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Biomedical subjects

I Chang

Publications and source records attributed to I Chang.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Comparative efficacy and safety of MAOIs versus TCAs in treating depression in the elderly.

This comprehensive study investigated both the role of antidepressant drugs in the treatment of affective disorders of later life and their safety with careful clinical and pharmacological monitoring. A 7-week double-blind comparison was made of the efficacy and safety of nortriptyline (a tricyclic), phenelzine (a monoamine oxidase inhibitor), and placebo. The results indicated a response rate of approximately 60% for both nortriptyline and phenelzine versus a 13% response rate for placebo. Anticholinergic side effects were more frequently reported in the nortriptyline group. Orthostatic symptoms were reported with similar frequency in both drug groups. Overall, both drugs were well tolerated.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Relationship of platelet MAO activity to characteristics of major depressive illness.

Sixty-seven patients (greater than or equal to 55 years of age) with major depressive disorder had pretreatment assays of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity. As in previous studies, women had higher MAO activity than men, and MAO activity was positively correlated with age. Patients with melancholia (DSM-III) had significantly higher MAO activity than those without melancholia. This finding may reflect the higher MAO activity associated with the symptoms of anhedonia and mood autonomy. Anxiety also was correlated with higher MAO activity, as was a positive family history of depression. In addition, postdexamethasone cortisol levels were correlated with platelet MAO activity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Persistence of the immunoprotective effects of leukemia X fibroblast hybrid cells toward leukemia in histocompatible mice.

Hybrids of ASL-1 murine leukemia cells and LM(TK-) cells, a cultured line of mouse fibroblast origin, stimulate partial immunity toward ASL-1 cells in (A/J X C3H/HeJ)F1 mice (F1 mice). Such mice ordinarily exhibit no resistance to the malignant proliferation of ASL-1 cells. Unprotected animals invariably die within 14-18 days after receiving as few as 200 ASL-1 cells. The hybrid cells, the mice used in the experimental studies and the leukemia cells used for challenge all share the same histocompatibility antigens. ASL-1 cells are H-2a; LM(TK-) cells are H-2k, both ASL-1 X LM(TK-) hybrid cells and A/J X C3H/HeJ)F1 mice are H-2a/k. The long-term persistence of the immunoprotective properties of the hybrid cells toward murine leukemia was investigated by using cells that had been in continuous culture for approx. 36 months. (A/J X C3H/HeJ)F1 mice injected previously with hybrid cells in continuous culture and then challenged with up to 10(7) ASL-1 cells survived longer (p less than 0.001) than mice who had not received hybrid cells previously. Some mice challenged with lesser number of ASL-1 cells survived indefinitely (greater than 200 days). The median survival time of F1 mice injected simultaneously with 10(7) hybrid cells and 200 or 2000 ASL-1 cells was significantly (p less than 0.001) prolonged as well, although the differences between experimental and control groups are less pronounced than if the hybrid cells were injected before challenge with ASL-1 cells. The hybrid cells like those freshly prepared continue to be rejected by histocompatible precipients. In no instance has there been evidence of a progressively growing tumor of hybrid cells in immunocompetent F1 mice. Hybrid cells like those investigated previously do form rapidly growing metastasizing tumors in immunodeficient nu/nu (BALB/c) or X-irradiated (550 R) F1 mice. The cells possess approx. 70 chromosomes (reduced from 85) including chromosomes identified as having originated in each parental source. Like (A/J X C3H/HeJ)F1 animals, they continue to express both H-2a and H-2k antigenic determinants.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Tympanoplasty in Korea (ossiculoplasty).

Three hundred and ninety three cases of ossicular reconstruction are presented. In the most favourable cases with both malleus handle and stapes present, this presents a closure of the air-bone gap to within 20 dB better than 80%. With connective tissue, underlay and fixation technique and staging are all important aspects of ossicular chain repair. Preservation of the function of the sound conduction mechanism in most favourable cases (malleus handle and stapes arch present) were improved by the employment of a sculptured, fitted incus prosthesis between the handle of the malleus and the head of the stapes.

Ear Ossicles↗
PubMed1977

Effect of dietary amino acids, casein, and soybean trypsin inhibitor on pancreatic protein secretion in rats.

Pancreatic enzyme output in response to various purified diets was studied in rats surgically prepared so that pancreatic secretion could be continuously collected, assayed and returned to the intestine. Intraduodenal infusion of phenylalanine and tryptophan alone did not stimulate secretion. Diets containing phenylalanine, tryptophan, a mixture of amino acids, or hydroxyzed casein, fed intragastrically, evoked a small pancreatic response that was similar to the response to a protein-free diet. intragastric infusion of a diet containing 18% casein stimulated a large initial secretion of enzyme that remained elevated throughout the 5.5 hour experiment. Addition of soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) to the diet increased the pancreatic response over that due to dietary casein alone. When pancreatic juice was diverted from the intestine, the large pancreatic responses to casein or to casein + SBTI were greatly reduced and the response was similar to that of the protein-free diet.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The usefulness of DST in predicting response to antidepressants: a placebo-controlled study.

Seventy-two out-patients, 55 years or older, suffering from major depression were treated with either nortriptyline or phenelzine for seven weeks under placebo-controlled double-blind conditions. The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered at baseline and at weeks 3 and 7 of treatment, and its usefulness in predicting and/or paralleling clinical response was examined. No correlation was found between baseline DST results and treatment response with antidepressants. Of 13 patients whose abnormal baseline DSTs normalized during treatment, six were responders and seven were nonresponders (P = 0.24). However, all (seven) patients whose DSTs persisted to be abnormal throughout the seven weeks did not respond. The authors conclude that the DST has not been shown to have practical value as an indicator of impending recovery from major depression in the elderly, but its failure to normalize may have ominous prognostic significance.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attrition in a follow-up study of driving while impaired offenders: who is lost?

High attrition rates seriously threaten the validity of follow-up studies of criminal justice populations. This study examines attrition from a follow-up study of drink-driving offenders referred 5 years earlier to a screening programme. The aim of the study was to determine which factors are most closely associated with: (1) inability to locate subjects, (2) subjects' refusal to participate; (3) the manner in which subjects refuse. Logistic regression models compared the following groups of subjects: located vs not located; interviewed vs not interviewed; type of refusal (direct vs indirect). Independent variables included gender, age group, ethnicity, whether the subject had a telephone, compliance with and completion of the screening programme, alcohol dependence or abuse diagnosis vs no diagnosis, breath-alcohol level (BAL) at the time of arrest, and whether the subject had an outstanding arrest warrant. Some factors (younger age, screening compliance, Mexican national ethnicity, and having an outstanding arrest warrant) predicted both inability to locate and type of refusal. Hispanic ethnicity and having a telephone predicted better success with locating subjects. Among refusers, non-Hispanic whites were more likely than other ethnic groups to refuse directly, and those with warrants were more likely to refuse indirectly. Non-compliance with the screening programme was also associated with differential follow-up rates. Neither arrest BAL nor alcohol diagnoses was associated with differential rates of follow-up. We conclude that alcohol diagnosis does not appear to influence successful follow-up in this criminal justice population. Rather, tracking and interviewing challenges differed among ethnic groups, suggesting a need for culturally sensitive recruitment strategies in these populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol use inventory: screening and assessment of first-time driving-while-impaired offenders. I. Reliability and profiles.

This study evaluated the use of the Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI) in a drink-driving offender population court-mandated to attend a screening programme. We compared offenders' scale scores, reliability statistics and profiles to those from two clinical populations on which the AUI was normed. Among offenders, males and females had similar levels of involvement with alcohol, and Native Americans had higher scale scores than other ethnic groups. Comparisons with the normative population revealed lower mean scale scores and lower reliability scores among offenders. Differences between the offender and normative populations were most pronounced for the primary scales. We also found inconsistencies in offenders' responses to certain questions. To address this, we recommend that, when using the AUI for screening offenders: (1) screeners place more emphasis on second- and third-order scales than primary scales; (2) lower cut-off points be used for identifying problem drinkers; (3) counsellors conduct in-person interviews with clients to develop rapport and encourage self-disclosure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol use inventory: screening and assessment of first-time driving-while-impaired offenders. II. Typology and predictive validity.

This study evaluated the use of Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI) for driving-while-impaired (DWI) screening, by determining whether DWI offenders (n = 1644), grouped according to their reported alcohol involvement on the AUI, would have different rates of recidivism in a 5-year follow-up. Cluster analysis using the six second-order scales produced six groups (clusters 1-6) described as the Low-Profile (50%), Alcohol-Preoccupation (14%), Enhanced (22%), Enhanced-Disrupt (9%), Anxious-Disrupt (3%), and High-Profile (1%) types. They were characterized by different sociodemographic profiles. Members of cluster 4 were associated with the highest DWI recidivism rate (40%), committing one or more further DWI, and clusters 5 and 6 were associated with the highest rate of committing two or more DWIs. Rates of subsequent traffic convictions and crashes were, however, not statistically different among the clusters. Predictors of DWI recidivism included male gender, young age, less-educated, high blood-alcohol concentration at arrest, and clusters of 3 and 4. Different typologies indicated that the needs for treatment might be different. Evaluators should keep in mind the strength of AUI, use risk factors identified in the study, and take measures of test-taking defensiveness to enhance overall predictive validity.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-acne effects of Oriental herb extracts: a novel screening method to select anti-acne agents.

The acne-therapeutic effects of Oriental herb extracts were investigated in terms of antichemotactic effect on polymorphonuclear leucocytes, antilipogenic actions, antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes and resistance induction potency in the bacteria. The ethanol extract (0.01%) of Angelica dahurica markedly suppressed neutrophil chemotaxis, comparable to the effect of erythromycin (0.01%), whereas a strong antilipogenic effect was obtained with rhizoma coptidis (Coptis chinensis) extract (0.01%), leading to a higher efficacy than that of retinoic acid (0.01%). Interestingly, only Glycyrrhiza glabra showed a remarkable antibacterial activity against P. acnes, resulting in negligible induction of resistance, in comparison with a marked development of resistance in the bacteria treated with erythromycin. We suggest that an appropriate formulation containing A. dahurica, rhizoma coptidis and G. glabra could be helpful for the prevention and treatment of acne lesions.

Acne Vulgaris↗