Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Tsang

Publications and source records attributed to J Tsang.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Outcome studies for burn patients in Hong Kong: patients' satisfaction.

With the recent advances in burns treatment, many more survive the burn to experience pain, scarring, physical deformity, loss of function and psychological trauma. Pressure therapy prescribed by occupational therapists for more than 20 years in Hong Kong has proved its effectiveness in treating the visible scars. However, the inconvenience and impaired appearance that is brought about by these garments during the long phase of therapy bears some weight in worsening patients' social acceptance and happiness in life, also their families especially in children. The objects of the studies were to measure the subjective rating of the effectiveness of pressure therapy through patients' satisfaction towards treatment effectiveness and its effect on daily life. Seventy cases with burn injuries over 1 year previously were selected randomly among the centres for the survey. The scale used was ordinal from 1 to 6. Eleven items concerning treatment effectiveness, life at home, work and leisure aspects were questioned. Results were analysed into two streams-satisfaction towards pressure therapy and change of life satisfaction pre- and post-injury. Non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. Through the Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test and Cluster analysis, major determinants were identified. These factors also showed significant correlation with this demographic data. The conclusions helped to evaluate and improve the existing service in both the garment properties and our scope of therapy for these patients, especially in work rehabilitation and finally (sexual) counselling which should be addressed by a team with interdepartmental support.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

Lung water is increased in regions of higher neutrophil retention after acute bead embolization.

Previous reports have shown that neutrophils are retained in the lung after acute embolization and that these neutrophils play an important role in the subsequent formation of permeability pulmonary edema. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that acute embolic injury results in microvascular damage in lung regions with the greater retention of neutrophils. Seventeen pigs (20 +/- 2 kg) were embolized by injecting polystyrene beads (250 microns; labeled with 131I) into the right atrium over 5 min. Five pigs, which received no embolic beads, served as controls. Neutrophils (89 +/- 5% pure), isolated on Ficoll-Histopaque gradient, were radiolabeled with 111In-oxine. Twenty minutes after embolization, the radiolabeled neutrophils were injected into the right atrium along with 85Sr-labeled microspheres to mark the initial neutrophil distribution within the lung as well as the regional pulmonary blood flow at the time of their delivery. The animals were killed 50 min after embolization, and the lungs were removed, frozen over liquid nitrogen, and cut into 60 samples. The data show that after embolization regional neutrophil retention was inversely related to the regional blood flow but was not affected by the embolic load in the same region. Regional extravascular lung water was increased in regions of higher neutrophil retention, but the regions with increased edema did not receive a greater embolic load. These results show that microvascular injury occurs in the lung regions with the greatest neutrophil retention and that this increased retention of neutrophils is unrelated to the extent of embolization.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Evolutionary optimization of the catalytic properties of a DNA-cleaving ribozyme.

In a previous study [Beaudry, A. A., & Joyce, G. F. (1992) Science 257, 635-641], an in vitro evolution procedure was used to obtain variants of the Tetrahymena ribozyme with 100-fold improved ability to cleave a target single-stranded DNA under physiologic conditions. Here we report continuation of the in vitro evolution process to achieve 10(5)-fold overall improvement in DNA-cleavage activity. In addition, we demonstrate that, by appropriate manipulation of the selection constraints, one can optimize specific catalytic properties of the evolved ribozymes. We first reduced the concentration of the DNA substrate 50-fold to favor ribozymes with improved substrate binding affinity. We then reduced the reaction time 12-fold to favor ribozymes with improved catalytic rate. In both cases, the evolving population responded as expected, first improving substrate binding 25-fold, and then improving catalytic rate about 50-fold. The population of ribozymes has undergone 27 successive generations of in vitro evolution, resulting in, on average, 17 mutations relative to the wild type that are responsible for the improved DNA-cleavage activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Proteinuria and renal function in diabetic patients fed a diet moderately restricted in protein.

Protein restriction has been used in the treatment of renal disease and may also be beneficial in the management of diabetic nephropathy. We evaluated the effects of moderate protein restriction (0.6 g/kg ideal body weight per day) for a 3-mo period on renal function in seven diabetic patients. Moderate protein restriction led to a decrease of approximately 50% in the albumin excretion rate in patients with overt proteinuria or microalbuminuria. This decrease occurred in some patients without a decrease in glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, or plasma albumin concentration and may reflect subtle changes in filtration properties or permeability of glomeruli. In this pilot study moderate protein restriction has marked effects on albumin excretion irrespective of the initial degree of renal impairment. It is therefore suitable for longer-term study of its effects on the progression of renal disease in both patients with overt and incipient diabetic nephropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Alveolar epithelial damage. A critical difference between high pressure and oleic acid-induced low pressure pulmonary edema.

The present study was designed to compare high pressure pulmonary edema (HPPE) and oleic acid-induced low pressure pulmonary edema (OAPE) in dogs when similar amounts of extra vascular water were present in the lung. The high pressure edema was produced by intravenous fluid overload and by inflating an aortic balloon catheter (n = 6). The low pressure edema was produced by the injecting 0.08 mg/kg oleic acid suspended in 5 ml saline (n = 6). Comparison of the difference between initial control measurements and final measurements in the edematous states showed that the animals with OAPE had a greater fall in percent oxygen saturation and a greater increase in shunt fractions. The light microscopic studies showed that OAPE was associated with greater amounts of alveolar flooding than HPPE where the edema fluid was located to a greater extent in the peribronchial interstitial space. The electron microscopy studies showed that the alveolar flooding in OAPE was associated with epithelial disruption, and tracer studies carried out in rabbits showed that dextran (150,000 mol wt) could pass from blood to airspace and that dextran (40,000 mol wt) could pass from air-space to blood in OAPE. We conclude that epithelial disruption is responsible for the excessive alveolar flooding in OAPE and that this results in a greater impairment in gas exchange.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Starch peritonitis--a hazard of surgical glove powder.

Starch peritonitis, a granulomatous reacton to surgical glove powder, is reported in four patients. The condition presents as a well defined clinical syndrome, and should perferably be diagnosed clinically to avoid reoperation and the risk of introduction of more starch. Studies show that a mean of 107 mg of starch per pair is present on the outside of Austrailn-made surgical gloves. It is suggested that gloves be rinsed and dried before operation and it is recommended that a warning to this effect be printed on glove packets.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Growth-dependent alterations in oligomannosyl cores of glycopeptides.

Mannose-labeled glycopeptides from the surface of growing and nongrowing human diploid cells (KL-2) were separated into neutral glycopeptides and acidic glycopeptides by paper electrophoresis. Growth-dependent alterations occurred in oligomannosyl cores in the neutral glycopeptides; namely, the neutral glycopeptides from the surface of growing cells were more resistant to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase D but were more susceptible to alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24; alpha-D-mannose mannohydrolase) than those derived from the surface of nongrowing cells. Another growth-dependent change was found when the endoglycosidase-resistant material from acidic glycopeptides was compared by paper electrophoresis at pH 1.9. The material from the surface of nongrowing cells contained a component that was absent or greatly reduced in growing cells.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Delayed diaphragmatic herniation masquerading as a complicated parapneumonic effusion.

Injury to the diaphragm following blunt or penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma is not uncommon. Recognition of this important complication of trauma continues to be a challenge because of the lack of specific clinical and plain radiographic features, the frequent presence of other serious injuries and the potential for delayed presentation. Delayed diaphragmatic herniation often presents with catastrophic bowel obstruction or strangulation. Early recognition of diaphragmatic injury is required to avoid this potentially lethal complication. The case of a 35-year-old man with a history of a knife wound to the left flank 15 years previously, who presented with unexplained acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and a unilateral exudative pleural effusion that was refractory to tube thoracostomy drainage, is reported. After admission to hospital, he developed gross dilation of his colon; emergency laparotomy revealed an incarcerated colonic herniation into the left hemithorax. Interesting clinical features of this patient's case included the patient's hobby of weightlifting, a persistently deviated mediastinum despite drainage of the pleural effusion and deceptive pleural fluid biochemical indices.

Adult↗