Y A Fu | PubMed Health

PubMed1998

[Bioelectrical impedance analysis of body composition in patients with pulmonary emphysema].

In this study we utilized bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to compare the body composition of 36 stable pulmonary emphysema (PE) patients with 19 healthy controls. We compared the PE patients and healthy controls in terms of fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF) as percentages of ideal body weight (FFM/IBW, BF/IBW). FFM/IBW and BF/IBW were significantly lower in the PE patients than in the controls (75.0 +/- 9.8% vs. 85.2 +/- 7.3%, p < 0.001 and 11.8 +/- 6.4% vs. 16.7 +/- 7.7%, p < 0.05, respectively). We divided the PE patients into two subgroups according to FFM, then investigated the relationships between FFM and skeletal muscle strength, and between FFM and respiratory muscle strength. In patients with reduced FFM (FFM < 43.5 kg) grip strength as an index of skeletal muscle strength was significantly lower than in patients without reduced FFM (FFM > or = 43.5 kg) (25.7 +/- 7.8 kg vs. 36.2 +/- 7.2 kg, p < 0.005). As indexes of respiratory muscle strength, maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) and maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) were lower in the patients with reduced of FFM, but not to a statistically significant degree (49.6 +/- 20.8 cm H2O vs. 58.7 +/- 23.9 cm H2O and 40.5 +/- 19.2 cm H2O vs. 50.2 +/- 22.1 cm H2O, respectively). In the PE patients, FFM correlated closely with vital capacity (r = 0.528, p < 0.001), forced vital capacity (FVC) (r = 0.531, p < 0.001), FEV1.0 (r = 0.554, p < 0.001), FEV1.0/FVC (r = 0.467, p < 0.005), RV/TLC (r = -0.395, p < 0.05), DLco (r = 0.770, p < 0.001), and DLco/VA (r = 0.622, p < 0.001). However no correlation was observed between BF and any of the measures of lung function. The findings of our study suggest that FFM correlates with skeletal muscle strength, respiratory muscle strength and some measures of lung function in patients with PE, and that assessments of body composition are valuable to their clinical management.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Kahn's wire passer used in medial canthal tendon fixation.

The history of fixation of the medial canthal structures is one of gradual improvement in instrumentation and technique. Today, open reduction and internal fixation remain the mainstay of treatment for the medial canthal structures. With regard to the internal fixation method, we have developed a wire passer that can facilitate wire fixation of the delicate medial canthal tendon. We present two cases that manifest abnormalities of the medial canthal tendon. Both were corrected successfully with this wire passer.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

A poly-HEMA based aqueous humor draining device.

An aqueous humor draining device, with size comparable to that of the Krupin tube, was constructed by using poly-HEMA material. Deposits were found on the surface of poly-HEMA when contacted in vitro with the aqueous humor of the rabbit's eye. A fibrous structure, probably composed of proteins and other macromolecules, developed on poly-HEMA surface in 15 days after the draining device was implanted into the rabbit's eye. The draining device was still in function 250 days after its implantation. SEM analysis of the retrieved poly-HEMA draining device indicated that the poly-HEMA tube opening was not blocked by any substance. These results suggest that poly-HEMA could be used as a biomaterial for construction of the aqueous humor draining device to relieve the intraocular pressure of glaucoma patients. Its long-term application awaits further investigation.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Argon laser gonioplasty with trabeculoplasty for chronic angle-closure glaucoma.

Gonioplasty with trabeculoplasty was used to treat 31 eyes of 25 patients (15 men and 10 women) with chronic angle-closure glaucoma. Ages ranged from 40 to 82 years (average, 60.4 yrs). The follow-up period was three to 36 months (average, 1 yr). During this time, 60% to 80% of eyes have maintained an intraocular pressure (IOP) less than 21 mm Hg and/or required less medication. The average IOP reduction was 7.9 mm Hg. Complications included focal, peaking, peripheral anterior synechiae in the lasered area in 19 of 31 eyes (61%), and permanently increased IOP in two of 31 eyes (6%). Gonioplasty was a useful method to differentiate between appositional angle closure and that due to peripheral anterior synechiae. After combined treatment, the chamber angle has remained open for more than a year in 60% to 80% of eyes.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Ocular manifestation of polychlorinated biphenyls intoxication.

One hundred thirty patients with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) poisoning (46 males, 84 females) were examined in the department of Ophthalmology, Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. The main ocular manifestations were profuse discharge from the eye, swelling and pigmentation of the upper lids, abnormal pigmentation of the conjunctivae, and hypersecretion and swelling of the Meibomian glands. Eye discharge was present in 104 (80.5%) of the 130 patients; swelling of upper lids was seen in 79 (60.4%); pigmentation of conjunctivae was found in 88 (67.6%); hypersecretion and cystic swelling of the Meibomian glands was seen in 92 (70.7%); and 5 patients (3.8%) required incision and drainage because of cystic formation with secondary infection of the Meibomian glands. PCB concentration in the blood was classified into five groups: 0-15 ppb, 16-40 ppb, 41-60 ppb, and over 100 ppb by gas chromatography. Positive clinical findings increased parallel to high blood PCB concentration. In particular, heavy pigmentation of conjunctivae, abnormal cystic formation and hypersecretion of the Meibomian glands occurred markedly in those patients whose blood PCB concentration was above 41 ppb. It is concluded that the severity of ocular manifestations was closely related to high blood PCB levels. Ocular signs might help not only as a guide to early diagnosis but might also serve to indicate the degree of poisoning by PCB.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Ocular manifestation of polychlorinated biphenyls intoxication.

One hundred thirty patients with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) poisoning (46 males, 84 females) were examined in the department of Ophthalmology, Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. The main ocular manifestations were profuse discharge from the eye, swelling and pigmentation of the upper lids, abnormal pigmentation of the conjunctivae, and hypersecretion and swelling of the Meibomian glands. Eye discharge was present in 104 (80.5%) of the 130 patients; swelling of upper lids was seen in 79 (60.4%); pigmentation of conjunctivae was found in 88 (67.6%); hypersecretion and cystic swelling of the Meibomian glands was seen in 92 (70.7%); and 5 patients (3.8%) required incision and drainage because of cystic formation with secondary infection of the Meibomian glands. PCB concentration in the blood was classified into five groups: 0-15 ppb, 16-40 ppb, 41-60 ppb, and over 100 ppb by gas chromatography. Positive clinical findings increased parallel to high blood PCB concentration. In particular, heavy pigmentation of conjunctivae, abnormal cystic formation and hypersecretion of the Meibomian glands occurred markedly in those patients whose blood PCB concentration was above 41 ppb. It is concluded that the severity of ocular manifestations was closely related to high blood PCB levels. Ocular signs might help not only as a guide to early diagnosis but might also serve to indicate the degree of poisoning by PCB.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Ocular manifestation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) intoxication. Its relationship to PCB blood concentration.

One hundred seventeen patients had polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) poisoning. Thirty-nine patients were male; 78 were female. The primary ocular manifestations were profuse discharge from the eyes (80.5%), swelling and pigmentation of the upper lids (58.9%), abnormal pigmentation of conjunctivae (66.6%), and hypersecretion and swelling of the meibomian glands (70.1%). The severity of these changes were directly related to the PCB concentration in the blood. Particularly, heavy pigmentation of conjunctivae, abnormal cystic formation, and hypersecretion of the meibomian glands occurred in those patients whose blood PCB concentration was greater than 41 parts per billion. Ocular signs not only provide early signs for diagnosis, but also serve to indicate the severity of PCB poisoning.

Conjunctival Diseases↗

PubMed1980

Modified trabeculectomy: a new procedure for neovascular glaucoma.

A new surgical procedure has been described specifically for neovascular glaucoma with residual visual function. The procedure included excision of a large trabecular segment under a limbal-based scleral flap, partial non-penetrating cyclodiathermy, and partial ablation of abnormal iris vessels followed by a wide sector iridectomy. The preliminary results in five eyes with advanced neovascular glaucoma were encouraging.

Glaucoma↗

PubMed1980

The effect of optic nerve transection upon the hypotensive action of ascorbate and mannitol.

Some investigators have suggested that osmolarity agents act on a central neural regulation mechanism rather than producing a direct local effect on the ocular hemodynamics. In this study, a small dose of ascorbate (.15 gm/kg, IV injection) was given to rabbits following unilateral optic nerve transection. The intraocular pressure of both eyes was significantly reduced within 5 minutes with a maximum drop at 10 minutes. When mannitol was given (0.3 gm/kg, intravenous infusion), maximal reduction of intraocular pressure occurred at 30 to 50 minutes in both eyes. In this study, it appears that optic nerve transection did not abolish the ocular response to the hypotensive action of either ascorbate or mannitol. On the contrary, the hypotensive effect of ascorbate was stronger in the experimental eye. The effective time on aqueous humor dynamics of the ascorbate occurred earlier than that of mannitol under similar experimental situations.

Animals↗