Biomedical subjects

Betau Hwang

Publications and source records attributed to Betau Hwang.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Fibrous dysplasia of mandible with chronic osteomyelitis in a child: report of one case.

We report here a 6-year-old girl with fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the mandibular bone. She had a growing mass with local pain over right chin after a severe trauma, which was thought to be chronic osteomyelitis (OM). After failure of antibiotic treatment, malignant bone tumor was suspected from imaging studies including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). FD of the mandible with chronic OM was confirmed one year after its onset by repeated biopsy performed at our hospital. Causes of delayed diagnosis may include (1) FD of the mandibular bone and chronic OM have similar characteristics clinically and radiographically, (2) the previous biopsy was not performed at appropriate site, and (3) failure to include fibrous dysplasia in the differential diagnosis. In this report, we also review the features in radiology and MRI of OM and FD, which may help differentiate the diagnosis. When a patient with mandibular FD has acute symptoms, the possibility of superimposed OM or malignant change should be considered.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thoracic empyema in children: early surgical intervention hastens recovery.

The optimal management of thoracic empyema in children is still controversial. In this retrospective study, we analyze our six-year experience in the management of empyema. From April 1995 to December 2001, 39 patients under age 6 years were admitted with the diagnosis of empyema. These patients were assigned by the method of empyema management to one of two groups (either the conservatively treated or surgically treated group). The surgical patients were divided on the basis of the timing of surgical intervention into either the early (within 8 hospital days) or late (beyond 8 hospital days) surgical group. There was no difference in total hospital stay between those treated conservatively (24.3 +/- 11.6 days) and surgically (24.5 +/- 7.9 days). Among the surgically treated patients, recipients of early surgical intervention had significantly shorter hospital stay (20.2 +/- 5.9 days) than those receiving late surgical intervention (30.1 +/- 6.5 days). Early surgical intervention in cases of thoracic empyema in young children can shorten hospitalization. These children should undergo surgery if their clinical course does not improve within one week.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in children with lower respiratory tract infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent pathogen found in hospitalized young children with lower respiratory tract infection, and the virus is distributed worldwide. Respiratory distress and respiratory failure are caused by RSV in some severe cases. Its appearance always varies every year and depends on differences of latitudes, altitudes and climates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of hospitalized children from a hospital located in northern Taiwan with RSV induced lower respiratory tract infection. This study was conducted from January 2001 to December 2003, and the selected patients were children aged under five and diagnosed with lower respiratory tract infection. The means adopted in this study were analyses of clinical presentations and laboratory tests (including viral identification with either virus culture or RSV antigen rapid test from the nasopharyngeal aspirate). The results showed that 153 children were positive with RSV identification. These cases were diagnosed in clinical practice all year round, and its peak was in spring, especially in March and April. Thirteen percent of all RSV-infected children in this study presented as severe form with respiratory distress and a need of respiratory support. However, none of these cases died from this disease, and all cases recovered without long-term respiratory complication. We concluded that RSV infection was still a common pathogen for young children in northern Taiwan; in addition, March and April were regarded as peak months of epidemic. Patients aged under 12 months or suffered from underlying cardiopulmonary disease were at high risk of getting severe forms of RSV infection.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Deep sedation with methohexital or thiamylal with midazolam for invasive procedures in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Pediatric oncology/hematology patients, especially those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), often undergo repeated painful invasive procedures. Deep sedation, mandatory for these procedures in young children, can reduce patient anxiety and get their compliance during procedures. This study assessed clinical experience of employing methohexital or thiamylal with midazolam as sedative for elective invasive procedures in children with ALL. Between November 1997 and March 2004, 20 out of 33 ALL children received deep sedation after evaluation, mainly because of relatively young age (mean age 4.60 +/- 2.03 years). A total of 176 procedures were done, with 139 being intrathecal therapy. There were 98 and 78 procedures for the methohexital and thiamylal groups, respectively. The average dosages to complete the procedures were 2.2 +/- 1.2 mg/kg for methohexital and 3.4 +/- 2.1 mg/kg for thiamylal. One out of the 176 procedures was failed due to bradycardia, hypotension and cyanosis, in the methohexital group. Otherwise, no significant adverse events were found. Increased heart rate (HR) during stable blood pressure (BP) was observed in both groups. In conclusion, under careful monitoring and performed by experienced practitioners, the application of methohexital or thiamylal combined with midazolam to achieve deep sedation for invasive procedures in young children with ALL is safe.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Combined transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus: report of two cases.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are common congenital heart defects and usually isolate. The combination of these two defects is infrequent. Nowadays, both defects are amenable to transcatheter closure, without surgery. However, both defects by transcather closure was rarely reported. Here we report that two children with ASD and PDA benefited from combined interventional therapy using the Amplatzer septal occluder for the ASD and Gianturco coils for the PDA. Based on our limited experience, closing the PDA before the ASD may be a better option.

Cardiac Catheterization↗