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Biomedical subjects

K S Cheng

Publications and source records attributed to K S Cheng.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

University of Wisconsin solution extends lung preservation after prostaglandin E1 infusion.

University of Wisconsin (UW) solution has been demonstrated to enhance and extend the preservation of the hepatic, pancreatic, renal, and cardiac allografts. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), which has been used to produce pulmonary vasodilatation, has improved preservation in lung transplantation. Experiments were designed to evaluate their potential role in 24-h preservation of the allografts in lung transplantation. Thirty-six dogs underwent left lung transplantation. The donor lungs (n = 6 in each group) were flushed with UW solution (group 1 and 2) or modified Euro-Collins (EC) solution (group 3) after PGE1 infusion (500 micrograms). In group 1, donor lungs were transplanted immediately. Lung allografts of group 2 and 3 were cold stored (4 degrees C) in the same preservation solution for 24 h in the inflated state and then transplanted. The right pulmonary artery and right main bronchus were ligated 1 h after completion of the transplantation, forcing the recipient dogs to survive with the transplanted left lung. The recipients were ventilated with an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.4 and end-expiratory pressure 10 cm H2O. Two dogs died prematurely in group 3, whereas all dogs in group 1 and 2 survived the experimental period. The arterial oxygen tension and saturation and dynamic lung compliance were significantly higher in dogs of group 1 and 2. Transplanted lungs of group 1 and 2 had significantly lower pulmonary vascular resistance, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, and wet/dry lung weight ratio. Histologically, pulmonary edema, congestion, sloughing of bronchial mucosa, and peribronchial and peripulmonary arterial hemorrhage were shown in lungs of group 3, but not in those of group 1 and 2. Airway mucosa and pulmonary vascular structure were well preserved in lungs of group 1 and 2. There was no significant difference between group 1 and 2 in lung functions, hemodynamics, or morphologic features. We concluded that PGE1 and UW solution could effectively extend lung preservation up to 24 h in this in vivo canine lung allotransplantation model.

Adenosine↗

A PC-based imaging system for automated platelet identification.

In this communication, a PC-based imaging system was developed for automatically identifying fluorescence-labeled individual platelets adherent to protein-coated surface under flow conditions. It is to eliminate the laborious and time-consuming task, and the subjective error of manual measurements. Based upon the features of adherent platelets, three passes of the image processing were developed for platelet identification. From the results, 90-95% accuracy could be routinely obtained. The platelet distribution and other related parameters could be easily extracted and investigated.

Algorithms↗

Effects of diazepam, psychosocial stress and dietary cholesterol on pituitary-adrenocortical hormone levels and experimental atherosclerosis.

We studied the effects of psychosocial stress (S) and diazepam (D) on plasma lipids, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and corticosterone (B) levels of cockerels fed an atherogenic diet (AD) consisting of 2% cholesterol plus 5% cottonseed oil added to plain mash (PM). Seventy-six eight-week-old DeKalb cockerels were randomly assigned to the following groups: I. PM; II. PM + D; III. PM + S; ;IV. PM + S + D; V. AD; VI. AD + D; VII. AD + S and VIII. AD + S + D. S was induced by housing two birds to a cage and pairing them to a different bird daily. D was administered daily by gavage. Plasma ACTH and B levels were analyzed by RIA. Aortic atherosclerosis was grossly graded on a scale of 0-4 and also by gravimetric planimetry. After 10 weeks: 1. S birds had a significantly higher incidence and severity (p less than 0.04) of aortic atherogenesis and elevated ACTH and B levels (p less than 0.001) compared to unstressed PM groups. 2. AD significantly elevated the plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and the lipoprotein cholesterol that was precipitated by heparin-manganese (LDL-C + VLDL-C), compared to initial and/or PM levels (p less than 0.001). AD birds had a greater incidence and more severe aortic lesions in comparison to PM groups (p less than 0.002). Plasma hormone levels were significantly lower in birds fed AD alone compared to controls and stressed birds. 3. D significantly reduced the severity of aortic atheroma as well as decreased hormone levels in all treated groups (p less than 0.001). Therefore, we conclude that aortic atherosclerosis in cockerels can be induced by S and/or AD, and D can markedly reduce atherogenesis under these conditions. Since both AD and D decreased plasma ACTH and B levels, the anti-atherogenic action of D in these birds does not seem to directly involve these pituitary-adrenocortical hormones.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Errors due to measuring voltage on current-carrying electrodes in electric current computed tomography.

Electric current computed tomography is a process for determining the distribution of electrical conductivity inside a body based upon measurements of voltage or current made at the body's surface. Most such systems use different electrodes for the application of current and the measurement of voltage. This paper shows that when a multiplicity of electrodes are attached to a body's surface, the voltage data are most sensitive to changes in resistivity in the body's interior when voltages are measured from all electrodes, including those carrying current. This assertion is true despite the presence of significant levels of skin impedance at the electrodes. This conclusion is supported both theoretically and by experiment. Data were first taken using all electrodes for current and voltage. Then current was applied only at a pair of electrodes, with voltages measured on all other electrodes. We then constructed the second data set by calculation from the first. Targets could be detected with better signal-to-noise ratio by using the reconstructed data than by using the directly measured voltages on noncurrent-carrying electrodes. Images made from voltage data using only noncurrent-carrying electrodes had higher noise levels and were less able to accurately locate targets. We conclude that in multiple electrode systems for electric current computed tomography, current should be applied and voltage should be measured from all available electrodes.

Algorithms↗

Electrode models for electric current computed tomography.

This paper develops a mathematical model for the physical properties of electrodes suitable for use in electric current computed tomography (ECCT). The model includes the effects of discretization, shunt, and contact impedance. The complete model was validated by experiment. Bath resistivities of 284.0, 139.7, 62.3, 29.5 omega.cm were studied. Values of "effective" contact impedance zeta used in the numerical approximations were 58.0, 35.0, 15.0, and 7.5 omega.cm2, respectively. Agreement between the calculated and experimentally measured values was excellent throughout the range of bath conductivities studied. It is desirable in electrical impedance imaging systems to model the observed voltages to the same precision as they are measured in order to be able to make the highest resolution reconstructions of the internal conductivity that the measurement precision allows. The complete electrode model, which includes the effects of discretization of the current pattern, the shunt effect due to the highly conductive electrode material, and the effect of an "effective" contact impedance, allows calculation of the voltages due to any current pattern applied to a homogeneous resistivity field.

Computer Simulation↗

Effects of meprobamate on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and experimental atherosclerosis.

The effects of the tranquilizer meprobamate (Equanil) on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and atherogenesis in cockerels fed an atherogenic diet have been investigated. Gross gradings (visually assessed blindly) of the atherosclerosis of the thoracic and abdominal aortas of the meprobamate-treated plain mash were significantly more severe than the untreated plain mash controls. There were no significant differences in the gradings of thoracic and abdominal aortic lesions in the atherogenic groups, whether treated with meprobamate or not. Microscopic examination of the coronary arteries of birds on the atherogenic regimen treated with meprobamate revealed that these birds had atherosclerosis similar to the atherogenic diet group.

Animals↗

Office myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion using 10% Xylocaine aerosol.

Acquiring adequate, safe and painless local anesthesia of the tympanic membrane for the purpose of myringotomy with or without insertion of a middle ear ventilating tube has been a challenge for the otologist. A simple technique using 10% Xylocaine aerosol has been successfully employed in 74 adults to perform this procedure in the office. No complications or side-effects were encountered. This method not only avoids the pain associated with local infiltration of anesthetics, but has made iontophoresis unnecessary.

Aerosols↗

The various effects of fractionated oxidized low density lipoproteins on the growth of smooth muscle cells in culture.

The effects of fractionated oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxidized LDL) on the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and their relationship to the formation of lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) as well as the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) were studied. VSMC were isolated from porcine aorta by explant culture. LDL was isolated from porcine blood by sequential ultracentrifugation and oxidized LDL was obtained by incubating LDL with 5 microM CuSO(4) at 37 degrees C for various lengths of time. Our results showed that LDL oxidized for 12 h and eluted from fast protein liquid chromatography at 43 min inhibited the growth of VSMC, and that LDL oxidized for longer than 48 h and eluted at 48 min stimulated the growth of VSMC. The formation of lyso-PC in the oxidized LDL correlated well with its stimulatory effect, suggesting that lyso-PC is responsible for the mitogenic effect of oxidized LDL. This stimulatory effect of oxidized LDL was inhibited by staurosporine, a PKC inhibitor. Treatment with oxidized LDL increased the activity of membrane PKC, but it decreased that of cytosolic PKC, suggesting the translocation of PKC from cytosol to the membrane in the presence of oxidized LDL. These results suggested that the oxidized LDL-stimulated VSMC growth was mediated by the formation of lyso-PC and the activation of PKC.

Animals↗

Improving cephalogram analysis through feature subimage extraction.

An MLP with a GA was proposed to extract feature subimages containing orthodontic landmarks. Simulated images and cephalograms were used to investigate its performance in comparison with the cross-correlation method. From the results of simulated image containing shapes with different geometrical conditions, it was shown that the fault tolerance of the MLP for rotation, scaling, brightness variety, and other anomalous deformations is good enough to overcome the clinical application problems. It was also shown that the stability, accuracy, and speed of this proposed algorithm are very promising. Moreover, the performance of the MLP can be significantly improved by collecting, more "representative" false patterns. The GA is a good approach to speed up the process of feature subimage extraction based on the fitness evaluated using the MLP.

Algorithms↗