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Biomedical subjects

H Kang

Publications and source records attributed to H Kang.

161 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Soft tissue sarcoma and military service in Vietnam: a case-control study.

A case-control study was conducted in men who were of draftable age during the Vietnam conflict to examine the association of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) with military service in Vietnam as well as other host and environmental risk factors. A total of 217 STS cases selected from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology were compared to 599 controls for Vietnam service, occupational and nonoccupational exposure to various chemicals, occupational history, medical history, and life-style (smoking, alcohol, coffee, etc.). Military service information was verified by a review of the patient's military personnel records. Other information was ascertained from a telephone interview with either subjects or their next of kin. Cases and controls were stratified on the basis of the hospital type (civilian, Veterans Administration, and military); the Mantel-Haenszel estimate of the odds ratio (OR), adjusted for the effects of the stratification variable, was calculated. Vietnam veterans in general did not have an increased risk of STS when compared to those men who had never been in Vietnam (OR, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.54-1.36). Subgroups of Vietnam veterans who had higher estimated opportunities for Agent Orange exposure seemed to be at greater risk of STSs when their counterparts in Vietnam were taken as a reference group. However, this risk was not statistically significant.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Aberration of monokine production and monocyte subset in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We measured the production of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and prostaglandin by adherent cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Compared to normal subjects, IL-1 production in the patients was lower but prostaglandin E1 production was higher. Furthermore, examination of monocyte subsets in patients with SLE using monoclonal anti-monocyte/granulocyte antibodies disclosed abnormal expression of membrane antigens on monocytes. It is speculated that aberration of monocyte function is related to impaired monokine production and that membrane antigens play a role in immunodysregulation in patients with SLE.

Humans↗

Effect of simultaneously ingested milk on phenytoin bioavailability.

Adverse gastrointestinal symptoms from milk may reduce the bioavailability of phenytoin. In a prospective crossover study, we studied the effect of simultaneous ingestion of phenytoin and milk in 12 patients with partial epilepsy and no adverse gastrointestinal symptoms. Serum phenytoin levels were measured at the start of the study and after 2 weeks. Patients then switched regimens, and a third phenytoin level was determined 2 weeks later. Serum phenytoin levels were similar for patients taking phenytoin with either milk or water.

Adult↗

Phenytoin binding and renal transplantation.

Limited data are available on the effect of renal transplantation on the abnormal phenytoin (PHT) binding found in uremic patients. We studied PHT binding before and after transplantation in eight patients. Return of PHT binding to normal correlated well with recovery of renal function. Correlations with serum albumin and free fatty acid levels were also studied.

Adult↗

[Clinical effects in 1136 cases of Beijing silicon rubber IUD and its effect on the endometrium].

Beijing Silicon Rubber IUD was designed by Xuan Wu Hospital and Beijing Silicon Rubber Manufacturing Research Institute in 1980. Animal experiments of the silicon rubber were done, and toxic effect studied before clinical use. 1136 cases were reported at the end of 12 months by 6 hospitals in Beijing. The followup rate was 93.75%. Life table of 12 months showed the cumulative continuation rate of the IUD was 82.45%, pregnancy rate 4.5%, expulsion rate 8.49%, removal for medical cause 3.9%, and removal for personal reasons 0.64%. Among the side effects, menstrual irregularity was 5.03%, blood discharge 6.35%, dysmenorrhea 11.95%, backache 31.1%, and leucorrhea 18.12%. Menstrual blood loss was measured in 30 cases before and after 1, 2, 3 months of insertion. The mean blood loss before insertion was 51.96 ml (51.71 +or- 15.95), while 1 month after insertion it was 62.9 ml (70.59 +or- 26.81), 2 months after insertion 71 ml, and 3 months after insertion 75 ml. The morphological endometrial change as compared with that by induced stainless steel ring is not much heavier especially in regard to glandular and stromal changes. The endometrial cytologic count of white cells of the IUD group (34 cases) in comparison with that of the control group (36 cases) was about twice as much in number. As Moyer reported, the endometrial cell count of IUD cases was about 6-10 times that of control cases. The authors consider that the cellular reaction of this IUD is not much greater than that of other types of IUDs.

Birth Rate↗

A role for BDNF in the late-phase of hippocampal long-term potentiation.

The neurotrophin family of growth factors has received enormous attention recently for its role in modulating synaptic strength in the developing and adult nervous system. Several recent studies have indicated a role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of long-lasting plasticity observed at synapses in the hippocampus and other brain areas. The late-phase (L-LTP; e.g. > 2 h) of LTP has been shown to require the synthesis of new proteins. We have examined whether BDNF or other TrkB ligands participate in L-LTP in two ways: by examining transgenic mice which lack BDNF or by acutely blocking TrkB function using function-blocking antibodies. Slices from BDNF knock-out animals or slices treated with TrkB antibodies failed to exhibit L-LTP, indicating that TrkB ligands participate in extending synaptic enhancement from a short-lasting to a long-lasting form.

Animals↗

Congenital linear steatocystoma multiplex of the nose.

We describe a case of steatocystoma multiplex with an unusual clinical manifestation. A 5-year-old girl had 8 papulonodular lesions arranged in a linear fashion on the left side of the nose. These had been present at birth. Histologically the lesions showed the typical features of steatocystoma multiplex. There was no family history of similar lesions. This is the second case of linear steatocystoma multiplex, a rare variant of steatocystoma multiplex.

Child, Preschool↗

Prevalence of chronic fatigue and chemical sensitivities in Gulf Registry Veterans.

More than 68000 of the 700000 veterans of the Gulf War have become members of the Veteran Affairs' Gulf War Registry. In 1995, we undertook a questionnaire study of the symptoms and medical histories reported by a randomly selected subsample of 1935 of these veterans to characterize their complaints. All results reported were based on questionnaire responses without face-to-face evaluation or physical examinations. Inasmuch as initial registry symptoms overlapped those of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, we also included standard questions for these syndromes in the questionnaire. A total of 1161 (60%) individuals responded, and there were no major demographic biases; therefore, 15.7% of registry veterans qualified for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in accordance with the 1994 Centers for Disease Control definition. In addition, 13.1% qualified for multiple chemical sensitivities in accordance with a widely used definition, and 3.3% of the respondents had both conditions. There were no effects of gender, race, branch, duty status (active or reserve), or rank, although Multiple Chemical Sensitivities was somewhat more prevalent in women and African Americans. The data gleaned in this study suggested that the unexplained symptom syndromes of Chronic Fatigue and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities may characterize an appreciable portion of the complaints of those who volunteered for the Veterans Affairs' Gulf War Registry, and further investigation is warranted.

Adult↗

Determinants of BDNF-induced hippocampal synaptic plasticity: role of the Trk B receptor and the kinetics of neurotrophin delivery.

The neurotrophins are a class of signaling molecules known for their growth and survival-promoting activities during neuronal development. Recent studies suggest that the neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), can also dramatically influence synaptic transmission in the adult hippocampus. The experiments described in this paper indicate that ability of BDNF to potentiate synaptic transmission in the hippocampus relies on functional Trk B receptors. Moreover, the rate at which BDNF is applied to hippocampal synapses is also a potent determinant of whether synaptic potentiation will result. Hippocampal slices perfused with BDNF at a very slow flow rate (e.g., < or = 25 ml/hr) did not show synaptic potentiation. Increasing the rate of BDNF application resulted in synaptic potentiation in which the magnitude and onset kinetics of the potentiation were determined by the rate of BDNF delivery. Immunocytochemical analysis of BDNF detected with confocal microscopy confirmed these electrophysiological observations, indicating that the penetration of BDNF into hippocampal slices is influenced dramatically by the perfusion rate.

Animals↗

Classification of complex features of febrile seizures: interrater agreement.

As part of a prospective study of febrile seizures, three independent pediatric neurologists rated each of 100 febrile seizures for the presence of complex features: focality, long duration (greater than or equal to 10 min), and occurrence of multiple seizures. Seizure descriptions were assembled from all information available in the medical record and from a semistructured interview of a person who had witnessed the seizure. Interrater agreement assessed by kappa indicated excellent agreement with regard to whether the seizures were multiple or prolonged (kappa greater than or equal to 0.85) and fair to good agreement with regard to focality (kappa = 0.61-0.78). Disagreement occurred most often regarding assessment of focality. Reasons for disagreement included variation in interpretation of lateral eye deviation, staring episodes, and motor asymmetries in the context of a bilateral convulsion.

Child↗

EEG abnormalities in children with a first unprovoked seizure.

We examined EEG findings from an ongoing study of 347 children with a first unprovoked seizure. EEGs were available in 321 (93%), and 135 (42%) had an abnormal EEG. EEG abnormalities included focal spikes (n = 77), generalized spike and wave discharges (n = 28), slowing (n = 43), and nonspecific abnormalities (n = 7). Abnormal EEGs were more common in children with remote symptomatic seizures (60%) than in those with idiopathic seizures (38%) (p < 0.003), more common in partial seizures (56%) than in generalized seizures (35%) (p < 0.001), and more common in children age > 3 years (52%) than in younger children (12%) (p < 0.001). Records including both awake and sleep tracings were available in 148 (46%) cases. For 122 (38%) only awake tracings and for 51 (16%) only sleep tracings were available. Fifty-nine (40%) of the 148 patients with both an awake and asleep tracing had abnormal EEGs. Of 50 such EEGs with epileptiform abnormalities, 15 (30%) demonstrated the abnormality either only while awake (n = 8) or only while asleep (n = 7). Of 17 patients with EEG slowing, 8 showed slowing only in the awake tracing and 9 showed slowing in both the awake and asleep tracing. Children with even a single unprovoked seizure have a high incidence of EEG abnormalities. Obtaining a combined awake and sleep EEG significantly increases the yield of EEG abnormalities. In children with an idiopathic first seizure, EEG abnormalities are associated with an increased risk of seizure recurrence.

Adolescent↗