PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

Y Hsu

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hsu.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Aromatic DNA adducts in foundry workers in relation to exposure, life style and CYP1A1 and glutathione transferase M1 genotype.

Levels of aromatic DNA adducts in foundry workers and controls were followed at four annual samplings. During this time exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) decreased and the level of DNA adducts decreased accordingly. In the total group exposure was related to the level of adducts. Adduct levels correlated with urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (LOGU1OH), air benzo[a]pyrene, weekly working hours and daily cigarette consumption. In a multivariate model 1-hydroxypyrene had a consistent effect. Neither glutathione transferase M1 (GSTM1) nor cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) genotypes had clear effects. Yet the individuals lacking GSTM1 had a stronger effect of LOGU1OH and some effect by other sources of PAH, such as charcoal broiled food, although all these variables were not significant in the multivariate model. The rare individuals with a CYP1A1 polymorphism MspI containing an amino acid change at isoleucine had an increased level of adducts. The results showed that the postlabelling method used was able to detect an increase in aromatic DNA adducts in leukocytes when exposure to benzo[a]pyrene in air was approximately 5 ng/m3. At such low levels smoking and charcoal broiled food may be important contributors to adducts.

Adult

The reliability of the functional independence measure: a quantitative review.

OBJECTIVE: The reliability of the Functional Independence Measure (FIMSM) for adults was examined using procedures of meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Eleven published studies reporting estimates of reliability for the FIM were located using computer searches of Index Medicus, Psychological Abstracts, the Functional Assessment Information Service, and citation tracking. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were identified and coded based on type of reliability (interrater, test-retest, or equivalence), method of data analysis, size of sample, and training or experience of raters. DATA EXTRACTION: Information from the articles was coded by two independent raters. Interrater reliability for coding all elements included in the analysis ranged from .89 to 1.00. DATA SYNTHESIS: The 11 investigations included a total of 1,568 patients and produced 221 reliability coefficients. The majority of the reliability values (81%) were from interrater reliability studies, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was the most commonly used statistical procedure to compute reliability. The reported reliability values were converted to a common correlation metric and aggregated across the 11 studies. The results revealed a median interrater reliability for the total FIM of .95 and median test-retest and equivalence reliability values of .95 and .92, respectively. The median reliability values for the six FIM subscales ranged from .95 for Self-Care to .78 for Social Cognition. For the individual FIM items, median reliability values varied from .90 for Toilet Transfer to .61 for Comprehension. Median and mean reliability coefficients for FIM motor items were generally higher than for items in the cognitive or communication subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the 11 studies examined in this review the FIM demonstrated acceptable reliability across a wide variety of settings, raters, and patients.

Activities of Daily Living

The effect of immunostimulation on thymic innervation in the rat.

In order to test whether the thymic innervation shows morphological plasticity in response to thymic functional changes, the density of thymic innervation was determined in sterile control animals and three groups of antigenically stimulated sterile rats. Thymic function was defined from the numbers of mitotic cells present in the thymic cortex, and these were reduced by antigenic stimulation. The innervation was determined separately for the various compartments of the thymus. Nerves were present in the capsule and the septa, but could not be found in either cortex or medulla of the thymic parenchyma. A statistically significant increase in the density of innervation after antigenic stimulation was found for the vessel and the non-vessel innervation of the septa. No significant changes were found in the innervation of the capsule.

Animals

Comparison of reticuloendothelial scans with bone scans in malignant disease.

Thirty patients with histologically proven malignant disease were selected for reticuloendothelial scans and bone scans because of suspected bone or bone marrow involvement. Reticuloendothelial scans were abnormal in 83% of the patients and bone scans were abnormal in 47%. Focal defects on the reticuloendothelial marrow scan correlated better with tumor infiltration of the marrow than did diffusely abnormal scans. Focal defects were found in nine patients (30% of total), four of whom had negative or equivocal bone scans. In multiple myeloma, reticuloendothelial marrow scans were more sensitive than bone scans, but were not clearly better than bone scans in patients with solid tumors. In the interpretation of reticuloendothelial scans, consideration must be given to the effects of radiation, chemotherapy, and uremia, all of which may cause decreased reticuloendothelial uptake and falsely positive reticuloendothelial scans. Reticuloendothelial scans seem most useful for hematologic malignancies that have not been previously treated. The advantages and disadvantages of reticuloendothelial scans are discussed.

Bone Marrow

Bacillus subtilis mutant altered in spore morphology and in RNA polymerase activity.

A Bacillus subtilis mutant, that was selected for rifampin resistance produces spores with an altered morphology. The mutant spores are pleomorphic and differ both in shape and size from the wild-type spores. They frequently have an exosporium that is usually absent from wild-type spores. The mutant spores are similar to the wild-type spores in heat resistance, dipicolinic acid content, and density, but exhibit a slower rate of germination, outgrowth, and growth. In vitro studies show that the RNA polymerase of the mutant is resistant to rifampin inhibition, whereas the wild-type enzyme is completely inhibited by low concentrations of the antibiotic. Rifampin resistance and the altered spore morphology are contransformed with 100% frequency, suggesting that the altered morphology is caused by an alteration in the RNA polymerase.

Bacillus subtilis

A computerized mental patient classification system.

This paper presents the detailed logic and flow of a computerized actuarial report system based on the patient's demographic and clinical information routinely collected in a state mental health information system. Probability statements regarding the patient's diagnostic classifications, likelihood of harm to self and others, probable psychotropic drug prescription, likelihood of unauthorized absence, and prediction of length of stay are presented in the report. The multivariate linear discriminant function and linear regression are used in the calculation of the posterior probabilities and the predicted value of length of stay.

Computers