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Biomedical subjects

R T Ho

Publications and source records attributed to R T Ho.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Effects of magnesium sulfate pretreatment on succinylcholine-facilitated tracheal intubation.

Magnesium sulfate may prevent increase in serum potassium produced by succinylcholine and cause transient hypotension. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of magnesium sulfate on heart rate, blood pressure and hyperkalemic response following succinylcholine injection during tracheal intubation. Twenty patients, ASA class I-II, scheduled for elective surgery were equally and randomly allocated to two groups. Heart rate, blood pressure, venous and arterial potassium levels were measured immediately before intubation. Induction was achieved with fentanyl 2 ug/kg and thiopental 5 mg/kg i.v., and intubation was facilitated with succinylcholine 1.0 mg/kg i.v. In the magnesium group (group I), 60 mg/kg of magnesium sulfate was infused intravenously in 1-1.5 min immediately before succinylcholine injection. The control group (group II) received an equal volume of normal saline in the same way. Heart rate, blood pressure, venous and arterial potassium levels were measured at 1, 3, 5 and 10 minutes after intubation. The results showed that magnesium sulfate could attenuate the hypertensive response at 1 minute and the hyperkalemic response at 1 and 3 minutes following succinylcholine-facilitated intubation; the tachycardiac response at 1 minute after intubation could not be reduced by this agent. We concluded that bolus infusion of magnesium sulfate may be of help in reducing the hypertensive response during laryngoscopy and intubation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of P6 acupoint injection with 50% glucose in water and intravenous droperidol for prevention of vomiting after gynecological laparoscopy.

Postoperative vomiting causes patients distress and delays discharge after outpatient surgery. Although P6 electroacupuncture is recognized as having an antiemetic effect, its inconvenient instrumentation may limit its clinical applicability. The purpose of this study was to explore a simple and effective alternative method for control of postoperative vomiting in outpatient surgery. We prospectively compared the effect of P6 acupoint injection with 0.2 ml 50% glucose in water (G/W) and intravenous injection of 20 micrograms/kg droperidol for prevention of vomiting in 120 consecutive outpatients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy with general anesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated to receive P6 acupoint injection, i.v. droperidol, or nothing as control group. Both P6 acupoint injection and i.v. droperidol 20 micrograms/kg were found to have a significant antiemetic effect when compared with the control group. We conclude that P6 acupoint injection with 50% G/W is a simple and effective method for reducing the incidence of postoperative emesis in outpatient surgery.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of cytokine gene expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after activation with phorbol myristate acetate and phytohaemagglutinin.

Cytokines are important mediators involved in the development of effector cells and in the regulation of immune responses. The gene expression of these mediators in T cell subset has yet to be fully elucidated. Using sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the kinetics of cytokine gene expression in human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were examined. CD4+ T cells were more readily activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) than CD8+ T cells in terms of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) mRNA expression. Quantitative differences in cytokine gene expression between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were confirmed and higher levels of cytokine mRNAs were induced in CD4+ than in CD8+ T cells. Early induction of IL-2 mRNA was observed in both T cell subsets. The demonstration of different kinetics of cytokine gene expression illustrates one of the examples of the complexity of immunoregulation. The differential response of cytokine gene expression in different T cell subsets should be taken into consideration when clinical studies in cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells are interpreted.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Electro-acupuncture and postoperative emesis.

One hundred unpremedicated female patients of ASA grade 1 or 2 who underwent laparoscopy as outpatients were allocated randomly to one of four groups. All patients received general anaesthesia with fentanyl, thiopentone, halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen; suxamethonium was given to facilitate tracheal intubation. In the recovery room, group 1 (control) received no treatment; group 2 received electro-acupuncture at the P6 point (Neiguan) on the right side for 15 minutes, group 3 received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at the P6 point on the right side for 15 minutes and group 4 received prochlorperazine 5 mg intravenously. Any act of vomiting, including dry retching, during the first 3 postoperative hours was regarded as postoperative emesis. The incidence of postoperative emesis was 11/25 (44%) in group 1, 3/25 (12%, p less than 0.05) in group 2, 9/25 (36%) in group 3, and 3/25 (12%, p less than 0.05) in group 4. Our results suggest that electro-acupuncture is as effective as prochlorperazine, and may be better than transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, in reducing postoperative emesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Antagonism of the respiratory and analgesic effect of fentanyl produced by aminophylline.

Low-dose aminophylline may reverse the respiratory depression caused by morphine and fentanyl. High-dose aminophylline may decrease an animal's tolerance to painful stimulation. We postulated that fentanyl combined with low-dose aminophylline could result in adequate analgesia without the side-effect of respiratory depression. Twelve healthy volunteers were randomly divided into group A and group B each consisting of six persons. Group A received fentanyl 3 ug/kg and group B received fentanyl 3 ug/kg plus aminophylline 3 mg/kg iv. Arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) was taken as an index of respiratory status and the analgesic effect of fentanyl was estimated by measuring changes in maximum pain tolerance (MPT) using a pressure clamp device. The results showed that 3 mg/kg of aminophylline significantly alleviated the respiratory depression effect of fentanyl 15 and 25 min post-injection (P less than 0.05), without attenuation of its analgesic effect. The severe hemodynamic disturbance and acute reversal of analgesia, which may be induced by naloxone, were not observed. Our results suggest that aminophylline safely reverses the respiratory depression caused by fentanyl.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Gait ataxia as a presenting symptom of malignant epidural spinal cord compression.

A 68 year old man with prostatic carcinoma developed spinal cord compression. The sole presenting feature was painless gait ataxia indistinguishable from cerebellar ataxia. He was investigated for cerebellar disease but the correct diagnosis was made when he subsequently presented with paraplegia and classical signs of spinal cord compression. Surgical decompression failed to produce neurological recovery. We discuss the importance of recognizing this unusual presentation of spinal cord compression, its possible mechanism and evidence that it may be under-reported.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in damaged human liver and kidney tissues.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multipotent factor involved in tissue regeneration, tumor invasion and a lot of cellular repair processes. Recent studies revealed that interleukin 6 (IL-6) level was elevated in damaged human liver and kidney tissues. Since IL-6 is the major cytokine involved in cellular response to tissue injuries, its relationship with HGF in damaged human liver and kidney is suspected. METHODOLOGY: We examined the RNA transcripts of HGF and IL-6 in 16 hepatic and 5 renal tumor tissues using in situ hybridization techniques. RESULTS: Either HGF or IL-6 RNA transcripts was prominently detected in 86% of the samples (14 liver and 4 kidney). Intense signals were found in malignant cells. In liver tissues, intense signals were detected at the rim of regeneration, while in kidney tissues, signals were found in tubular and glomerular epithelium. Both HGF and IL-6 RNA transcripts were simultaneously detected in 11 hepatic (69%) and 4 renal (80%) samples. CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of the HGF and IL-6 transcripts suggests a close relationship of two cellular factors possibly with a complex genetic regulation.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗