Biomedical subjects

Tien-Wen Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Tien-Wen Chen.

10 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

Preliminary results of integrated therapy for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of integrated therapy on the functional status of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: A total of 140 subjects with bilateral knee OA (Altman grade II) were randomized sequentially into 4 groups (groups I-IV). Group I received isokinetic exercises; group II received isokinetic exercise and pulse ultrasound for periarticular soft tissue pain; group III received isokinetic exercise, pulse ultrasound, and intraarticular hyaluronan therapy; and group IV acted as the control group. The therapeutic effects of the interventions were evaluated by changes in Lequesne's index, knee range of motion, peak muscle torques of knee flexion and extension, and ambulation speed after 8 weeks of treatment and at followup 1 year later. In addition, changes in visual analog scale pain and rates of attrition in each group were also recorded. RESULTS: Patients in groups I-III exhibited increased muscle peak torques and significantly reduced pain and disability after treatment and at followup. Groups II and III showed significant improvements in range of motion and ambulation speed after treatment. Group III also showed the greatest increase in walking speed and decrease in disability after treatment and at followup. Both group II and group III had significant gains in muscular strength after treatment and at followup; group III showed the greatest gains. CONCLUSION: An integrated therapy deals with the extra- and intraarticular progressive pathologic changes, and kinesiologic management of OA is suggested for the management of knee OA.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

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

Status epilepticus as an initial presentation of Brugada syndrome: a case report.

Patients presenting with convulsions are sometimes incorrectly treated for epilepsy, as these symptoms may be manifestations of underlying cardiac disease. Brugada syndrome, associated with an elevated risk of developing fatal arrhythmic events, is a rare disorder characterized by a unique electrocardiographic pattern. The typical clinical presentation mainly involves syncope of unclear cause or sudden death. Seizures are uncommon clinical manifestations of Brugada syndrome, and reports of status epilepticus as initial presentation of Brugada syndrome are extremely rare. In this case report, we present a male patient with a typical pattern on 12-lead electrocardiography, following resuscitation for generalized convulsive status epilepticus.

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↗

PubMed2003

Relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist angle in computer workers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most widely known entrapment neuropathy. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of CTS in a group of computer workers by typical symptoms, median nerve conduction studies, and their combinations. The posture of extended wrists while typing on a computer keyboard seems to be a predisposing factor for CTS. However, the correlation between wrist extension angle and the incidence of CTS is not well known. Forty-five subjects (mean age, 38.8 +/- 7.8 years) who used a computer for more than 6 hours daily in a medical center in southern Taiwan were studied. All completed questionnaires to ascertain their age, employment duration, dominant hand, and the severity of symptoms. Physical examinations (Tinel's sign and Phalen's test) were performed by a physician. The maximal wrist extension angle when typing on a computer keyboard was also measured by the same physician. Nerve conduction studies were performed on each subject to determine the severity of CTS. Results showed that the incidence of CTS in the computer workers was 16.7% (15 of 90 hands). Twelve subjects showed electrodiagnostic evidence of CTS: it involved the dominant hand in seven, the non-dominant hand in two, and bilateral hands in three. The severity of clinical symptoms was compatible with the findings of the nerve conduction studies. Among the major predisposing factors, we found significant correlation between CTS development and the wrist extension angle while typing on a computer keyboard. Computer workers who kept their wrists extended by more than 20 degrees were at greater risk of developing CTS.

Adult↗

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↗