PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Yi-Hui Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Yi-Hui Lin.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Direct and sensitive analysis of methamphetamine, ketamine, morphine and codeine in human urine by cation-selective exhaustive injection and sweeping micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Cation-selective exhaustive injection and sweeping micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CSEI-Sweep-MEKC) was directly used to test some abuse drugs in human urine, including morphine (M), codeine (C), ketamine (K) and methamphetamine (MA). First, phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 2.5) containing 30% methanol was filled into uncoated fused silica capillary (40 cm, 50 microm I.D.), then high conductivity buffer (100 mM phosphate, 6.9 kPa for 99.9 s) was followed. Electrokinetic injection (10 kV, 500 s) was used to load samples and to enhance sensitivity. The stacking step and separation were performed at -20 kV and 200 nm using phosphate buffer (25 mM, pH 2.5) containing 20% methanol and 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate. Using CSEI-Sweep-MEKC, the analytes could be simultaneously analyzed and have a detection limit down to ppb level. It was unnecessary to have sample pretreatments. During method validation, calibration plots were linear (r>or=0.9982) over a range of 150-3,000 ng/mL for M and C, 250-5,000 n g/mL for MA, and 50-1,000 ng/mL for K. The limits of detection were 15 ng/mL for M and C, and 5 ng/mL for MA and K (S/N=3, sampling 500 s at 10 kV). Comparing with capillary zone electrophoresis, the results indicated that this stacking method could increase 6,000-fold sensitivity for analysis of MA. Our method was applied for analysis of 28 real urine samples. The results showed good coincidence with immunoassay and GC-MS. This method was feasible for application to detect trace levels of abused drugs in forensic analysis.

Cations↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infections and risky sexual behaviors among men visiting gay bathhouses in taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and predictors of risky sexual behaviors among men visiting gay bathhouses. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 8 gay bathhouses in Taiwan. Bathhouse attendees were invited to complete a questionnaire and to be screened for HIV/STIs. RESULTS: Of 451 men recruited for the study, 339 (75%) completed the questionnaire and were screened for HIV/STIs. The study indicated that seroprevalence rates of anti-HIV-1 antibody, specific Treponema pallidum antibodies detected by hemagglutination assay, surface antigen of hepatitis B virus, IgG antibodies for hepatitis A virus, antibody for hepatitis C virus, and indirect hemagglutination antibody for Entamoeba histolytica (serum titer > or =1:128) were 8%, 18%, 16%, 38%, 3%, and 6%, respectively. Prevalence rates for chlamydial and gonococcal infections reflected by nucleic acid amplification tests in urine samples were 7% and 4%, respectively. Irregular use of condoms during oral sex, condom inaccessibility at bathhouses, unprotected sex at public venues, no prior HIV test, and 5 or more visits to bathhouses every month were independently associated with unprotected anal intercourse. CONCLUSION: Men attending gay bathhouses report engaging in unsafe sex practices and are at substantial risk of acquisition of HIV/STIs. These findings highlight the need for more comprehensive prevention efforts at gay bathhouses.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Effect of age at cochlear implantation on open-set word recognition in Mandarin speaking deaf children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether age at cochlear implantation influences open-set speech perception in children after long-term use of the implant device. METHOD: Twenty-eight congenitally deafened children, receiving implants of Nucleus CI24M devices, were divided into two groups: (1) CI < 3: those who received implants before 3 years of age and (2) CI > 3: those who received implants after 3 years of age. We compared open-set speech perception in CI < 3 and CI > 3 after 4-5 years of device use. Speech perception tests were conducted using the Mandarin Lexical Neighborhood Test (M-LNT). Unpaired t-test was applied for statistical analysis, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In CI < 3, the average of percent correct was 80.0 +/- 8.8 and 70.5 +/- 9.2% on, respectively, the easy and hard versions of the M-LNT. By contrast, in CI > 3, the average percent correct was 62.5 +/- 19.9 and 59.1 +/- 15.2%, respectively. Regardless of the M-LNT version used, CI < 3 performed significantly better than CI > 3 (easy, p = 0.005 versus hard, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: The present investigation demonstrated that age at implantation influences open-set speech perception of cochlear implanted children 4-5 years after device connection. Implantation before 3 years of age promotes the development of open-set speech perception abilities in congenitally deafened children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Speech intelligibility of Mandarin-speaking deaf children with cochlear implants.

OBJECTIVE: Speech intelligibility, the extent to which the speakers can be understood verbally by their listeners, is an evaluator for the effectiveness of cochlear implantation. Thus, our goals were to evaluate the result of a tonal language through comparing the speech intelligibility between normal-hearing and implanted children who speak Mandarin, and to evaluate the relationship between speech intelligibility and duration of implants use. The effects of the age at implantation were also evaluated. METHODS: Twenty-six children (mean age of 5.9 years), who were congenitally deaf and implanted age at 3.5 years, were compared with 26 normal-hearing children (mean age of 5.84 years). The average post-implanted time was more than 6 months. Speech intelligibility was represented with the speech intelligibility ratings (SIR) and the correct percentage of dictation. The relationships between speech intelligibility, age at implantation and duration of implant were evaluated by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Speech intelligibility of most subjects ranked from SIR category 3-5. The average correct perception rate (CI group/normal group) of words, consonants, vowels, and tones were 42.5%, 64.9%, 73.5%, and 72.3%, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). Speech intelligibility was positively correlated with age only in the normal-hearing group. Speech intelligibility in the implanted group was negatively correlated with age at implantation but positively correlated with the duration of implant. CONCLUSIONS: Speech intelligibility of tonal language was poorer in implanted children than normal-hearing children, but their communication outcomes were satisfactory when measured with SIR. Speech intelligibility is better if the age at implantation is younger or duration of implants use is longer.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

A comparison of maternal age, sex ratio and associated major anomalies among fetal trisomy 18 cases with different cell division of error.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the maternal age, sex ratio, and associated major anomalies among fetal trisomy 18 cases with different cell division of error. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive cases of fetal trisomy 18 detected perinatally during a period of 6 years were studied. Among these, 18 were 47,XY,+18, and 13 were 47,XX,+18. The average gestational age at diagnosis was 19.7 +/- 4.6 weeks, and the maternal age at diagnosis was 34.5 +/- 5.8 years. DNA polymorphism analysis was applied to determine the parental origin, stage of non-disjunctional error and recombination. RESULTS: Twenty-eight cases were of maternal origin. Among these, 20 had major anomalies, 17 had meiosis II (MII) errors, 10 had meiosis I (MI) errors, and one had a postzygotic mitotic (PZM) or non-crossover MII error. Three cases were of paternal origin. Among these, two had major anomalies, two had MI errors, and one had a PZM or non-crossover MII error. For the 17 cases with maternal MII errors, the average maternal age was 34.5 +/- 6.6 years. Of these cases, 12 had major anomalies, 13 were male, and 4 were female, giving a male:female sex ratio of 3.25:1. For the 10 cases with maternal MI errors, the average maternal age was 34.8 +/- 5.7 years. Of these cases, seven had major anomalies, three were male, and seven were female, giving a male:female sex ratio of 0.429:1. CONCLUSION: In trisomy 18, there is a male preponderance in the fetuses caused by maternal MII errors and a female preponderance in the fetuses caused by maternal MI errors. No significant difference was noted in maternal age or in associated major anomalies between the two groups of maternal MII errors and maternal MI errors. No significant difference was noted in associated major anomalies between the maternal and paternal cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Ovarian abscess caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Nontyphoidal Salmonella infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rare. CASE: A 24-year-old woman with a 9-year history of SLE, on corticosteroids, presented with severe abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea for 1 day. Transabdominal sonography and abdominal computed tomography showed a right-sided well-defined pelvic mass. Laboratory study revealed leukocytosis. An emergency laparotomy revealed a right ovarian mass with purulent exudate. A right partial oophorectomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst with focal abscess. Culture of the ovarian mass grew Salmonella typhimurium. Postoperatively the patient did well and was discharged 5 days later. CONCLUSION: Patients with SLE are at risk of Salmonella infection. Gynecologists should be aware of the possibility of an ovarian abscess caused by Salmonella in such patients presenting with a pelvic mass and fever.

Abdominal Abscess↗
PubMed2004

Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of acrania associated with amniotic bands.

We describe the prenatal sonographic findings in 2 cases of amniotic band sequence-related acrania. In the first case, sonography demonstrated acrania, asymmetric facial clefts, and digital fusion on the hands and feet. In the second case, sonography demonstrated acrania and amniotic bands adhering to the brain, face, and body. This report highlights the importance of a careful search for amniotic bands and a detailed survey of the fetus' face, digits, and body in the sonographic evaluation of fetal acrania.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2004

Community-based newborn hearing screening program in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital bilateral hearing impairment occurs in approximately 1 in every 1000 live births. Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) programs are the most effective method for early diagnosis. Previously, newborn hearing screenings in Taiwan were often hospital-based. Our study is a community-based program designed to test the feasibility of performing neonatal hearing screening with a pay-for-test model, and to evaluate its acceptability to parents. METHODS: From March 2000 to December 2002, two hospitals and four obstetric clinics in Tainan city participated in this study. The subjects were healthy newborns whose parents agreed to pay for otoacoustic emissions (OAE) hearing screening. They were tested in the newborn nursery before discharge. The protocol used an initial transient evoked otoacoustic emissions screening followed by a diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. RESULTS: A total of 10,008 healthy neonates were recruited, and 5938 newborns (59.3%) were tested. Prior to hospital discharge, 5403 of the newborns (91.0%) had passed the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions test. Referral for further testing was made in 9.0% of cases (535/5938). There were 140 babies lost to 1-month follow up. Only 395 infants (73.8%) of the infants that failed their first otoacoustic emissions tests underwent a second session at the outpatient clinic, and 91 babies failed. They were referred for further auditory brainstem response testing. Ultimately, nine babies were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). CONCLUSIONS: There are difficulties in performing universal newborn hearing screening within Taiwan's health insurance system. This study was performed with the cooperation of hospitals and obstetric clinics, and was undertaken with a pay-for-screening model. Our program, with a pay-for-test model, of newborn hearing screening is feasible and was well regarded by parents in Tainan city. It could be run without the government's financial support.

Community Health Services↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Facing SARS: psychological impacts on SARS team nurses and psychiatric services in a Taiwan general hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 resulted in 346 probable SARS cases and 37 deaths in Taiwan. This descriptive study, which was conducted from May to June 2003, intended to identify staff stress and coping strategies among a SARS team of nursing staff during the outbreak. METHOD: Twenty-six female nurses of the SARS team completed a questionnaire about their experiences serving in the SARS team. RESULTS: SARS had both positive and negative psychological impacts on the nurses. While worrying about infecting their families and colleagues, nurses were able to cope with the situation through various means. Additional findings include the need for more psychiatric staff to provide flexible and continuous service, the importance of meetings to improve teamwork and reduce conflict between doctors and nurses and the useful discovery that video cell phones provided needed reassurance from afar to the worried families of the nurses. CONCLUSION: This study reinforces the importance and benefits of psychiatric services for SARS team members in reducing their secondary traumatization. It is hoped that the results will enhance our knowledge on the needs of frontline health care workers and support the planning of better psychiatric services in future epidemics.

Adult↗