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Biomedical subjects

C C Sun

Publications and source records attributed to C C Sun.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Naevus fusco-caeruleus zygomaticus.

One hundred and ten cases of an unusual type of naevus, which we have called naevus fusco-caeruleus zygomaticus were studied. The naevus presents as a bilateral speckled discolouration of the skin of the face principally in the zygomatic region. The condition usually does not become apparent until the second decade of life, and is much commoner in females. No association with any other abnormalities was found. Light and electron microscopy of the speckles showed the presence of dermal melanocytes mostly in the upper dermis. A survey was also carried out to determine the prevalence of this naevus in the general population.

Adolescent↗

Allergic contact dermatitis of the face from contact with nickel and ammoniated mercury in spectacle frames and skin-lightening creams.

A total of 507 (M 121, F 386) cases of facial dermatitis were investigated, of whom 308 (M 49, F 259) had eczema confined to the face. The prevalence of positive patch tests was 45% (229/507). Among all the patients, the 2 most frequent allergens were nickel (15.2%) and ammoniated mercury (6.1%), with the incidence of nickel sensitivity in men (20%) being greater than in women (13.7%). 56% of the nickel-positive cases were caused by metal spectacle frames. Taiwan's high number of spectacle-wearers, its subtropical climate and the characteristic oriental facial structure are possibly major contributing factors. Most ammoniated mercury (AM)-sensitive cases resulted from cosmetics. Skin-lightening creams are widely used in Taiwan, but their content is poorly controlled. According to consumer reports, 14.9% (48/322) had applied AM-containing cosmetics. Of all the cosmetics tested for mercury, 2.2% (60/2711) were positive.

Ammonia↗

Intestinal aganglionosis: a histologic and acetylcholinesterase histochemical study.

Varying results have been reported with the use of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) staining to diagnose Hirschsprung's disease in rectal suction biopsy. We analyzed the histology and AchE staining of rectal biopsies from 10 patients with documented intestinal aganglionosis and 57 patients with ganglionic bowel. The results show that histologic identification of submucosal ganglion cells is reliable in excluding Hirschsprung's disease and that the absence of ganglion cells in an adequate suction biopsy is highly suggestive of intestinal aganglionosis. Four AchE staining patterns were recognized; the staining patterns overlap in some patients who have and some who lack ganglion cells. The AchE staining pattern did not correlate with sex or age of the patients, or with the length of the aganglionic segment. The acetylcholinesterase stain is not a reliable method of making or excluding a diagnosis of intestinal aganglionosis except when AchE-positive fibers are increased in both the lamina propria and muscularis mucosae. This AchE staining pattern occurred in 6 of our 10 patients with Hirschsprung's disease. In addition, eight segments of aganglionic colon were studied that included 2 cases of total colonic aganglionosis in which hypertrophic, AchE-positive nerve fibers were absent in all layers of bowel wall. This last finding suggests that an abnormality in the preganglionic cholinergic fiber or extrinsic neuron is involved in the pathogenesis of this unusual form of total colonic aganglionosis.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Functional response to vasoactive intestinal peptide in piebald lethal mice.

Diminished concentrations of the gut neuropeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), have been measured by radioimmunoassay in man and mouse models of Hirschsprung's disease. This in vitro study was designed to ascertain the functional response to VIP in aganglionic colon. Seven piebald lethal (PLM) mice with histologically verified aganglionosis and seven normal littermates (NLM) were sacrificed. Distal colonic segments were placed in standard oxygenated tissue baths and responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS), acetylcholine (ACh), and VIP recorded and analyzed by a motility index (MI). Aganglionic colonic tissues from PLM exhibited marked basal contractile activity in contrast to NLM (MI = 19.5 +/- 2.0 SEM v 6.5 +/- 3.6 SEM, P less than .01). In NLM tissues, VIP reduced the MI to ACh challenge by 49% (P less than .01), while in PLM tissues, a nonsignificant 22% reduction was observed. VIP blocked the response to EFS in NLM tissues, while no response was elicited to EFS in PLM tissues. An in vitro deficit in the VIP inhibitory response to ACh challenge is apparent in PLM with distal colonic aganglionosis. The increased basal activity and reduction in responsiveness to VIP, observed in the PLM tissues, support a generalized reduction in the function of the inhibitory innervation of the aganglionic colon.

Acetylcholine↗

Prevalence of probable kerosene dermatoses among ball-bearing factory workers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of dermatoses among workers in a ball-bearing factory and its possible association with their exposure to kerosene. Two groups of female workers participated in the study. The first group included 79 persons with major kerosene exposure during work, while the second, a reference group, was composed of 263 zipper-manufacturing workers with a similar age distribution, educational background, and income. Dermatologic examinations were used to determine the prevalence rate of hand dermatoses (erythema, scaling, and eczema). In the exposed group 51 persons (65%) had erythema with or without desquamation over the interdigital spaces, 12 persons (15%) had eczematous lesions, 3 persons (4%) had defatting dermatitis, and only 13 persons (16%) were apparently asymptomatic. In the reference group only one person had hand eczema (less than 1%). The difference in the occurrence of dermatoses between the two groups was significant according to the Mantel-Haenszel summary chi-square test. Patch tests on five workers with eczematous lesions revealed one to be sensitive to mercury. The findings indicate that kerosene is a skin irritant. Antirust oil used on the ball-bearings may also contribute to the irritant effect.

Adolescent↗

Immature renal tissue in colonic wall of patient with caudal regression syndrome.

We report an incidental microscopic finding of ectopic renal tissue in a newborn with multiple congenital anomalies. The ectopic renal tissue was located in the wall of the distal blind end of the colon. The tissue was composed of undifferentiated renal blastema with primitive and well-formed glomeruli and tubules. The potential for malignant transformation of this lesion into extrarenal Wilms' tumor is not known.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Synchronous left subclavian and axillary artery aneurysms associated with melorheostosis.

Melorheostosis is a benign, rare congenital disorder of hyperostosis of one or more bones. A case of melorheostosis associated with synchronous left subclavian and axillary artery aneurysms necessitated resection of the aneurysms and replacement with a Gore-Tex interposition graft (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, Md.) and a reversed saphenous vein graft, respectively. Numerous soft-tissue and vascular anomalies have been noted in patients with melorheostosis, although arterial aneurysms have not been reported previously.

Aneurysm↗

Total intestinal aganglionosis.

Total Intestinal Aganglionosis is a rare, uniformly fatal condition with absence of ganglia from the duodenum to the rectum. A neonate with this extreme form of Hirschsprung's disease is presented with a review of 12 previously reported cases. Smooth muscle strips from this infant's gastrointestinal tract demonstrated viable cholinergic receptors, absence of intrinsic neuronal innervation, and colonic contractile activity to the purported peptidergic neurotransmitter cholecystokinin. Four aspects of total intestinal aganglionosis are noteworthy: (1) one-third of patients presented between four and eight days of age after passing meconium on the first day of life; (2) at laparotomy, no intestinal distention, obstruction, or transition zone was evident; (3) hypertrophic nerve fibers seen in classic Hirschsprung's disease were absent in one-quarter of patients; and (4) a high incidence of affected siblings occurred in the previously reported cases. This form of Hirschsprung's disease may represent a distinct entity with autosomal recessive inheritance and significant risk for recurrence.

Acetylcholine↗

Fatal adenovirus pneumonia in two newborn infants, one case caused by adenovirus type 30.

Adenovirus rarely causes pneumonia in the newborn infant. We added 2 cases of fatal adenovirus neonatal pneumonia to the 3 cases previously reported. One of our cases was caused by adenovirus type 30, which is not previously known to be a pathogen. While the pneumonia could have been acquired in the nursery, the presence of chorioamnionitis and mixed infection with group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus suggests that an ascending infection from the birth canal might be another mode of transmission for neonatal adenovirus pneumonia.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

Hydrops fetalis associated with Gaucher disease.

The rare association of hydrops fetalis with acute neuropathic Gaucher disease, diagnosed at autopsy, is described. Mechanisms for the fetal edema in this case are discussed. Unusual medial calcification of the aorta was present; and although its etiology is unknown, a possible relationship to Gaucher disease is suggested.

Edema↗

Radiographic findings in neonatal pneumonia.

The chest films of 30 infants with autopsy-proved pulmonary infections were reviewed to assess the radiographic changes in neonatal pneumonia. The most common abnormality identified was bilateral alveolar densities, noted in 77% of cases. One-third of patients had characteristically extensive, dense alveolar changes with numerous air bronchograms. A pattern of radiographic abnormalities consistent with transient tachypnea of the newborn was found in 17% of cases, and a second pattern resembling hyaline membrane disease was found in 13%. Recognition of the spectrum of expected radiographic changes can aid in the diagnosis of neonatal pneumonia, particularly if this information is correlated with the clinical features.

Bronchography↗

The diagnosis and management of pyriform sinus fistulae in infants and young children.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is rare in childhood. It presented in two clinically euthyroid children over a 2-year period. Repeated drainage for recurrent abscesses was necessary in one child. Thyroiditis without abscess was present in the second. After treatment and resolution of the infection, contrast studies with barium demonstrated an internal fistula extending from the left pyriform sinus to the ipsilateral thyroid lobe. Thyroid scans showed decreased uptake in the left lobe. Thyroid-function tests were normal. A third infant developed acute respiratory distress at 2 weeks of age from an enlarging left neck mass without evidence of infection. Exploration revealed an intrathyroid cyst with fistulous communication to the left pyriform sinus. Fistulas arise from the third pharyngeal pouch as a branchial remnant which is exclusively left-sided. Administration of antibiotics, which are effective against oral flora, combined with initial drainage of suppuration control infection. Only then can the diagnosis be made by contrast study of the hypopharynx and upper esophagus. Operative excision of the entire epithelial tract and adjacent thyroid tissue is essential to prevent recurrent thyroiditis and abscess.

Child↗