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Biomedical subjects

C C Hsu

Publications and source records attributed to C C Hsu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cognitive development of Yu-Cheng ("oil disease") children prenatally exposed to heat-degraded PCBs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cognitive development in Taiwanese children who had been exposed prenatally to high levels of heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with control children who were exposed to background levels. The disorder was called Yu-Cheng, "oil disease," in Taiwan. DESIGN: Matched-pair cohort study. SETTING: Communities in central Taiwan in which there had been a cooking-oil contamination and mass poisoning by heat-degraded PCBs in 1978 through 1979. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eighteen children born between June 1978 and March 1985 during or after their mothers' consumption of contaminated rice oil; 118 children matched for age, sex, neighborhood, maternal age, and parental education and occupational class; and 15 older siblings of exposed children, born before the poisoning. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cognitive development measured from 1985 through 1990 using the Chinese versions of the Stanford-Binet test and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised, RESULTS: The exposed children scored approximately 5 points lower on the Stanford-Binet test at the ages of 4 and 5 years and approximately 5 points lower on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised, at the ages of 6 and 7 years. Children born up to 6 years after their mothers' exposure were as affected as children born within a year or two after exposure when examined at 6 and 7 years of age. Older siblings resembled the control children. CONCLUSION: Children prenatally exposed to heat-degraded PCBs had poorer cognitive development than their matched controls. The effect persisted in the children up to the age of 7 years, and children born long after the exposure were still affected.

Child Development↗
PubMed1992

Splenic abscess: sonographic diagnosis and percutaneous drainage or aspiration.

During a recent 5-year period, 12 patients with splenic abscesses were evaluated by abdominal ultrasound (US) examination. Multifocal abscesses were noted in seven patients, three of them were secondary to infectious endocarditis, three were in immunosuppressed state, and one was caused by tuberculosis. The latter four patients had developed splenic microabscesses with a diameter of less than 1.5 cm. The larger abscesses showed an irregular wall, weak or no internal echoes, ovoid or round in shape, and accompanied by mild to moderate distal acoustic enhancement. Wedge-shaped abscesses were typically noted in patients with infectious endocarditis and septic embolism. US-guided percutaneous drainage was done in five patients (abscesses greater than 4 cm). Simple aspiration in conjunction with antibiotic administration was done for seven smaller abscesses (diameter less than 3.5 cm) in five patients. A second drainage, either for a dislodged catheter or a recurrent abscess, was performed in two cases. All patients had uneventful clinical course following this therapeutic approach.

Abscess↗
PubMed1992

Cognitive development of children prenatally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (Yu-Cheng children) and their siblings.

An intoxication episode resulting from rice-bran oil (Yu-Cheng) contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) occurred in Taiwan from 1978 to 1979. After that episode, the authors found 15 Yu-Cheng children who were born to intoxicated mothers after their documented consumption of PCB-contaminated oil; these children had older siblings, born before PCB exposure, without prenatal PCB exposure. The cognitive development of these Yu-Cheng children and the youngest of their elder siblings were assessed annually from 1985 to 1990 using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised Version (WISC-R) for those over six years of age. Compared with their elder siblings, the Yu-Cheng children scored significantly lower (p < 0.05) on the verbal intelligence quotient, by 6.8-16.1 points; on performance IQ by 10.2-18.4 points; and on full-scale IQ by 8.9-18.5 points, during the six measurements performed from 1985 to 1990. The differences in WISC-R IQ scores between the two groups have remained unchanged during these six years of follow-up.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Determining the optimum residual moisture in lyophilized protein pharmaceuticals.

A general concern in the lyophilization of protein pharmaceuticals is how dry a product should be in order to maintain its stability during storage. This paper presents our exploratory studies on determining if there is an optimal residual moisture content for lyophilized recombinant protein products. The proteins used in this study were methionyl human growth hormone (met-hGH) and tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA). The amount of water adsorbed on each protein can be determined and approximated as a monolayer by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. The result was in good agreement with the theoretical value calculated from the total number of strong polar groups in the molecule without regard to the conformation of the protein. This approach suggests that each protein may have a minimum moisture content that is necessary to shield the polar groups, and that over-drying will lead to exposure of these groups. The effect of residual moisture content on the stability of tPA in lyophilized excipient-free powder was studied. Samples that were dried to a water content below the calculated monolayer exhibited opalescence upon reconstitution, while those that were dried to either monolayer or multilayer water content tended to show a greater loss in biological stability upon storage under temperature stress conditions. The results of our studies reveal that the generally accepted concept "the drier the better" may not be appropriate for tPA. An optimum residual moisture content is required to balance the physical stability and the biological stability. These observations may apply to other protein products as well.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Serial survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage among residents in a nursing home.

OBJECTIVE: To study the natural course of nasal colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among residents in a nursing home. DESIGN: A cohort study with eight surveys of nasal cultures over 15 months. SETTING: A community nursing home in Chicago, Illinois. PARTICIPANTS: Between 117 and 129 residents of the nursing home in each survey. RESULTS: MRSA carriers were present throughout the study period. On the average, 24.4% (range: 17.1% to 34.2%) of the residents carried S aureus, and 35.3% (range: 20% to 62.5%) of the isolates were methicillin resistant at each survey. The carrier state was persistent or transient and was affected little by a roommate's carrier status. Approximately 70% to 80% of residents who were bedridden or who had decubitus ulcers or foreign bodies carried MRSA at least once during the study period. Residents' prior hospitalization was not associated with MRSA carriage. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that MRSA was perpetuated in the nursing home by persistently or intermittently colonizing debilitated residents who required more intensive nursing care and that the prior hospitalization of the residents was not an important cause of its perpetuation.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1991

Hepatic microabscesses caused by Escherichia coli--US and CT appearance.

Hepatic microabscesses have been described in immunosuppressed patients. However, there has been no previous report concerning hepatic microabscesses caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). Recently, we experienced a 75-year-old male patient who had suffered from fever and upper abdominal pain for 4 days. His laboratory tests revealed an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (55 mm/hr), the white cell count was 7500/cumm with 82% segmented leukocytes, minimally elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. Ultrasonography (US) showed multiple tiny hypo- or nearly anechoic lesions (3-8mm) diffusely scattered in both hepatic lobes. Some lesions were too small to be demonstrated and only distal acoustic enhancement posterior to the lesions could be noted. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan subsequently demonstrated the tiny hypodense and cystic lesions and confirmed the US diagnosis of microabscesses. Cultures of blood and liver aspirates showed E. coli. Although US and CT appearance of hepatic microabscesses caused by E. coli may be characteristic, it is not specific. Differential diagnosis should include multiple biliary hamartomas, and definite diagnosis should be made by needle aspiration.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Effect of isoproterenol on the uptake of [14C]glucose into glial cells.

The effect of isoproterenol on the uptake of [14C]glucose into cultured glial cells was investigated in the present study. Isoproterenol markedly stimulated the uptake of [14C]glucose 30 min after incubation. This action was produced in a dose-dependent manner. A positive correlation between the increase of [14C]glucose uptake and the stimulation of adenylate cyclase induced by isoproterenol was obtained (r = 0.99). The effect of isoproterenol was reduced by the beta-adrenergic blockers but not by other blockers, indicating the selective action of isoproterenol. The results obtained suggest that isoproterenol stimulates the uptake of glucose into glial cells through the activation of beta-adrenoceptors which are linked to adenylate cyclase.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Dermatological findings in children exposed transplacentally to heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls in Taiwan.

We studied 128 children who were transplacentally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans in Taiwan, their parents and siblings who were directly exposed, and 115 control children. Direct exposure of the mothers stopped in 1979 and the children were born as late as 1985. At birth, exposed children had increased rates of hyperpigmentation, eyelid swelling and discharge, deformed nails, acne, natal teeth and swollen gums compared to controls. On examination, they had a much higher rate of dystrophic finger-nails and pigmented or dystrophic toe-nails than controls. They also had an increased rate of hyperpigmentation and acne. In addition they had more generalized itching, localized skin infections and hair loss. The findings seen in transplacentally exposed children differ from those seen in people directly exposed, particularly in the latter group in higher prevalence of acne.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1990

[Simple testicular cyst].

High-resolution sonograms of scrotum in two hundred and ninety six patients were reviewed. Twenty six patients were found to have simple testicular cyst(s). The specific features of cyst, which included sharp clear margin, anechoic content, posterior wall enhancement and no adjacent echogenic mass, could be found in all lesions. Four cases had bilateral testicular involvement. Solitary cystic lesion was found in 14 tests. The size ranged from 2.0 mm to 1.2 cm. Clustered cystic lesions were found in six testes. The size ranged from 4.0 mm to 2.5 cm. More than one focal lesion were found in 10 testes. Twenty four of these thirty testes had tunica albuginea cyst(s) or cyst(s) abutting on testicular margins. Four patients had follow-up sonograms with the period ranging from three months to two years. No remarkable change of all lesions were noted. The sonographic pictures and its patterns were presented. The pathogenesis and the literature were briefly reviewed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Metabolic adjustments to dynamic hypoxic hypoxemia in feline brain tissue.

Three different metabolic models were incorporated in a compartmental simulation of brain tissue pO2 response to rapid changes in arterial pO2. The first was the frequently utilized constant metabolism assumption. The second model was a 4-step kinetic simplification of glucose conversion to CO2 with an intermediate reversible reaction of pyrovate to lactate. The most sophisticated model was a new 11-step reaction scheme with the same start and end points accounting for glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. A unique representation was derived for the oxygen consumption depending on reduced cytochrome a3+(3) consistent with diverse observations in the literature. The theoretical predictions were compared to previously published cortical tissue pO2 recordings from detailed experiments with pentobarbital anesthetized cats. The 11-step metabolic model invariably provided the best match between the theoretical calculations and the observed responses. These results indicate that cellular metabolism rapidly adjusts to changes in O2 in a manner which reduces the tissue pO2 fluctuation. In concert with the large compensatory arterial blood flow response there was extensive damping of intracellular pO2 compared to arterial O2 changes.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Reduced stimulating effect on one-way mixed lymphocyte culture by parturient's and neonatal cord blood cells.

One-way mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), using the peripheral blood T, B cells and monocytes of 16 unmarried women who were never pregnant (i.e. nulligravidas) and 18 parturients, and the umbilical venous blood T, B cells and monocytes of 18 newborns as stimulating cells, were used to react with the peripheral mononuclear cells of a type "O" blood of a 29-year-old healthy man. We demonstrated that the stimulating effects were much lower in the parturients and the newborns than in the unmarried nulligravidas. The stimulating indices were significantly different, especially in the B cells. Mean stimulation index was 4.843 in unmarried nulligravidas, 1.249 in parturients and 1.284 in newborns. Our results seem to suggest that pregnancy produces some alternations on both the maternal and the fetal cells, making the maternal and the fetal immune systems fail to recognize each other.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Electrophysiological studies of acute anoxic hypoxia].

This study was designed to analyse the effects of acute anoxic hypoxia on brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and electroencephalogram (EEG) and identify their sensitivities of response. After ether anesthesia, endotracheal intubation was performed on 20 adult Long-Evans rats. Relaxin was injected to immobilize the rats and a rodent respirator was provided for artificial ventilation. Acute anoxic hypoxia was induced by apnea with abrupt cessation of the respirator. The BAEPs and EEG were monitored and analyzed continuously before, during and after hypoxia. Experimental hypoxia was induced initially for 3 minutes and, after recovery, for another 5 minutes. Elapsed time was recorded as the waves altered or became flat. Characteristic wave changes were observed, which included delta bursts, epileptic discharges and alpha coma activity in the EEG; and decreased amplitude or delayed latency in the BAEPs. In all experiments, EEG flattening (71.80 +/- 7.80 sec) significantly preceded the flattening of the BAEPs (146.90 +/- 7.00 sec; Wilcoxon signed rank test, p less than 0.01). However, recovery after reoxygenation was more rapid in the BAEPs than in the EEG (162.80 +/- 18.90, 208.20 +/- 17.90 sec, Wilcoxon signed rank test, p less than 0.05). BAEP loss began with the later waves. In the EEG, during the recovery period epileptogenic foci (45%), delta bursting (45%) or alpha coma activity (40%) appeared. The isoelectric EEG and BAEPs were reversible in 12 of the 18 rats after 3-minutes of apnea and immediately followed by reoxygenation. The results of this study indicate the functional vulnerability of the various structures of the nervous system in regard to hypoxia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Globus hystericus--reports on 25 ENT cases and literature review].

From October 1987 to March 1988, 25 cases (15 males and 10 females) with the globus hystericus were evaluated at 804 Army General Hospital. All patients underwent complete physical examination, routine laboratory work-up, roentgenographic examination of paranasal sinuses, cervical region and chest, upper G-I series, fiberoptic endoscopy and esophagoscopy. 2.3% of the patients in this study had the globus hystericus, the male to female ratio was 1.5:1, the mean ages were 51 years, the average educational level was low, the endoscopic findings were vallecular cyst in 3 cases (12%), epiglottic cyst in 2 cases (8%), the roentgenographic findings were maxillary sinusitis in 3 cases (12%), cervical osteophytes in 9 cases (36%) gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and diverticulum in 1 cases (4%) respectively. We analyzed the positive findings and reviewed the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Human sperm chromosome analysis in primary infertility: a preliminary report.

Human sperm chromosomes can be analyzed using the zona-free hamster egg system. In order to familiarize ourselves with this new technique and to investigate the chromosome aberration frequency in fertile and possibly infertile men, we performed sperm chromosome analysis in 39 successful experiments. The subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1 was healthy men with proven fertility. Group 2 was husbands of couples with unexplained infertility. Semen samples were prepared freshly or preserved in TEST-yolk buffer for 12 to 72 hours. In group 1 using fresh samples, the mean penetration rate was 67.40 +/- 14.08% (mean +/- 2SD), the maturation index was 1.33 +/- 0.31. For samples treated with yolk buffer, the mean penetration rate was 91.34 +/- 7.42%, and the maturation index was 1.58 +/- 0.42. There was a statistically significant increase in penetration after yolk buffer treatment (p less than 0.001). In group 1 there were 89 haploid chromosomes, four were aneuploidy (4.5%), and three with structural aberrations (3.4%). In group 2, for fresh samples, the mean penetration rate was 71.34 +/- 27.96%, and the maturation index was 1.37 +/- 0.25. For samples treated with yolk buffer, the penetration rate was 86.33 +/- 25.18%, and maturation index 1.40 +/- 0.23. In group 2, there were 135 haploid chromosomes, 6 were aneuploidy (4.4%), and 4 with structural aberrations (3.0%). There was no statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in the penetration rate, maturation index and frequency of chromosome abnormalities.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed1988

Congenital poisoning by polychlorinated biphenyls and their contaminants in Taiwan.

In 1979, a mass poisoning occurred in Taiwan from cooking oil contaminated by thermally degraded polychlorinated biphenyls. Because these chemicals persist in human tissue, children born to female patients after the outbreak were exposed in utero. In 1985, 117 children born to affected women and 108 unexposed controls were examined and evaluated. The exposed children were shorter and lighter than controls; they had abnormalities of gingiva, skin, nails, teeth, and lungs more frequently than did controls. The exposed children showed delay of developmental milestones, deficits on formal developmental testing, and abnormalities on behavioral assessment. These findings are most consistent with a generalized disorder of ectodermal tissue. This syndrome is one of very few documented to result from transplacental exposure to pollutant chemicals.

Conjunctivitis↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: divergent responses of antigen-specific antibodies and total IgE.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in eight patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) at a time when chest roentgeongraphy did not reveal an infiltrate, and respiratory status was stable. BAL was tolerated well by all patients with only one patient experiencing mild wheezing. BAL fluid recovery averaged 40%, and total cells/lavage were 22.3 x 10(6) (range 3.5 to 49.5 x 10(6)). Cell viability, as determined by trypan blue exclusion, averaged 48% (range 34% to 60%). Mean values for cellular elements were macrophages, 62%; epithelial cells, 12%; lymphocytes, 16%; neutrophils (PMN), 4%; and eosinophils, 6%. Isotypic antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) in BAL and serum were detected by an amplified indirect ELISA. Antibodies to Af in BAL expressed as optical density/albumin (milligrams per milliliter) were compared to BAL from six nonatopic patients. IgE-Af and IgA-Af in BAL were elevated in patients with ABPA compared with six nonatopic patients. The ratios of Ig-Af in BAL to peripheral blood in patients with ABPA were 48 (range 18 to 75) for IgE-Af, 96 (range 37 to 159) for IgA-Af, and 0.94 (range 0.24 to 1.40) for IgG-Af, suggesting local production of IgE-Af and IgA-Af in the bronchoalveolar compartment. Total serum IgE correlated directly with IgE-Af in BAL (rs = 0.67; p less than 0.02). However, the ratio of total BAL IgE/albumin divided by total serum IgE/albumin was 0.93 +/- 0.94, suggesting that the bronchoalveolar compartment is not the source of the significant elevations in total serum IgE in ABPA.

Antibodies, Fungal↗