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Biomedical subjects

B J Lin

Publications and source records attributed to B J Lin.

95 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Abnormal peripheral microcirculation in seemingly normal subjects living in blackfoot-disease-hyperendemic villages in Taiwan.

Blackfoot disease (BFD) is an endemic peripheral arterial disease confined to the southwestern coast of Taiwan. The cause of the disease has been ascribed to the high-arsenic artesian well water. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible association between the long-term exposure to artesian well water and the change in microvascular circulation in the absence of peripheral arterial insufficiency. A total of 45 men living in the BFD-hyperendemic villages and another 51 age- sex- body-mass index-matched men who lived in nonendemic villages nearby were recruited into this study. All subjects were free from peripheral vascular disease (resting ankle-brachial index > 1.00), clinical claudication, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebral infarction and obesity. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure the peripheral microcirculation on the big toes both at 36 degrees C (basal perfusion, Pb) and after a hyperthermic test at 42 degrees C (Ph). The time required to reach Ph (T), and the average rate (R) of increase from Pb to Ph measured by (Ph-Pb)/T were also calculated. Results showed that those living in the BFD-hyperendemic area had a lower Pb [32.8 +/- 6.0 perfusion units (PU) vs. 67.0 +/- 4.3 PU, p < 0.001], a lower Ph (193.2 +/- 13.6 vs. 231.1 +/- 6.3 PU, p < 0.005), a longer T (3.04 +/- 0.19 vs. 1.31 +/- 0.08 min, p < 0.001) and a slower rate of increase from Pb to Ph (48.0 +/- 4.8 vs. 76.2 +/- 5.4 PU/min, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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The effect of health education for diabetics in the community.

Diabetic care in the community has become a public health issue. To assess the effect of a community diabetes care program (CDCP) on knowledge acquisition and its impact on metabolic control, a 2-year study including 260 non-insulin-dependent diabetics from two different districts in Taipei city was conducted. The experimental group consisted of 140 cases. The remaining 120 cases served as controls. Preintervention knowledge scores were significantly correlated with the formal education level and the duration of diabetes [Diabetic knowledge score = 50.06 + 0.82 (duration of education in years) + 0.23 (duration of diabetes in years), p less than 0.001]. A large increase in the knowledge scores for experimental patients was noted 1 year after intervention. A significant difference in diabetic knowledge still existed between the control and experimental groups 2 years after intervention. HbAlc levels (mean +/- SD) for the experimental patients decreased from a baseline of 7.47 +/- 1.87% to 7.23 +/- 1.68% and 6.88 +/- 1.30% 1 year and 2 years after intervention, respectively. However, no significant decrease was found in the control group (7.20 +/- 2.00% at baseline and 6.98 +/- 1.96%, and 7.14 +/- 2.25% at 1 year and 2 years after intervention, respectively). Reduction in body weight was found in the experimental group. In order of baseline, 1 year and 2 years after intervention, the results were 63.6 +/- 9.6, 62.6 +/- 9.3 and 62.5 +/- 9.2 kg, respectively. There was no remarkable change in body weight in the control group during the 2-year observation period. In conclusion, an integrated approach to CDCP provides a cost-effective method for management of diabetes in the community.

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Self-management and attributes of juveniles with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-reported self-management of juveniles with IDDM and the factors influencing self-management. Sixty-eight subjects, ranging from the fourth grade of primary school to the third year of junior high school, were recruited from the enrollment list of the Taipei IDDM Registry and from the list of the Kang-Tai IDDM Association. Results illustrated that patient's age, educational level, knowledge about IDDM, self-concept, and family rearing behaviors had significant associations with some aspects of self-management. Intensive health education or counselling for patients and their parents is highly recommended in order to improve their knowledge, self-management practice and psychosocial adjustment.

Adolescent↗