Biomedical subjects

W T Hung

Publications and source records attributed to W T Hung.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Erythrocyte sedimentation in columns and the significance of ESR.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is a simple, non-specific clinical test. Most models of erythrocyte sedimentation (ES) are formulated as a sigmoid function but consider the ES process to consist of three distinct phases: single-cell fall; fall of rouleaux and aggregates; cell packing. Recently, a piecewise (three-phase) continuous model has been developed. Our study applies ES data from 29 haematologically normal subjects to this model and re-evaluates the mechanism of ES using the derived model parameters. Using the Westergren technique, ES readings were taken every 10 minutes for 300 minutes. Three subjects remained in the first phase, while 26 displayed three discrete phases. For the 26 subjects, the average rate of fall of the sedimenting particles in the first phase 87 microns/min, while that of the second phase was 176 microns/min. The ratio of these two values suggests an alternative nature of sedimenting particles in the first phase. Further, the average duration of the first phase was 62 minutes, suggesting that, in 50% of subjects, aggregate formation is incomplete when ESR is measured at 60 minutes.

Blood Sedimentation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness and acceptability of a newly designed hip protector: a pilot study.

Hip fracture has a significant economic and personal cost, involving hospital admission and functional impairment for elderly people. To assess the benefit of using a newly designed hip protector (new material and new design) to prevent fracture in a realistic setting, a randomised intervention-control design was used to trial the effectiveness of pads worn by high falls risk residents (n=71) in nursing home for 9 months. 40 residents were in the intervention group and 31 were in the control group. A profile of falls, including time of day, and orientation was obtained to demonstrate the potential effectiveness of the protectors for injury prevention. Acceptance of the hip protector was also surveyed amongst nursing home staff and residents. One hundred and one falls and six fractures occurred in the control group. In contrast, one hundred and ninety one falls and three fractures occurred in the hip protector (pads) group. The three fractures in the protector wearing group occurred when pads were not in place. This was extrapolated as 1 in every 16.8 falls and 1 in every 63.7 falls resulting in fracture in the two groups, respectively. The relative risk of fracture was 0.264 (95% CI=0.073-0.959) when the fracture incidence rate in the intervention group (three fractures per 191 falls) was compared to the control group (six fractures per 101 falls). This is a statistically significant result and implies that this newly designed hip protector is effective in preventing hip fracture. The majority of falls occurred during the day, which was when protectors were worn in this study, but the data on orientation was incomplete, with direction unknown in 74% of falls. Compliance was an issue, which was interpreted as only 50.3% of falls recorded with protectors in place. Dementia was identified as the explanation for this as the pads were often removed by these residents who comprised the majority of participants. Perception of low risk was the primary barrier to residents accepting the intervention. Comfort of protectors was not a significant concern for staff or residents, and only staff described appearance as an issue. In conclusion, the newly designed hip protector is protective against fractures in a realistic setting. Compliance and acceptance of the protectors will ultimately determine the viability of this prophylaxis.

Clinical Trial↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detecting alveolar epithelial injury following volatile anesthetics by (99m)Tc DTPA radioaerosol inhalation lung scan.

BACKGROUND: Many volatile anesthetics have long been thought to affect alveolar epithelial permeability. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of volatile anesthetics on the permeability of the alveolocapillary barrier to (99m)Tc DTPA. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (24 females, 3 males, age 29-73 years) undergoing operation were enrolled in this study and grouped according to the type of anesthesia received. Group 1 patients were administered 1% halothane. Group 2 patients were given 1.5% isoflurane. Intravenous anesthesia without volatile anesthetics were used for group 3 patients. Before and after anesthesia, (99m)Tc DTPA radioaerosol inhalation lung scans were performed to detect alveolar epithelial injury due to volatile anesthetics. The negative slope of the regression line was designated as the (99m)Tc DTPA pulmonary clearance rate and was expressed in terms of percentage decrease in radioactivity per minute. RESULTS: In group 1, the (99m)Tc DTPA clearance rates were 1.26 +/- 0.34 and 1.29 +/- 0.38 before and after anesthesia, respectively. The difference was not significant (p > 0.05). In group 2, the rates were 0.76 +/- 0.20 and 1.10 +/- 0. 37, before and after anesthesia, respectively. The difference was significant (p < 0.05). In group 3, the clearance rates were 1.07 +/- 0.38 and 1.21 +/- 0.48, before and after anesthesia, respectively. The difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Following isoflurane administration, the more rapid pulmonary clearance of (99m)Tc DTPA indicates that isoflurane increases the permeability of the alveolo-capillary barrier.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatoblastoma in infancy and childhood: a clinical and pathological study of 32 cases.

During the twenty-nine-year period from June 1959 to October 1988, 32 infants and children with histology-proved hepatoblastoma were seen at the Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). The age at diagnosis ranged from four days to six years, with a mean of one year and eight months. Most of the patients (87.5%) were under the age of three. There was no sex predilection (16 males, 16 females). The most common presenting signs were an upper abdominal mass (71.9%) and/or abdominal distention (62.5%). Physically, all the patients revealed hepatomegaly, with or without mass. Laboratory abnormalities included primarily thrombocytosis (64.3%), elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (75.0%), serum alanine aminotransferase (62.5%), cholesterol (78.3%) and alphafetoprotein (92.3%). According to the classification of Ishak and Glunz, 56.3% of these belonged to the epithelial type; the others belonged to the mixed type. During the follow-up period, 6 patients with complete resection of the tumor remained alive from 2 years to 17 years and 4 months. Twenty-two patients died from 8 days to 16 months after diagnosis. Four patients were lost to follow-up. The two-year survival rate was 21.4% (6/28). Complete resection of the tumor was the key treatment for achieving survival.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: analysis on factors affecting survival.

Thirty cases of early-onset congenital diaphragmatic hernia were admitted to National Taiwan University Hospital from 1976 to 1990. The mortality rate has increased in recent years, with an overall mortality rate of 26.7%. Low PH value of initial blood gas, early onset of symptoms at birth and total absence of hemidiaphragm were the three most poor prognostic factors (P less than 0.01). Preoperative stabilization of those patients with an initial PH value less than 7.2 may be helpful (P less than 0.04).

Blood Gas Analysis↗