal anti-HBc showed no expression of HBcAg with monoclonal anti-HBc. The expression of HBcAg with polyclonal anti-HBc correlated better with the histological features of chronic active hepatitis or the persistence of serum HBeAg on follow up, suggesting that it did not result from non-specific or false positive staining. All of the HBeAg negative patients with minimal histological changes or inactive cirrhosis were HBcAg negative with both antisera. In conclusion, though both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies produced a quite similar distribution of HBcAg in patients with chronic type B hepatitis, polyclonal antibody seemed to be more sensitive in detecting HBcAg in the cytoplasm than did monoclonal anti-HBc, and the expression of HBcAg with polyclonal anti-HBc correlated better with the clinical and histological outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Hematological abnormalities in acute viral hepatitis and acute hepatitis in HBsAg carrier].

Various kinds of hematological abnormalities have been known to occur in liver diseases. To understand the hematological changes in acute viral hepatitis, 324 adults with acute viral hepatitis were studied. Of them, 3 were acute hepatitis A, 91 acute hepatitis B, 99 acute non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) and 181 acute hepatitis on chronic hepatitis B (AH on CH-B). There were 233 males and 91 females; age ranged from 16 to 74 years (mean age 39 years.) The results showed the incidences of thrombocytopenia (platelet less than 120,000/cmm), anemia (Hb less than 12 g% in male and less than 10% in female patients), leukocytosis (WBC greater than 10,000/cmm) and leukopenia (WBC less than 4,000/cmm) were 19.3%, 12.6%, 10.8% and 7.4%, respectively. Patients with AH on CH-B had significantly higher incidence of anemia and thrombocytopenia than those with acute B hepatitis; other than this, there was no significant difference. Patients with anemia, thrombocytopenia or leukocytosis had significantly higher mean levels of serum bilirubin and higher proportions of prolonged prothrombin time, suggesting that these hematological abnormalities were closely related to the severity of hepatocellular damage. In addition, there were 3 cases (0.9%) complicated with aplastic anemia. Two were NANB hepatitis and the other was AH on CH-B which was seronegative for anti-delta, possibly suggesting NANB virus superinfection. Of these 3 cases, 2 died of complications related to aplastic anemia and 1 survived with normal hematological findings 148 days later.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Effect of wet decomposition methods on the determination of cobalt, copper, selenium, and zinc in biological samples using electrophoresis.

A method combining radiotracer techniques with paper electrophoresis to investigate the optimal decomposition conditions for cobalt, copper, selenium, and zinc in rat liver samples is described. After oral and intraperitoneal administration of the respective nuclides of 60Co, 64Cu, 75Se, and 65Zn solutions, the livers of the tested rats are removed and decomposed with a nitric and sulfuric acid mixture. The completeness of decomposition is investigated by measuring the respective radionuclide-containing species in the decomposed samples by electrophoretic analysis. The results indicate that the Co- and Se-containing liver samples are more easily decomposed than those containing Cu and Zn under the specific conditions. The same decomposition effects are observed for ingested radioisotopes as for intraperitoneally injected ones. The possible connection of decomposition with the analytical error is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of gallstones.

Four kinds of gallstones from 40 patients have been analyzed for the presence of a total of 18 elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Of these elements, Ca, Mg, Fe, Co, Zn, Na, and Cl are found in the core of all types of stones. The differences in elemental composition of the various types of stones as well as the differences in the cross-sectional layers of stones are statistically evaluated.

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMed1990

Thoracic spondylosis: experience of 4 cases.

Thoracic spondylosis is relatively uncommon compared to cervical or lumbar spondylosis. It may cause spinal canal stenosis and result in radiculopathy, neurogenic claudication, and most commonly, myelopathy. We present our experience in the management of 4 cases with symptomatic thoracic spondylosis. The lower thoracic spine was involved in all 4 cases. The pathological changes are almost the same as in cervical or lumbar spondylosis except that ossification of ligamenta flava is more common in thoracic spondylosis. The ossified ligamenta flava may adhere tightly to the dura mater, and therefore increase the difficulty of operation. The results of decompressive laminectomy for thoracic spondylosis were acceptable.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Rectal ketamine versus intranasal ketamine as premedicant in children.

The effects of ketamine administered per nasus (PN) or per rectum (PR) as pre-anesthetic medication for day surgery was studied in 70 ASA class I children with age ranging from 6 months to 6 years. Before study they were divided into 3 groups. Group A (n = 25) received no premedicant, while group B (n = 25) and group C (n = 20) received ketamine 6 mg/kg PR and 3 mg/kg PN as premedicant respectively. It was demonstrated that patients in group B and group C accepted the facemask during induction of anesthesia more willingly and peacefully than those in group A. In group B and group C there was accompaniment of analgesic effect seen postoperatively. The incidence of adverse reactions (nausea, vomiting, laryngospasm, salivation, respiratory depression) was low following the use of PR or PN ketamine although the children in these two groups emerged more belatedly from anesthesia and stayed in the post-anesthetic recovery room (PARR) for a longer time than in group A.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1989

Sonographic demonstration of free air in perforated peptic ulcers: comparison of sonography with radiography.

Abdominal sonography was performed in 283 patients with acute abdominal pain. Of these patients, 10 were diagnosed as having an acute perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) and 2 were diagnosed as having a sealed-off PPU. Sonographic findings of acute PPU are summarized. The presence of an interference echo with the shifting phenomenon is a very strong indication of the presence of free air in the abdominal cavity. Using these sonographic criteria, intraperitoneal free air was diagnosed as 9/10 patients with PPU in comparison to 8/10 by abdominal and chest radiographs. Two patients with sonographic evidence of free air, but negative X-ray studies, were later found to have free air in the subsequent radiographic studies. These findings suggest that sonography is highly sensitive in the small number of patients in whom air is found. Sonographic studies also have the advantage of detecting other changes associated with PPU, such as fluid accumulation, inflammatory mass, and thickening of the gallbladder.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1989

Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with acute delta hepatitis virus superinfection.

We describe a patient with the clinical characteristics of Guillain-Barré syndrome, including progressive ascending paresis; cerebrospinal fluid albumino-cytological dissociation; polyphasic small evoked potential, with prolonged latency and slow motor nerve conduction velocity; and active denervation pattern on electromyography, in association with acute delta hepatitis virus superinfection. The patient recovered from Guillain-Barré syndrome but developed chronic active delta hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Toxicity to alveolar macrophages in rats following parenteral injection of nickel chloride.

Alveolar macrophages collected by pulmonary lavage from male Fischer-344 rats at intervals (1-72 hr) after NiCl2 injection (62-500 mumol/kg, sc) were tested by several techniques. Within 1 to 4 hr, the macrophages showed morphological and biochemical signs of activation (hypertrophy, ruffled plasma membrane, increased cyclic AMP concentration, and markedly diminished 5'-nucleotidase activity, assayed by concanavalin A inhibition). Functional impairment (reduced phagocytic activity) was first seen at 24 hr; lipid peroxidation (increased malondialdehyde concentration) was not detected until 48 hr. Dose- and time-related effects of NiCl2 on 5'-nucleotidase activity, phagocytic activity, malondialdehyde concentration, and nickel content of alveolar macrophages were observed 24 to 72 hr postinjection. Diminished cell viability occurred only at 72 hr after the highest dosage of NiCl2. In alveolar macrophages from 63NiCl2-treated rats, 63Ni was located primarily in the cytoplasm, based upon liquid scintillation counting and autoradiography; fractionations of macrophage cytosol by gel filtration chromatography showed that 63Ni was bound to several high- and low-molecular-weight constituents. This study demonstrates that sc administration of NiCl2 to rats caused nickel uptake into and activation of alveolar macrophages, followed by reduced phagocytic capacity. The alveolar macrophage was a cellular target for nickel toxicity following parenteral exposure to NiCl2.

Animals↗