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Biomedical subjects

R J Chen

Publications and source records attributed to R J Chen.

118 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Increased catecholamine levels in cord venous plasma of distressed fetuses.

The concentrations of catecholamines in cord venous plasma were measured by trihydroxyindole fluorimetric assay in four fetuses with normal fetal heart rate (FHR) and three distressed fetuses with late deceleration of pathologic FHR. The concentrations (nmol/l) of norepinephrine and epinephrine in normal fetuses were 40.3 +/- 7.9 (mean +/- SD) and 5.4 +/- 1.5, respectively, whereas those in distressed fetuses were 156.8 +/- 48.0 and 12.1 +/- 4.5, respectively. In normal fetuses about 88% of total catecholamines consisted of norepinephrine, the remaining 12%, epinephrine. The ratio of norepinephrine to epinephrine in distressed fetuses (12.9) was thus higher than the ratio in normal fetuses (7.5). Higher levels of total catecholamine concentrations were associated with the presence of late deceleration of pathologic FHR pattern, low one-minute Apgar score, low umbilical arterial pH value (pH less than 7.20), and fetal hypertriglyceridemia (greater than 48 mg/100 ml). The relationship between fetal hypertriglyceridemia and elevated concentration of cord plasma total catecholamines is elucidated and the physiologic significance of increased secretion of catecholamines in distressed fetuses is discussed.

Apgar Score↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polymer-supported benzotriazoles as catalysts in the synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines by condensation of aldehydes with aromatic amines.

Four polymer-supported benzotriazoles were prepared by linkage of 5-(hydroxymethyl)benzotriazole and benzotrizaole-5-carboxylic acid with Wang resin, Merrifield resin, and (monomethoxy)poly(ethylene glycol). The solid-phase and liquid-phase syntheses of tetrahydroquinolines were achieved by two-pair coupling reactions of aldehydes and aromatic amines using these polymer-supported benzotriazoles as the promoters. The ether-type benzotriazole prepared by loading 5-(hydroxymethyl)benzotriazole onto Merrifield resin turned out to be the catalyst of choice. Thus, a series of tetrahydroquinoline products were obtained in high purity by simple filtration, and the resin was recovered for reuse without loss of activity.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CT grading of blunt pancreatic injuries: prediction of ductal disruption and surgical correlation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to devise a CT grading scheme for blunt pancreatic injuries (BPIs) and to apply it to predict the presence or absence of ductal disruption. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 22 patients with proven BPIs. We graded these injuries on CT (A, BI, BII, CI, and CII) based on the (a) presence or absence of pancreatic lacerations, (b) site of lacerations, and (c) depth of lacerations. CT grading was correlated with surgical findings for glandular and ductal injuries. RESULTS: Main pancreatic ducts were intact in 2 patients with normal CT scans and in all grade A injuries (n = 10). Distal pancreatic ducts were disrupted in all grade B injuries (BI, n = 1; BII, n = 4). Of five grade C injuries, three CII injuries had disruption of proximal pancreatic duct, one CII injury had disruption of minor duct, and one CI injury had an intact ductal system. CONCLUSION: CT grading of BPIs was useful in predicting ductal integrity or disruption. Ductal disruption was likely present if the pancreas appeared to have a transection or deep laceration on CT scans. It was accurate in grade A and B injuries. Overestimation could occur in grade CI and CII injuries.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement of human chorionic gonadotropin by carboxyl terminal peptide assay in patients with cervical neoplasm.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by preinvasive cancer and the early stages of invasive cancer. One hundred and fifty-two patients with either various grades of preinvasive cervical carcinoma or microinvasive carcinoma, and 46 normal women used as controls, were enrolled in this study. A carboxyl terminal peptide beta-hCG (CTP-beta-hCG) assay with a sensitivity of 0.2 mIU/mL was used to measure serum levels. The results showed that the serum beta-hCG levels among normal control, preinvasive carcinoma and microinvasive carcinoma patients were not statistically different. Among the factors tested, including the interval since the last menstrual period, age, menopausal status, contraception method and diagnosis, serum hCG levels only correlated with the first factor. Preinvasive cervical carcinoma and microinvasive carcinoma did not result in significantly increased hCG secretion. At present, the CTP-beta-hCG assay is of limited value in the diagnosis of these diseases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary ovarian cancer at National Taiwan University Hospital: 1980-1989.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is a silent killer. Most of the patients came with advanced stages. The retrospective review here was for a better understanding of the current situation of ovarian cancer patients treated at National Taiwan University Hospital. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-seven patients with primary ovarian cancer were treated at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1980 to 1989. Medical records were reviewed thoroughly. The WHO histological classification and FIGO staging system (1987) were used. RESULTS: The ages at diagnosis ranged from 2 to 87 years. Peak incidence was noted between 50-59 years. According to the WHO histological classification, the distribution of histological types included 79.1% epithelial, 4.3% sex-cord stromal tumors, 0.5% lipid cell, 12.8% germ cell, and 3.2% non-specific soft tissue origin. Based on FIGO staging system, 31.6% of the patients were in stage I, 11.2% in stage II, 40.6% in stage III and 16.6% in stage IV. Mean ages for common epithelial, non-epithelial, and germ cell ovarian cancers were 49, 26, 23 years, respectively. Cytoreductive surgery was done in 47.4% of stage I, 23.8% of stage II, 15.8% of stage III, and 12.9% of stage IV. The leading treatment modality was surgery plus chemotherapy, which was performed in 50.3% of whole series. Survival in patients with ovarian cancer is a function of clinical stage and histologic type. The 5-year observed survival rates for stage I to IV were 76.3%, 59.9%, 9.1%, and 4.3% respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 29.4% for epithelial ovarian cancer, 51.4% for non-epithelial ovarian cancer, and 64.5% for germ cell tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis and survival rate are still unsatisfactory despite the various modalities of treatment. Further improvements need the development of methods for early detection and multiple modalities of therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Femoro-arterial bypass using Gott shunt in liver transplantation following severe hepatic trauma.

The heparinized-coated tube is widely used for arterial bypass, mainly in patients with aneurysms or trauma of the thoracic aorta. Its application in venous bypass was less frequent. We report a 26-year-old woman who sustained blunt abdominal injury which resulted in complete severance of the suprahepatic hepatic vein and multiple partial lacerations of the inferior vena cava. For hemostasis, total hepatectomy with interruption of the inferior vena cava was performed. During the anhepatic phase, end-to-end portocaval anastomosis and a bypass shunt using 9 mm Gott tube from the right femoral vein to the right atrium were set up for veno-venous bypass. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed later. Gott tube was placed for 18 hours with good venous return. We concluded that heparinized-coated tube is good for veno-venous bypass with the following advantages: 1) simple operative procedure, 2) enough flexibility to be kept out of the operative field, 3) no anticoagulant is necessary, consequently less bleeding resulted.

Adult↗