Biomedical subjects

W Tu

Publications and source records attributed to W Tu.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

[Concentrations of serum HDL subfractions and apolipoprotein B in ischemic cerebrovascular disease].

The concentrations of HDL subfractions and apolipoprotein B were determined in 127 survivors of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) confirmed by CT scanning. All these patients were classified into 3 groups according to the sites of the arterial lesion, the amount of infarction and the course of the disease. The levels of cholesterol in HDL subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3) were significantly reduced in the patient with ICVD. The level of ApoB was elevated significantly in these patients as compared with control group. No difference between acute stage group and recovery stage group was found on the levels of HDL subfractions and ApoB. It seemed that the abnormalities of the levels of HDL subfractions and ApoB might have existed prior to the onset of the stroke. It was found that the levels of HDL-C and HDL-C subfraction were significantly lower in the cortical artery group than in the perforating artery group. The amount of reduction of both HDL-C and HDL subfractions was inversely related to the size of the infarct volume in patients with ICVD. It was believed that the determination of concentration of HDL subfractions and ApoB and early correction of the ab-normality of lipoproteins metabolism might be of help in preventing or delaying the stroke.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Open-loop control of the freely-swinging paralyzed leg.

An experimental model has been used to study issues that are relevant to the use of electrical stimulation to help paralyzed individuals walk. Modulated stimulation sequences for the quadriceps muscles were manually selected using an iterative trial-and-error procedure to cause the knee angle to follow a specific movement pattern (desired trajectory). Four paraplegic subjects were tested before and after an eight-week program in which the quadriceps were exercised daily with electrical stimulation. It was found that 12.6 +/- 2.9 iterations were required to approximate the desired trajectory. The average error of the final match between the actual and desired trajectories was 2.1 degrees +/- 0.7. Repeated responses were extremely consistent; the average difference between successive trials was less than 1 degree in 81 percent of the trials. When the stimulation sequence was repeated every 3 s for 50 cycles, however, there was a progressive degradation in the response, even in exercised legs, that demonstrated the limitations of open-loop control. Stimulus modulation envelopes for all four subjects were similar in shape (although varied in amplitude) indicating that the iterative process can be shortened by starting with an "average" modulation envelope. Stimulation sequences achieved accurate matches of the desired trajectory on subsequent days when adjusted by a simple gain factor. The relevance of these results to multichannel control of walking is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of computer-based prescribing on pharmacist work patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of computer-based outpatient prescription writing by internal medicine physicians on pharmacist work patterns. DESIGN: Work sampling at a hospital-based outpatient pharmacy. Data were collected from pharmacists wearing silent, random-signal generators before and after the implementation of computer-based prescribing. MEASUREMENTS: The type of work performed by pharmacists (activity), the reason for their work (function), and the people they contacted (contact) were measured. RESULTS: Total staff hours and prescriptions handled were similar before and after computer-based prescribing. Pharmacists recorded 4,687 observations before and 4,735 observations after implementation of computer-based outpatient prescription writing. After implementation, pharmacists spent 12.9 percent more time correcting prescription problems, had 3.9 percent less idle time, and spent 2.2 percent less time in discussions with others. Pharmacists also spent 34.0 percent less time filling prescriptions, 45.8 percent more time in problem-solving activities involving prescriptions, and 3.4 percent less time providing advice. Over 80 percent of pharmacist time was spent working alone both before and after computer-based outpatient prescription writing. CONCLUSION: Computer-based prescribing results in major changes in the type of work done by hospital-based outpatient pharmacists and in the reason for their work and small changes in the people contacted during their work.

Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems↗