Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Wong

Publications and source records attributed to E Wong.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of cocoa bran on low-density lipoprotein oxidation and fecal bulking.

BACKGROUND: Legumes have reported benefits in terms of reduced risk for coronary heart disease and of colonic health. A novel legume fiber, cocoa bran, also may have favorable health effects on serum lipid levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol oxidation, and fecal bulk. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy normolipidemic subjects (13 men and 12 women) (mean +/- SEM age, 37 +/- 2 years; mean +/- SEM body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], 24.6 +/- 0.7) ate cocoa-bran and chocolate-flavored low-fiber breakfast cereals for 2-week periods, with 2-week washout, in a double-blind crossover study. The cocoa-bran cereal provided 25.0 g/d of total dietary fiber (TDF). The low-fiber cereal (5.6 g/d TDF) was of similar appearance and energy value. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the start and end of each period, and 4-day fecal collections were made from days 11 through 14. RESULTS: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level was higher (7.6% +/- 2.9%; P =.02) and the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio was lower (6.7% +/- 2.3%; P =.007) for cocoa-bran compared with low-fiber cereal at 2 weeks. No effect was seen on LDL cholesterol oxidation. Mean fecal output was significantly higher for cocoa-bran than for low-fiber cereal (56 +/- 14 g/d; P<.001) and equal to the increase seen in the same subjects with wheat fiber in a previous study. CONCLUSIONS: A chocolate-flavored cocoa-bran cereal increased fecal bulk similarly to wheat bran and was associated with a reduction in the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. In view of the low-fat, high-fiber nature of the material, these results suggest a possible role for this novel fiber source in the diets of normal, hyperlipidemic, and constipated subjects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

American ginseng improves glycemia in individuals with normal glucose tolerance: effect of dose and time escalation.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the effect of escalating the dose and administration time of American ginseng (AG, Panax quinquefolius L.) in nondiabetic individuals to achieve further improvements in glucose tolerance seen previously when 3 g of AG was taken 40 minutes before a 25 g glucose challenge. METHODS: Ten nondiabetic individuals (6M:4F; mean +/- STD: age = 41 +/- 13 years, BMI = 24.8 +/- 3.5 kg/m2, FBG = 4.5 +/- 0.1 mmol L(-1)) on 12 separate occasions, randomly received 0 (placebo), 3, 6 or 9 g of ground AG root at 40, 80, or 120 minutes before a 25 g oral glucose challenge. Capillary blood glucose was measured prior to ingestion of AG or placebo capsules and at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 minutes from start of challenge. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo, 3, 6 and 9 g of AG reduced (p<0.05) postprandial incremental glucose at 30, 45 and 60 minutes; also, 3 and 9 g of AG did so at 90 minutes. At 60 minutes, 9 g of AG reduced incremental postprandial glucose relative to 3 g of AG (p<0.05). All AG doses reduced (p<0.05) area under the incremental glucose curve (3 g, 26.6%; 6 g, 29.3%; 9 g, 38.5%). AG taken at different times did not have an additional influence on postprandial glycemia. CONCLUSIONS: In nondiabetic individuals, 3, 6 or 9 g of AG taken 40, 80 or 120 minutes before a glucose challenge similarly improved glucose tolerance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outcome measure for paediatric rehabilitation: use of the Functional Independence Measure for children (WeeFIM). A pilot study in Chinese children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

PURPOSE: To study the use of Functional Independence Measure for children (WeeFIM) in monitoring neurorehabilitation programmes for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. METHODS: The neurorehabilitation team of the Children's Habilitation Institute of the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital were trained to administer the WeeFIM. The WeeFIM was administered to children with various neuro-developmental impairment groups undergoing neurorehabilitation programmes in the hospital inpatient and also outpatient setting. The WeeFIM was scored on hospital admission and prior to discharge for those admitted for the rehabilitation programme. The WeeFIM profile was then monitored half yearly. The pilot study used WeeFIM in assessing 104 children with different medical disease categories. The disease or impairment categories included very low birth weight babies (n = 44), cerebral palsy (n = 19), Down's syndrome (n = 9), pervasive developmental disorder (n = 11), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (n = 18), and others (n = 3). RESULTS: WeeFim could be used to measure disability, monitor progress, enhance communication, measure the effectiveness of treatment, and document the benefits of rehabilitation intervention. It also served as a networking of neurorehabilitation programmes for different impairment categories in a continuum of settings: hospital, community, school and at home. WeeFIM was found to be a quick and reliable functional assessment instrument in this rehabilitation facility. CONCLUSIONS: WeeFIM could be used to assist neurorehabilitation clinicians in the selection of short term realistic goals and long term rehabilitation strategies for children with various neurodevelopmental disabilities, and the subsequent progress of the children could be monitored objectively.

China↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nosocomial infections due to Xanthomonas maltophilia (Pseudomonas maltophilia) in patients with cancer.

From December 1985 to May 1986, Xanthomonas maltophilia (formerly known as Pseudomonas maltophilia) was isolated at an increased rate at our institution; 52 isolates of X. maltophilia were obtained in cultures of clinical specimens from 38 patients during that time. The records of 35 of these patients form the basis of this study. Twelve (71%) of the 17 infected and nine (50%) of the 18 colonized patients had received or were receiving antimicrobial therapy. Eleven of 17 patients (three of seven with septicemia, three of five with pneumonia, three with urinary tract infection, and two with wound infection) responded to antimicrobial therapy. Microbiologic studies of the potential environmental sources revealed growth of X. maltophilia in two water faucets and in one water sample from the medical intensive care unit. X. maltophilia is emerging as an important nosocomial pathogen in immunocompromised patients, especially those receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infectious complications of hepatic artery catheterization procedures in patients with cancer.

A total of 353 hepatic artery catheterization procedures were carried out in 211 patients with cancer over a 1-year period (January-December 1988). The procedures included 49 embolizations in 32 patients, 123 chemoembolizations in 73 patients, and 181 chemoinfusions in 106 patients. The overall infection rate was 3.4%. Infectious complications occurred in 3.1% of patients undergoing hepatic artery embolization alone, 1.9% of patients undergoing hepatic artery chemoinfusion, and 4.1% of patients undergoing hepatic artery embolization followed by chemoinfusion. Four patients had infectious complications that included four episodes each of cholangitis, liver abscess, and septicemia. One patient developed a subphrenic abscess in addition to a liver abscess. Enteric gram-negative bacilli (aerobic and anaerobic) were isolated from all four patients. None of the patients had received prophylactic antibiotics. All patients responded to antimicrobial therapy and percutaneous drainage of abscesses.

Bacteremia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infections associated with biliary drainage procedures in patients with cancer.

A total of 170 therapeutic biliary drainage procedures were carried out in 90 patients with cancer over a 1-year period (January-December 1988). There were 129 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedures done in 61 patients and 41 endoprostheses were placed in 29 patients. The overall infection rate related to these procedures was 60.6%, the rate being similar for the two procedures. Infectious complications were experienced by 50% of patients undergoing a biliary drainage procedure. The most common manifestation was cholangitis followed by bacteremia. Other infections included liver abscess, gallbladder abscess, and subphrenic abscess. The most common isolates were enteric gram-negative bacilli, followed by Enterococcus species, Candida species, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The use of prophylactic antibiotics in 76% of infected patients failed to prevent biliary catheter-related infections. Two patients died of complications related to biliary sepsis. All other infected patients responded to antimicrobial therapy, which included various regimens of beta-lactam agents (third-generation cephalosporin, extended-spectrum penicillin, imipenem-cilastatin, and aztreonam) that were used in combination with an aminoglycoside in 15 patients.

Abscess↗
PubMedDate not supplied

HER-2/neu gene amplification in stages I-IV breast cancer detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

PURPOSE: Approximately 25-30% of breast and ovarian carcinomas have amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. The aim of the present study was to focus on HER-2/neu gene amplification in different clinical stages of breast cancer in order to (1) determine if fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to detect HER-2/neu gene amplification in different clinical stages of breast cancer, (2) establish whether HER-2/neu gene amplification characterizes a subset of breast cancer in each of these stages, and (3) determine whether a trend for correlation of amplification with the clinical stage of the disease can be detected using the FISH technology. METHODS: A total of 40 specimens of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues were analyzed cytogenetically, in a blinded fashion, for HER-2/neu gene amplification using FISH and the Vysis LSI HER-2/neu Orange and CEP 17 Green DNA dual color probe. The criterion for "high amplification" was an amplification ratio of >4.0, that for "moderate amplification" a ratio between 2.1 and 4.0, and that for "low amplification" a ratio of 1.5-2.0. RESULTS: Using a cutoff point of > or =1.5, the overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage I tumors was 30% (3 out of 10). Of these, one-third (1 out of 3) showed low amplification, one-third (1 out of 3) were moderately amplified, and one-third (1 out of 3) were highly amplified. The overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage II tumors was 0% (0 out of 10). The overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage III tumors was 10% (1 out of 10). The sole tumor found positive was classified as moderately amplified by our criteria. The overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage IV tumors was 50% (5 out of 10). Four of the 5 tumors found positive were highly amplified. The overall frequency of gene amplification in the 40 cases studied was 22.5% (9 out of 40 tumors studied). CONCLUSION: Although a linear correlation between HER-2/neu amplification and clinical stage cannot be established at this time, it is interesting to note that when stages I and II, and when stages III and IV are combined, respectively, the latter category has a higher amplification frequency than the former. Furthermore, stage IV has the highest frequency (5 out of 10) of HER-2/neu gene amplification than all three lower stages combined (4 out of 30). This is no doubt due to the high frequency of gene amplification observed in stage IV tumors, which, interestingly, also demonstrate high level amplification of HER-2/neu gene copy numbers. Although the biologic and clinical basis for gene amplification is not clear, given the observation that the most aggressive disease stage is associated with the highest frequency of gene amplification and the most high level amplification, further exploration of HER-2/neu as a prognostic marker of poor outcome using FISH is warranted.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of mouse sperm isoantigens using specific monoclonal antibodies.

Female mice were isoimmunized with homologous spermatozoa of the same strain. Hybrid cells that secrete monoclonal antibodies to mouse sperm isoantigens were generated by modified hybridoma techniques using a semi-solid Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium containing methylcellulose for the initial cloning. Out of more than 1,000 colonies that were initially recovered for subculture, 246 were shown to produce antibodies reacting with various cytological regions of mouse spermatozoa, when methanol-fixed sperm were employed in an indirect immunofluorescent assay. More than 75% of the generated monoclonal isoantibodies were shown to bind the acrosomal regions of mouse spermatozoa. Some were found to cross-react with spermatozoa from other mammalian species including those of human, rabbit, rat, and guinea pig. However, none were shown to cross-react with mouse lymphocytes. Two-thirds of the generated monoclonal antibodies can also bind live mouse spermatozoa. By an immunohistochemical technique using testicular sections, some of these monoclonal antibodies were shown to react with specific antigens expressed during different stages of spermatogenesis. It is concluded that these mouse sperm isoantigens are sperm-specific and appear uniquely during spermatogenesis. Monoclonal isoantibodies produced in the present study may have potential applications regarding the investigations of sperm iso- or autoimmunity, spermatogenesis, and fertility control.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors associated with poor asthma control in children aged five to 13 years.

BACKGROUND: Most children with asthma should be able to achieve acceptable control. However, are there differences between those with acceptable and poor control, and if so, how can health care approaches be modified accordingly? OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics of elementary school children aged five to 13 years with acceptable and poor levels of asthma control. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study of children with asthma used five indicators of control, as outlined by the Canadian Asthma Consensus Report, to categorize acceptable and poor asthma control. RESULTS: Of 153 children, 115 (75%) were rated as having poorly controlled asthma. Of those with poor control, 65 (64%) children were currently using inhaled corticosteroids, and 65% of those reported using inhaled corticosteroids daily versus as needed. Fifty-one per cent of the children with poorly controlled asthma had exposure to tobacco smoke, whereas 79% of the children with asthma under acceptable control were from households with no smokers (P=0.002). The poor control group also had significantly worse parental perceptions of the psychosocial impact of asthma on their child. No significant difference was found in the percentage of those who had written action plans in the poor control group (28%) compared with the acceptable control group (26%), and similar percentages in each group stated that they used the plans. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high use of inhaled corticosteroids, the majority of children had poorly controlled asthma. The poor control group had more exposure to tobacco smoke and a worse psychosocial impact due to asthma. Few children had past asthma education and action plans, suggesting that there is a need to improve access to and tools for education.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intravenous enprofylline in the treatment of patients with acute asthma.

The safety and efficacy of enprofylline were studied in 55 moderately severe asthmatic patients [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) no more than 50% of predicted values] presenting with an acute attack. A bolus injection of 1.5 mg/kg enprofylline was given over 20 min and then maintenance infusion of 0.4 mg/kg.h enprofylline for up to 24 h. On admission, 200 mg hydrocortisone was administered intravenously and additional oxygen and/or inhaled beta 2-agonist therapy was permitted after 1 h; this additional therapy was given to 39 patients. The bolus injection increased the PEFR from 121 +/- 44 l/min to 164 +/- 49 l/min at 20 min, with a further improvement during the maintenance infusion to 200 +/- 79 l/min at 24 h. Heart rate and blood pressure decreased towards normal in parallel with the improvement in lung function. The mean steady-state enprofylline plasma concentration was slightly higher than predicted. The mean renal clearance and recovery of enprofylline from urine were in good agreement with results previously obtained from healthy Caucasian subjects.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hospital readmission among older medical patients in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors for hospital readmission among older medical patients in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Cohort study. SUBJECTS: 1,204 consecutive hospital medical patients aged 70 years and over in Hong Kong. PROCEDURES: Subjects were interviewed by a research nurse on discharge, and were followed up for six months. OUTCOME: Unplanned hospital readmissions were identified and classified as avoidable or unavoidable. The risk factors for early (within 28 days), recurrent (three or more) and avoidable readmissions were studied by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-five patients (37.7%) had at least one readmission in six months; 18%, 6.4%, and 2.9% of subjects had early, recurrent and avoidable readmissions respectively. Recent hospital stay predicted all types of readmissions. Early readmission was predicted by length of stay, Barthel index (assessment of physical and mental function) and unresolved medical problems. Recurrence readmission was predicted by poor family support, residence in a home for the elderly and unresolved medical problems. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital readmission may be prevented by ensuring adequate length of stay, so that medical problems are resolved before discharge.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An observational study of sun and heat protection during Canada Day outdoor celebration, 2003.

Attendance at summer outdoor mass gatherings may lead to heat- and sun-related illness. The purposes of this study were: (1) to estimate the proportion of people in attendance at the 2003 Canada Day celebration in the National Capital Region who used sun and heat protective items; (2) to identify factors associated with the utilization of these protective items; and (3) to provide research data to public outdoor event organizers when developing evidence-based plans for safer events. A naturalistic observational cross-sectional method was used to gather information at the 2003 Canada Day celebration in the National Capital Region on attendees' demographics, the sun and heat protective items they used and the protective resources available at the event sites. Of the 398 observed attendees, the proportion using any one of the protective items ranged from 3 percent (an open umbrella) to 51.5 percent (sunglasses). Females were more likely to use protective items more than males, and adults more likely than children. Planners of public outdoor events should consider the factors that influence the utilization of sun and heat protective behaviours and the environmental modifications that would allow participants to make safe choices.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variations of histamine release in an atopic population. I. Clinical situation and seasons.

Two hundred and twenty-six patients (195 asthmatics and 31 rhinitics) sensitive to D. pteronyssinus were studied. Histamine release tests were performed on them and the results obtained were analyzed with respect to 3 variables: clinical situation (symptomatic and asymptomatic), diagnosis (asthma or rhinitis), and the month of extraction. There were no significant differences between the total and basal histamine in the various groups. The symptomatic individuals (48.66 +/- 29.66 ng/ml) released a greater amount of histamine than the asympomatic group (39.47 +/- 21.07 ng/ml) (p less than 0.05). There was no difference with regards to the diagnosis, although symptomatic asthmatics released more histamine than active rhinitics (p less than 0.01). These patients released more histamine during spring and autumn than during the other two seasons.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variations in antigen-specific histamine release related with immunotherapeutic treatment.

The present study analyzes the variations in the percentage of histamine release of 34 allergic patients receiving immunotherapy; the determinations were realized at two different periods of their immunotherapeutic treatment, that is, at an average of 18 months (mite allergy group) and 12 months (grass allergy group) after the first determination. We found that the percentage of histamine release decreased significantly in the second determination in relation to the first, and that this decrease was more intense when more time elapsed between both determinations.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variations of histamine release in an atopic population. II. Clinical situation according to age and duration of immunotherapy.

Mediators released as a consequence of allergen-IgE interaction constitute the elements responsible for the clinical manifestations of allergic diseases. To date, numerous mediators have been described although histamine is the fundamental agent in the majority of these reactions. In the present work, we analyzed the influence of 3 different factors (sex, age and duration of immunotherapy) on "in vitro" antigen-specific histamine release. The study was done on 226 individuals mono-sensitized to Dermatophagoides. Of these patients, 195 were asthmatics and 31 rhinitics; their ages ranged between 1 and 72 years, with an average of 21.87 +/- 15.36. There were no significant differences in histamine release capacity in relation to the patient's sex. As to age, there were marked differences in patients older than 40 years; these patients released less histamine (in percentage as well as in total levels) than those patients with less than 20 years of age, with a probability of less than 0.05. When comparing the different groups studied in relation to the time of immunotherapy, we found a statistically significant decrease in histamine release percentages between those patients with less than 1 year of immunotherapy and those with more than 3 years (p less than 0.05), reaching a reduction of 16.33%.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IgG4: characteristics and its role in allergic diseases.

We present a review on the knowledge accumulated since Parish described the existence of an anaphylactic antibody with properties different from that of IgE. We analyze its biologic and physicochemical characteristics and state its possible dual action such as anaphylactic and blocking antibody. Likewise we point out its etiologic role in the different allergic diseases stressing its participation in atopic and nonatopic bronchial asthma.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of immunotherapy on antigen-specific IgG4 in asthmatics sensitive to D. pteronyssinus.

The aim of this paper is to study the optical density (O.D.) values, correlated with an ELISA system to determine specific IgG4 levels against D. pteronyssinus in the serum of 20 control subjects, 35 asthmatic patients without previous immunotherapy (I.T.) and 77 patients who had variable periods of I.T. The group of non-treated patients showed specific IgG4 levels which were significantly higher than those of the control group (p less than 0.05). In this group of patients, 31.43% of the cases showed levels superior to the control group. All treated patient groups showed specific IgG4 levels which were significantly higher than those of the control group and than those of the non-treated patients, with various levels of significance (see Table IV). Of the asthmatic patients with I.T. as a whole group, 59.74% showed O.D. levels superior to the control group. The highest level of specific IgG4 was found in the patient group with the longest time of I.T. There was no significant correlation between the specific IgG4 levels with the different immunologic parameters (cutaneous reactivity, HRT, total and specific IgE). As for the clinical picture, there were no significant differences in comparing active with inactive patients during the period of study. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels observed between patients with a good clinical course and those who did not respond favourably, although all the groups of patients with a good response had higher specific IgG4 levels. This way, these antibodies may play the role of a blocking agent.

Adolescent↗