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Biomedical subjects

K M Ho

Publications and source records attributed to K M Ho.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

An open non-comparative pilot study with azithromycin in the treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis in the sexually transmitted disease clinics in Hong Kong.

The aim of this study is to find out the efficacy and safety of azithromycin in the treatment of males with uncomplicated non-gonococcal urethritis. It is an open, non-comparative study carried out in the major sexually transmitted disease clinics in Hong Kong. The subjects were 45 male outpatients with clinical symptoms and signs of acute non-gonococcal urethritis. Patients presenting with acute urethritis were examined and non-gonococcal urethritis were examined and non-gonococcal urethritis was daignosed by the positive urethral smear for white blood cells but negative for gonococcus. They were given a single 1 gram oral dose of azithromycin at the clinic. Follow-ups after one and two weeks to examine for cure and adverse events were made. The result showed that 35 out of 42 evaluable patients were cleared of urethritis. Only 2 out of 22 chlamydial antigen positive patients still remained positive at the last visit. Adverse events were not uncommon but all were only mild. We concluded that 1 gram single dose of azithromycin was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis in male patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Interregional variations in measures of health from the Health and Lifestyle Survey and their relation with indicators of health care need in England.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the extent to which a range of routinely available need indicators which have been suggested for use in NHS spatial resource allocation formulas were associated geographically in England with the different dimensions of population health status collected in the 1985/86 Health and Lifestyle Survey (HLS). DESIGN: Regional health authorities were ranked according to each of the HLS health variables which varied significantly between authorities. The HLS health variables were regressed on a selection from the range of routinely available morbidity and socioeconomic indicators available from the 1981 census. The potential need indicators were also regressed on the health variables. SETTING: The analyses were undertaken at individual level and at regional health authority level in England. SUBJECTS: The study comprised the English component of the HLS random sample representative of the population in private households in Great Britain. MAIN RESULTS: The different HLS health variables did not yield consistent regional health authority rankings. Among the variables, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and self assessed health appeared to be associated with most of the other health and need variables except longstanding illness. Longstanding illness was not strongly associated with any of the other HLS health variables but appeared to show some association with three deprivation indices constructed from the 1981 Census. CONCLUSIONS: There may be a case for including a measure of chronic ill health in the new NHS system of capitated finance in addition to the all cause standardised mortality ratio which is used currently as a measure of need for health care.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1990

Fuzzy Logic for medical expert systems.

The use of linguistic approximation enables knowledge to be represented in a more meaningful way and this is especially important in medical domain as it involves a lot of subjective decision making; Fuzzy Logic, introduced by Zadeh, has the ability to represent this imprecise expression. In this paper, an alternative approach of Fuzzy Logic in handling the approximate reasoning in expert systems will be described. The approach does not use the General Modus Ponen on the compositional rule of inference, but instead it uses a collection of rules to specify the properties of the inference (in making decision). An example of medical domain is described as its application.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMed1988

Modification of DNA dynamics by platinum drug binding: a time-dependent fluorescence depolarization study of the interaction of cis- and trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) with DNA.

The interaction of calf thymus DNA with the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), and with the clinically ineffective trans isomer, is studied by time-dependent fluorescence depolarization spectroscopy of intercalated ethidium. The effect of the platinum compounds on the rapid torsional motions of DNA in solution is observed via depolarization of the ethidium fluorescence. The depolarization data are successfully analyzed with an elastic model of DNA dynamics and yield a value for the product of the torsional rigidity of the DNA and the friction factor for DNA twisting. The dependence of this quantity on the degree of platination of the DNA is determined for each isomer. At low levels of platination, the cis isomer increases the solute-solvent friction acting on the DNA torsional motions, which we attribute to local kinking of the helix axis at the sites of platination. At high levels of platination, the cis isomer decreases the torsional rigidity of the DNA, indicating that disruption of DNA duplex structure occurs under these conditions. The binding of the trans isomer to DNA has no effect on the torsional rigidity or the friction. The present results are compared with other findings on the interaction of these platinum compounds with DNA.

Cisplatin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effectiveness of wet wrap dressings using 0.1% mometasone furoate and 0.005% fluticasone proprionate ointments in the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in children.

Various types of dressings have been used successfully in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. In this study we looked at the efficacy of two of the newer topical steroids when applied under wet wrap dressings for the treatment of refractory atopic dermatitis in children. Forty children with moderate to severe disease were randomized to receive either one-tenth-strength diluted 0.1% mometasone furoate ointment or one-tenth-strength diluted 0.005% fluticasone proprionate ointment. These were applied once a day over a 4-week period without wet wraps, or for 2 weeks without wet wraps followed by 2 weeks of application under wet wraps. There was a 2-week period for all patients when the topical treatment was standardized. At weekly follow-ups, patients were assessed by a single, blinded observer and objectively scored for disease extent and severity. A subjective score was also given for the impact of eczema on daily living. There was significant improvement in the disease severity from baseline during the first 2 weeks of the open application arm (p=0.043), however, additional beneficial effects were limited after week 2. Wet wraps further improved the disease severity and extent after week 2 (p < 0.05), and were well tolerated. We concluded that both 0.1% mometasone furoate and 0.005% fluticasone proprionate ointments are effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, and that wet wraps are useful in further improving refractory disease in children.

Administration, Topical↗