Biomedical subjects

L Shih

Publications and source records attributed to L Shih.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

International distance-learning outreach: the APEC EINet experience.

BACKGROUND: The Emerging Infections Network is a mature electronic network that links Public Health professionals in the Asia Pacific through regular e-mail bulletins and an extensive Web site (http://www.apec.org/infectious). Emerging infections is a new area of study; learning materials help foster education. Our objective is to quantify the response of the network to the introduction of distance-learning materials on the Web site. METHODS: Distance-learning materials, developed by the University of Washington School of Public Health, were field tested and launched on the site. Publicity was carried out prior to the launch of the materials. Access was tracked prospectively using server counts of page downloads. RESULTS: Web access increased substantially during the month after the materials were launched, especially among Asia based computers. The effect was isolated to the distance-learning pages, and not general to the site. CONCLUSIONS: This Web site appears to be responsive to the advertisement and to the materials. Prospective Web-site monitoring proved useful.

Asia↗

PubMed2001

Health literacy and shared decision making for prostate cancer patients with low socioeconomic status.

Quality of life (QOL) considerations are important in the treatment decision making process for prostate cancer patients. Although patient involvement in the treatment decision process has been encouraged, low health literacy can limit patient understanding of the complex information about treatments and their probable QOL outcomes and is a barrier to patient participation in the decision-making process. The objectives of the study were to evaluate (i) knowledge, level of satisfaction, and treatment preferences and intentions of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer after participation in a CD-ROM shared decision making program; and (ii) the relationship between prostate cancer knowledge and health literacy. Thirty newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients from two Veteran's Administration (VA) hospitals in Chicago completed a demographic questionnaire and participated in an interactive CD-ROM shared decision making program. Subsequently, knowledge of prostate cancer, satisfaction with the information in the computer CD-ROM program, treatment preferences, and likelihood of following treatment preferences were assessed using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Health literacy was assessed using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). The Pearson correlation test was used to assess the relationship between health literacy and prostate cancer knowledge. The chi2 test and the Fischer exact test were used to evaluate relationships between patient demographics and other variables. More than three-quarters of the patients rated the information in the CD-ROM as "very satisfactory" (highest possible rating). Two-thirds of the patients (21 of 30) selected a treatment after participation in the CD-ROM program and 90.5% of these patients stated that they were very or somewhat likely to adhere to their selection. However, prostate cancer knowledge was variable, with one-third of the patients scoring 69.9% or lower. Participants' health literacy was equivalent to a 7th-8th grade reading level (mean = 57.1+/-10.9), and more than one-third of participants (36.7%) had lower than 9th grade literacy levels. Participants' prostate cancer knowledge was correlated with health literacy (Pearson correlation rhor = 0.65, rhop = 0.0001). Patients were satisfied with the interactive shared decision making CD-ROM program, and two-thirds of patients were able to select a preferred treatment based on the information presented in the program that they intended to follow. However, prostate cancer knowledge scores varied among participants after participation in the CD-ROM program, raising doubts that patients were adequately informed to make appropriate choices regarding their treatment. Lower prostate cancer knowledge scores corresponded to lower literacy scores, indicating that low literacy may have hindered patient understanding of the shared decision making program. The development of shared decision making tools should include collaborative efforts with the target population to improve the success of shared decision making programs among patients with low health literacy.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Crossed nanotube junctions

Junctions consisting of two crossed single-walled carbon nanotubes were fabricated with electrical contacts at each end of each nanotube. The individual nanotubes were identified as metallic (M) or semiconducting (S), based on their two-terminal conductances; MM, MS, and SS four-terminal devices were studied. The MM and SS junctions had high conductances, on the order of 0.1 e(2)/h (where e is the electron charge and h is Planck's constant). For an MS junction, the semiconducting nanotube was depleted at the junction by the metallic nanotube, forming a rectifying Schottky barrier. We used two- and three-terminal experiments to fully characterize this junction.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Novel mutations in 13 probands with galactokinase deficiency.

Galactokinase is an essential enzyme in the metabolism of galactose. Patients with deficiencies in galactokinase exhibit early-onset cataracts. We examined the sequence of the human galactokinase gene (GK1) from 13 patients exhibiting galactokinase deficiency and identified 12 novel mutations. One of the mutations occurred in six of the 13 probands examined, and the remaining 11 were unique mutations. Expression of each of the mutant GK1 genes in Xenopus oocytes resulted in very low galactokinase activity levels. These results provide important information regarding the types of GK1 mutations that occur in the human population.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Localization of an antibody to CD74 (MHC class II invariant chain) to human B cell lymphoma xenografts in nude mice.

The tumor-specific localization of an anti-CD74 Ab, LL1, was demonstrated in nude mice bearing xenografts of human B-cell lymphoma. This Ab, conjugated to radionuclides emitting Auger electrons, including 125I and 111In, was previously reported to kill tumor cells in vitro effectively and specifically. The cytotoxic potency of this Ab is due to its uptake and catabolism at a very high level, which also affected the Ab biodistribution experiments. Thus, Ab localization to the tumor was only detected if a "residualizing" radiolabel was used, meaning a label that is trapped within cells, usually within lysosomes, after catabolism of the Ab to which it was conjugated. Similar results were obtained with three different residualizing labels: 111In conjugated via the chelators benzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) or 1.4,7,10-tetra-azacyclododecane-N, N', N", N"'-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), or 131I-dilactitol-tyramine, a residualizing form of iodine. The Ab protein dose could be high, 0.5 mg/mouse, without causing a decrease in specific tumor uptake, probably reflecting the high capacity for uptake. Moreover, tumors of moderate size were found to cause rapid, specific removal of the Ab from the blood, also a result of catabolic processes. This induced blood clearance naturally affected the Ab localization experiments, but this factor could be circumvented by increasing the Ab protein dose. Using a different Ab, anti-(mature MHC class II), the ability of Ab to penetrate relatively large solid tumors was investigated. Complete saturation of antigenic sites was observed in tumors up to 0.3 g in size, but quite high Ab protein doses were required, 5.0 mg/ mouse. These results provide a rationale for attempting therapy with radiolabeled LL1.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Awareness and utilization of the hepatitis B vaccine among young men in the Ann Arbor area who have sex with men.

The authors conducted a preliminary assessment of hepatitis B vaccination rates among men 18- to 37-years-old who have sex with men in a college town to determine what proportion were willing to be vaccinated. Participants, who were sampled in gay bars, gay advocacy groups, a swim team, and a dance club, completed a 25-item questionnaire. Sixty-seven percent were aware of the hepatitis B vaccine, yet only 22% had received the full series of three injections; only 37% had been tested for the virus. On a scale of 1 to 10 for willingness to be vaccinated (10 being most willing), 58% indicated a 10 (M = 8.5). Thirty percent indicated they received safer sex information from university health services, and 14% reported they had received hepatitis B vaccination information there. Hepatitis B vaccination of men who have sex with men in college towns should be a high priority for university health services.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Acromesomelic dysplasia Maroteaux type maps to human chromosome 9.

Acromesomelic dysplasias are skeletal disorders that disproportionately affect the middle and distal segments of the appendicular skeleton. We report genetic mapping studies in four families with acromesomelic dysplasia Maroteaux type (AMDM), an autosomal recessive osteochondrodysplasia. A peak LOD score of 5.1 at recombination fraction 0 was obtained with fully informative markers on human chromosome 9. In three of the four families, the affected offspring are products of consanguineous marriages; if it is assumed that these affected offspring are homozygous by descent for the region containing the AMDM locus, a 6.9-cM AMDM candidate interval can be defined by markers D9S1853 and D9S1874. The mapping of the AMDM locus to human chromosome 9 indicates that AMDM is genetically distinct from the two other mapped acromesomelic dysplasias, Hunter-Thompson type and Grebe type, which are caused by mutations in CDMP1 on human chromosome 20.

Bone and Bones↗

PubMed1995

Gunshot wounds of the temporal bone: a rational approach to evaluation and management.

Gunshot injuries of the temporal bone are uncommon but are being seen more frequently with the increasing incidence of violent crimes and use of firearms. A retrospective analysis of 43 consecutive patients treated at our institution with this injury was undertaken to determine the clinical symptoms, associated injuries, and treatment outcome. This is the largest series from a single institution treated by a single group during a brief period of time. Most of these patients had injury to various structures within and around the temporal bone, including hearing loss (29), intracranial injury (23), facial nerve injury (22), vascular injury (14), and mandible fracture (6). Ocular trauma and paralysis of cranial nerves V and IX, X, XI, and XII were rare occurrences. A rational approach to the evaluation and management of these injuries will be discussed in detail to optimize outcome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Long-term surgical results for congenital aural atresia.

Thirty-nine primary surgical cases for correction of congenital aural atresia were reviewed for complications and long-term hearing results. Hearing averages of 25 dB for mild atresia, 40 dB for moderate atresia, and 46 dB for severe atresia were obtained. Serviceable hearing was achieved in 64% of the cases. The two most frequent complications were stenosis and recurrent infections of the cavity and canal skin, with an incidence of 33% and 31%, respectively. Use of split-thickness instead of full-thickness skin graft was associated with fewer complications. The goal of this review is also to share the experience of the senior author in the management of this complex problem.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Unilateral acoustic neuromas in childhood without evidence of neurofibromatosis: case report and review of the literature.

A six-year-old female with a unilateral benign acoustic neuroma and no evidence of neurofibromatosis is presented. Review of the literature revealed only 16 cases of unilateral acoustic neuromas in children less than 15 years old. Children often do not appreciate hearing loss when compared with adults. As a result, they often present with larger tumors, thus adversely affecting outcome. The need for early diagnostic tests and a hearing-conservation surgical approach is emphasized. Routine follow-up imaging studies are crucial to rule out the development of a contralateral acoustic neuroma in neurofibromatosis-2 (NF-2).

Audiometry↗

PubMed1991

Myringoplasty in children.

This series examines the results of myringoplasty in children using the overlay technique. Controversy still surrounds the issue of proper timing of surgery on the basis of preoperative assessment of tubal function. Results of this technique in children, using contralateral ear status as the primary predictor of success, found an overall success rate of 78%. Age appears to be a significant factor because children 10 years old and younger were found to have a higher incidence of surgical failures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Carcinoma of the external auditory canal: an update.

This review is a continuation of the series of 35 cases of carcinoma of the external auditory canal originally reported by the senior author and colleagues. Eighteen additional cases have been evaluated and treated since 1976. Preoperative high-resolution computed tomographic scanning has replaced polytomography, and improved surgical skull base approaches have allowed for extended resections of advanced lesions. A revised classification for local and extensive lesions is presented. The prognosis for localized tumors treated by en bloc resection remains excellent, whereas prognosis for extensive lesions might be more dependent on histologic type and grade of tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1988

Effects of maternal cocaine abuse on the neonatal auditory system.

Eighteen neonates born to cocaine-abusing mothers were tested for peripheral and brainstem auditory dysfunction using auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Their data were compared to ABRs from 18 normal neonates. The ABR data were analyzed to determine if ABR parameters were abnormal in neonates born to cocaine-abusing mothers in comparison to normal neonates. ABRs from neonates exposed to maternal cocaine abuse show prolonged interpeak latencies and prolonged absolute latencies. These abnormalities indicate neurologic impairment or dysfunction that warrants further audiologic and neurologic follow-up.

Audiometry, Evoked Response↗

PubMed1988

Management of vertigo in patients with syphilis: is endolymphatic shunt surgery appropriate?

Endolymphatic shunt surgery has been suggested as a means to relieve vertigo caused by syphilis in patients unresponsive to conventional medical therapy. We reviewed results of endolymphatic shunt surgery on vertigo and hearing in six patients with syphilis. We found no relief of vertigo in four patients who qualified for this measure and no improvement in hearing. Histologic review of temporal bones from three patients with syphilitic hydrops revealed syphilitic involvement of the endolymphatic duct system. This may explain why endolymphatic shunt surgery may not be beneficial.

Ear Diseases↗

PubMed1987