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Biomedical subjects

C K Li

Publications and source records attributed to C K Li.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The effect of chronic atrial overdrive suppression pacing on the incidence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Chronic overdrive suppression pacing has been suggested as an effective adjunctive method for reducing the incidence of cardiac tachyarrhythmias. Documentation of effectiveness during prolonged monitoring is lacking, however. To assess more accurately the long-term utility of this treatment modality for medically refractory supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTs), 10 patients with atrially implanted Intermedics Intertach pacemakers were randomly assigned to either a low or a high bradycardia (back-up) pacing rate. SVT counts were performed during matching follow-up periods both at the initial rate and after rate crossover. The primary antitachycardia modality of this pacemaker (P mod) provides burst pacing to terminate tachycardia episodes, and P mod counters were utilized to quantitate SVT episodes. Tachycardia termination algorithms were programmed to "no restart" and were not changed during the study. The P mod use counter, therefore, reflected the number of discrete episodes of SVTs. Pacemaker implantation diagnoses include atrial flutter, concealed bypass tract, AV nodal reentry, intraatrial reentry, and Wolff-Parkinson-White associated tachycardia. Patient age was 59 +/- 18 yrs. The average pacemaker back-up low rate was 45.7 +/- 4 versus a back-up high rate of 85.1 +/- 2 beats/min. Follow-up was for 57.4 days +/- 33 days at the low rate and 57.3 days +/- 34 days at the high rate (r = 0.99). There was no difference in SVT incidence with a P mod usage of 98.4 +/- 106 at the low rate and 100.8 +/- 94 at the high rate (p = NS). In this blinded, randomized cross-over trial, chronic atrial overdrive suppression pacing did not reduce the overall incidence of SVT episodes during prolonged monitoring.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

Spotted fever in Hong Kong.

A previously healthy 7-year-old Hong Kong-born Caucasian child developed sudden onset fever, followed by a generalized rash and systemic symptoms of rigor and prostration, mucous membrane involvement (conjunctivitis) and arthralgia. He lives in a rural area of Hong Kong and has been in contact with various domestic animals--rodents, dogs and cows. Chloramphenicol 50 mg/kg/day was given on day 4 with rapid response. Subsequent Weil-Felix test and specific serology suggested the diagnosis of rickettsial infection of the spotted fever group. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of spotted fever reported in Hong Kong.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Long-term survival of a baby with homozygous alpha-thalassemia-1.

Triplets born to a Chinese woman consisted of 2 healthy boys and a girl with hemoglobin Bart's hydrops syndrome. The girl with hemoglobin Bart's hydrops syndrome, confirmed by gene analysis to be homozygous for alpha-thalassemia-1, survives for 27 months at the time of reporting. The dilemma in sustaining her life and the availability of other therapeutic options are briefly discussed. This is the third case report of homozygous alpha-thalassemia-1 with long-term survival.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

Particulate air pollution and hospitalization for asthma.

Age-specific quarterly asthmatic hospital discharge rates in Hong Kong during 1983 to 1989 were examined in relation to mean levels of six pollutants: sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), total suspended particles (TSP), respiratory suspended particles (RSP), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOX). Discharges from the hospital of children under 14 years of age represented 56% of 33,952 discharges recorded in all age groups. Trends of adult hospitalization rates over time remained stable during the study period. In children, however, there was an increase in these rates, particularly marked in the age group of 1 to 4 years. Univariate analysis revealed a strong correlation between quarterly mean TSP and hospital discharge rate for the 1 to 4-year-old children (r = .62, P less than .001). In the 5 to 14-year-old age group, there was an inverse relationship between hospital discharge rate and sulfur dioxide level (r = -.38, P less than .05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis, controlling for confounding variables (seasonal and annual trends of asthma hospitalizations) confirmed these relationships. A highly significant linear regression equation was derived between hospitalization rate for ages 1 to 4 years and total suspended particles (P less than .001). The highly significant correlation between pollution and asthmatic hospitalization rate for the 1 to 4-year-old group suggests that young children are vulnerable to the adverse environmental effects of pollution. Auditing these relationships offers a logical basis for approaching control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Acupuncture to alleviate pain during colonoscopy].

36 patients (18 males and 18 females, mean age 51 [21-76] years) were prepared for colonoscopy with acupuncture (points: Hegu, Neiguan, Zusanli and Gongsun bilaterally), without acupuncture or pretend acupuncture at points not expected to bring about pain relief. In the 12 acupuncture patients mean pain sensitivity, estimated during the examination by means of a visual analog scale, was significantly (P = 0.003) lower (1.4 +/- 0.4) than in the groups without acupuncture (n = 12; 2.7 +/- 0.3) or pretend acupuncture (n = 12; 3.0 +/- 0.3). In addition, analgesics and sedatives needed to be given significantly less to those with acupuncture (one patient each; P = 0.005) than those without (analgesics to five, sedatives to eight patients) or with pretend acupuncture (analgesics to four, sedatives to five patients). These data demonstrate that pain connected with colonoscopy can be reduced by preceding acupuncture.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed1991

Quantitative analysis of the accuracy of linear array transrectal ultrasound in measurement of the prostate.

In 61 prostate autopsy specimens, linear array transrectal ultrasound and electronic vernier calipers were used to measure 3 maximal diameters along the longitudinal, anterior-posterior and transverse axes. The results were comparable. We assessed the reliability of empirical formulae, derived from various combinations of these 3 diameters, for the prediction of prostatic volume and weight. Formulae using all 3 diameters were accurate. The combination of longitudinal and anterior-posterior diameters, which was used clinically for prostate measurement, was less accurate.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1991

[Immunological change in pigmentary degeneration of retina and its relation to traditional Chinese medicine differentiation of syndromes].

Using monoclonal antibody technique, T lymphocyte cell subgroups, immunoglobins, complements, and circulating immune complexes (CIC) were measured in 60 patients with pigmentary degeneration of retina (RP) and 40 normal subjects. The results indicated that T1, T4, T8, C3 and C4 of the patients were lower than those of the controls; T4/T8, IgM and CIC of the patients were more than those of the controls. The differences between the patients and the controls were remarkably significant. Similarly, by investigating the objective quota of TCM differentiation of syndromes, the authors divided the RP patients into Liver-Kidney deficiency of Yin and Spleen-Kidney deficiency of Yang groups, and compared them with normal subjects. The results indicated that the two groups underwent similar change of immunology. But they had their own characteristics. The Yin-deficiency group showed remarkable increase of T4/T8 and normal T4; the Yang-deficiency group showed remarkable reduction of T1 and reduction of T4.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Protective effect of sodium molybdate against the acute toxicity of cadmium chloride.

Pretreatment of rats with Na2MoO4 (1.24 mmol/kg, once a day for 3 days, i.p.) partially protected them against the acute toxicity of CdCl2 (0.075 mmol/kg, once, s.c., 24 h after pretreatment with Na2MoO4). The survival number of rats per total number of rats in the CdCl2-dosed group was 10/10, 8/10, 6/10, 2/10 and 0/10 on 0, 1, 2, 6 and 18 days after treatment with CdCl2 whereas in the group where CdCl2 is given after pretreatment with Na2MoO4 it is 10/10 and 6/10 on 0 and 18 days. The body weight of CdCl2-dosed rats consistently decreased until their death while that of Na2MoO4-CdCl2-dosed rats similarly decreased up to 4 days after exposure to CdCl2 but then increased almost normally. In order to elucidate the mechanism of protective action of Na2MoO4 against the acute toxicity of CdCl2, cellular components such as DNA, inorganic cations and metallothionein were measured in the liver after exposure to CdCl2. The treatment with CdCl2 alone reduced K content and increased Ca content but pretreatment with Na2MoO4 prevented such alterations in the levels of those cations caused by CdCl2. Metallothionein content in the liver was significantly elevated in the CdCl2-treated groups as compared to saline controls although the protein content was higher in the Na2MoO4-CdCl2-dosed group than in the CdCl2-dosed group. There was no difference in the protein content of the liver between saline controls and the Na2MoO4-dosed group. This suggests that Na2MoO4 alleviated the acute toxicity of CdCl2 in the rat and the protective mechanism by the metal is in part related to the enhancement of liver Cd-metallothionein induction.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Atrial automatic tachycardia-reversion pacemakers: their economic viability and impact on quality-of-life.

UNLABELLED: Refractory supraventricular tachyarrhythmias may be both difficult and costly to control medically and can interfere with the patient's lifestyle. Newer treatment modalities are available for their management, and these require comprehensive assessment. We therefore compared costs and selective indices of patient benefit in a group of 17 patients in whom an atrial antitachycardia (Intermedics Intertach 262-12) pacemaker was placed for refractory supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Prior medical therapy was compared to subsequent automatic antitachycardia pacemaker treatment. The total medical costs (admissions, emergency room visits, office visits, and medication costs) and the number of hospitalizations and medications were compared prior to implantation (F/U 69.3 +/- 61 months) and after implantation (F/U 15.3 +/- 7.8 months). A detailed quality-of-life questionnaire was also obtained 36.6 +/- 11 months after implantation. RESULTS: There were significant per patient differences in total cost before and after implantation: monthly costs were $505 +/- $833 before pacemaker implantation and $105 +/- $117 monthly afterward (P less than 0.005). Pacemaker implantation hospitalization costs were $19,063 +/- $8,362. Monthly medication costs averaged $46 before versus $15 after implantation (P less than 0.01). The number of medication types also differed with an average 5.5 medication types per patient before versus 1.2 after implantation (P less than 0.001). There were 8.6 yearly hospital admissions in the whole group before implantation, versus 4.7 admissions in the group per year thereafter. Patients demonstrated significant improvement in 80% of the quality-of-life parameters studied. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive atrial automatic tachycardia-reversion pacemaker therapy may be cost-competitive over time when compared to medical therapy alone in patients with refractory supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and appears to improve overall quality-of-life.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1990

Sustained effectiveness of an atrial antitachycardia pacemaker during follow-up.

Atrial antitachycardia pacemakers are indicated for medically refractory atrial tachyarrhythmias. To confirm long-term device effectiveness, we studied diagnostic data obtained in 17 patients with atrially-placed Intermedic "Intertach" pacemakers. The unit has programmable primary (P mod) and secondary (S mod) antitachycardia response protocols. Success of the P mod was defined as a P mod response first with no subsequent S mod response. Follow-up was for 595 days (+/- 302 days). The P mod was utilized first 88.2 +/- 102 times per patient interrogation with subsequent S mod use 21.1 +/- 53 times (P less than 0.0001). Results were also significant when P mod was compared to S mod in the first versus the last half of follow-up (both P less than 0.0001). These results suggest that the programmed P mod of the atrial "Intertach" tachycardia reversion pacemaker has sustained effectiveness in the treatment of medically refractory atrial tachyarrhythmias.

Atrial Flutter↗
PubMed1990

'The main thing is being wanted': some case studies on adult sexual experiences with children.

Pedophilia is always considered by mainstream society as one form of sexual abuse of children. However, analysis of the personal accounts provided by pedophiles suggests that these experiences could be understood differently. This paper attempts to document some aspects of the pedophiles' construction of their sexuality, to provide illustrations of how these individuals understand themselves.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Low level atmospheric sulfur dioxide pollution and childhood asthma.

Quarterly analysis (1983-1987) of childhood asthma in Hong Kong from 13,620 hospitalization episodes in relation to levels of pollutants (SO2, NO2, NO, O3, TSP, and RSP) revealed a seasonal pattern of attack rates that correlates inversely with exposure to sulfur dioxide (r = -.52, P less than .05). The same cannot be found with other pollutants. Many factors may contribute to the seasonal variation of asthma attacks. We speculate that prolonged exposure (in terms of months) to low level SO2 is one factor that might induce airway inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity and predispose to episodes of asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Increased sarcolemmal membrane permeability of cardiac muscle cells in rats fed grains cultivated in a Keshan disease endemic area: a study with horseradish peroxidase as a tracer.

The alteration of sarcolemmal membrane permeability of cardiac muscle cells in rats fed grain from a Keshan disease (KD) endemic area was studied with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a tracer. Weanling male rats were divided at random into three groups and fed the following three diets, respectively, for 3 months: a diet with grain from a KD endemic area (Group A), a diet with grain from a KD nonendemic area (Group B), and standard laboratory chow (Group C). At the end of the experiment, HRP was injected intravenously and localized in the ventricular myocardium by light microscopy. The experimental results showed that the percentage of cardiac muscle cells containing HRP reaction product in rats fed grain from the KD endemic area was significantly greater than that in rats fed grain from nonendemic area and standard laboratory chow. This suggests that the sarcolemmal membrane permeability of cardiac muscle cells in rats of Group A was markedly increased. The distribution of cardiac muscle cells with increased sarcolemmal membrane permeability was similar to that seen in the myocardium of KD patients. The present study suggests that the abnormal membrane permeability of cardiac muscle cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial necrosis in KD.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Congenital tuberculosis.

A 7 week old baby presented with generalized lymphadenopathy, obstructive jaundice and massive hepatosplenomegaly. The clinical picture closely resembled a case of disseminated malignancy. Soon after the diagnosis of tuberculosis was made by pathological examination of a lymph node, the patient died. An autopsy revealed primary tuberculous foci in the liver and massive lymphadenopathy at the porta hepatis consistent with transplacentally acquired tuberculosis. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition is emphasized.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1989

Effects of repeated dosing of zopiclone on endocrine system in male rats.

The effects of a minor tranquilizer, zopiclone, on endocrine system in male rats were assessed to clarify the mechanisms whereby large doses of zopiclone may induce testicular damage. 1) Zopiclone had no significant effect on plasma and tissue levels of hormones of the hypophyseo-gonadal or -thyroid system in rats given 10, 100 and 250 mg/kg/day orally for 28 days. 2) Rats given zopiclone in doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg/day orally for 14 days had lowered serum levels of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha but the testicular PGF2 alpha concentration remained unchanged. Therefore, oral administration of high doses of zopiclone to rats has no evident influence on endocrine system related to male reproduction. And these findings support our previous paper that repeated dose of zopiclone cause no significant change in plasma or epididymal TS levels, nor to any change in lipid peroxidation in testicular tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Seasonal asthma in Hong Kong and its management implications.

Quarterly analysis of 48,003 hospitalization episodes of asthma in Hong Kong from 1976 to 1985 reveals a consistent bimodal seasonal variation of hospitalization rates most noticeable in younger age groups. Statistical analysis shows that with a drop of relative humidity and an increase in wind speed, more episodes of asthma hospitalization are expected. During seasons of increased susceptibility, aggressive prophylaxis and vigilant monitoring should reduce hospitalization for those with seasonal predisposition.

Adolescent↗