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Biomedical subjects

Y I Min

Publications and source records attributed to Y I Min.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Factors influencing publication of research results. Follow-up of applications submitted to two institutional review boards.

OBJECTIVE: --To investigate factors associated with the publication of research findings, in particular, the association between "significant" results and publication. DESIGN: --Follow-up study. SETTING: --Studies approved in 1980 or prior to 1980 by the two institutional review boards that serve The Johns Hopkins Health Institutions--one that serves the School of Medicine and Hospital and the other that serves the School of Hygiene and Public Health. POPULATION: --A total of 737 studies were followed up. RESULTS: --Of the studies for which analyses had been reported as having been performed at the time of interview, 81% from the School of Medicine and Hospital and 66% from the School of Hygiene and Public Health had been published. Publication was not associated with sample size, presence of a comparison group, or type of study (eg, observational study vs clinical trial). External funding and multiple data collection sites were positively associated with publication. There was evidence of publication bias in that for both institutional review boards there was an association between results reported to be significant and publication (adjusted odds ratio, 2.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.63 to 3.94). Contrary to popular opinion, publication bias originates primarily with investigators, not journal editors: only six of the 124 studies not published were reported to have been rejected for publication. CONCLUSION: --There is a statistically significant association between significant results and publication.

Academic Medical Centers

Combination of 5-fluorouracil and recombinant interferon alpha-2B in advanced gastric cancer. A phase I study.

Based on recent preclinical data suggesting synergism between 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and clinical activity of the combination therapy in colon cancer, 14 patients with advanced gastric cancer were treated with combination therapy of 5-FU and recombinant interferon alpha-2b (rIFN alpha-2b) (Intron A, Schering, Kenilworth, NJ, U.S.A.). The maximum tolerated dose was 5-FU 750 mg/m2/day given as a continuous infusion daily for 5 days followed by weekly bolus injection of the same initial daily dose, plus rIFN alpha-2b 5 X 10(6) U given subcutaneously 3 times weekly starting day 1 of 5-FU infusion. The dose-limiting toxicities were fatigue/weakness, diarrhea, and neurologic toxicities such as somnolence and confusion. The other common side effects were nausea, fever, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and the darkening of the skin. Of 13 evaluable patients, 4 had a partial response (duration 6, 14, 24, and 28 weeks). These data suggest that combination therapy of 5-FU plus rIFN alpha-2b is tolerable and has manageable side effects in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Further Phase II study will be needed to define the antitumor activity of this combination.

Adult

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody among Korean adults.

To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Korean adults and to present the putative route of HCV transmission among them, serum samples from 4917 adults older than 20 years of age were tested for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV), and histories of blood transfusion and other pertinent information were obtained by self-administered questionnaires. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 1.7%; prevalence was 1.4% in subjects with normal levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 3.3% in those with slightly elevated and 5.9% in those with markedly elevated levels of the enzymes. The prevalence of anti-HCV increased with increasing age (P < 0.01), but was not associated with blood transfusion. The present study suggests that the prevalence of HCV infection was 1.4% and that the major routes of HCV transmission may be other than blood transfusion in healthy Korean adults.

Adult

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy of primary intrahepatic stones.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithothripsy (ESWL) was performed in intrahepatic stone patients (n = 18) by Dornier MPL 9,000 with ultrasound guidance. The patients had T-tube (n = 9) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage tube (n = 9). Average treatment session was four and shock-wave numbers were in the range of 3,064 to 12,000 (average 6,288 shocks). Intrahepatic stones were removed completely in 16 patients over a 3 month period by ESWL and combined stone extraction maneuver such as cholangioscopic or interventional radiologic method. Extracorporeal shockwave lithothripsy was very helpful in facilitating extraction of stones in unfavorable locations or located above the severe stricture. In summary, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, followed by percutaneous stone extraction, will provide an improvement in the success rate and duration of treatment required for complete removal of primary hepatolithiasis.

Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic

Endothelial protection and viscoelastic retention during phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

Endothelial protection (measured by vital-dye staining and computerized planimetry) and viscoelastic retention during phacoemulsification with and without traumatic lens implantation were assessed in a rabbit model comparing four viscoelastics (Healon, Amvisc Plus, Occucoat, and Viscoat). No significant differences in cell damage were noted between unoperated on controls and groups that underwent atraumatic phacoemulsification with viscoelastic. Cell damage after traumatic lens insertion was reduced significantly by all four viscoelastics. Cell damage with and without traumatic lens implantation was significantly lower when viscoelastics were retained. Viscoat and Occucoat were significantly more likely to be retained than Healon.

Animals

Computed tomographic analysis of gallbladder stones: correlation with chemical composition and in vitro shock-wave lithotripsy.

The recent advent of nonsurgical treatment for gallstones requires accurate in vivo analysis of their chemical composition in order to select the best candidates. As a preliminary work, we undertook an in vitro CT examination of 53 surgically removed gallstones and compared their CT patterns with their chemical composition. Those results were correlated with in vitro lithotripsy of the gallstones. The CT appearances were classified as follows: laminated (43%), dense (32%), rimmed (11%), isodense (8%) and faint (6%). The dense pattern contained a high calcium content. As the CT density increased, the calcium content increased, but the cholesterol content decreased proportionally. The number of shock waves needed to break down a gallstone less than 2 mm in size increased with stone volume and the cholesterol content increased but did not have any correlation with the calcium content level. As a result we found the CT examination to be a very sensitive method in detecting small amounts of calcium content in gallstones and the CT pattern and density of the gallstones were well correlated with their chemical composition, therefore in vivo CT examinations for ESWL candidates are desirable.

Calcium

Three cases of congenital hepatic fibrosis with Caroli's disease in three siblings.

Congenital hepatic fibrosis is a relatively rare disease of children and young adults characterized by hard hepatomegaly, portal hypertension with relative preservation of liver function and underlying architecture, and frequent renal involvement. We experienced 3 cases of congenital hepatic fibrosis with Caroli's disease in 3 siblings, whose clinical manifestations were diverse, such as repeated cholangitis, variceal hemorrhage, or intrahepatic stones. All of them had multiple renal cysts, so we supposed that the clinical entities of these patients were in the spectrum of fibropolycystic disease of the liver and kidney.

Adult

Evaluation of omeprazole as a treatment for gastric and prepyloric ulcer in Korean patients.

The healing efficacy of omeprazole was assessed in 57 Korean patients with endoscopically-proven gastric (GU) and/or prepyloric (PPU) ulcers of at least 5 mm diameter. Fifty-three patients presented with GU, two with PPU and two with both types of ulcer. The maximum ulcer diameter was 5-10 mm in 27 patients and greater than 10 mm in 30 patients. All patients received 20 mg of omeprazole each morning for 4-8 weeks depending on ulcer healing. Ulcer healing rates were comparable using both 'intention to treat' (IT) and 'per protocol' (PP) analyses. Following the IT approach 82% (47 of 57) of patients were healed at 4 weeks and 98% (56 of 57) at 8 weeks. Following the PP approach, the corresponding healing rates were 83% (44 of 53) and 98% (55 of 56), respectively. Smoking was found to have a significant effect on ulcer healing at 4 weeks (P = 0.03), with 96% (26 of 27) of non/occasional smokers healed versus only 69% (18 of 26) of daily/heavy smokers. Ulcer size did not have a significant effect on healing, however. Ulcer symptoms, reported by all patients at entry, disappeared rapidly after commencement of omeprazole therapy. Only four patients reported mild symptoms at 4 weeks and no symptoms were reported at 8 weeks. No clinically significant changes in haematology or clinical chemistry (other than a rise in leucocytes in one patient) and no serious adverse events were observed. In conclusion, omeprazole 20 mg each morning was found to be safe and highly effective for treatment of gastric and prepyloric ulcer in Korean patients, producing a 98% healing rate. Symptom relief was rapid and the drug was well tolerated.

Adult

Refractive error changes following strabismus surgery.

Several uncontrolled, retrospective studies have suggested that permanent changes in refractive error can be seen following strabismus surgery. We prospectively enrolled 68 patients undergoing strabismus surgery for evaluation of pre- and postoperative cycloplegic refraction. In addition, the adult patients had computerized corneal topography recorded using the Corneal Modeling System, (Computed Anatomy, Inc, New York, NY). Pre- and postoperative refractions were compared using spherical equivalent and meridional equivalent (90- and 180-degree meridian). We found no significant change in the spherical equivalent between the pre- and postoperative measurements. However, a significant increase in the astigmatic power at 180 degrees (meridional equivalent at 180 degrees) was detected in both pediatric and adult patients. We did not observe any qualitative change in the corneal topography pre- and postoperatively. The change in astigmatic power at 180 degrees is equivalent to additional plus-cylinder correction at 90 degrees and was persistent throughout the 4-month postoperative period.

Adolescent