Biomedical subjects

Robert Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Robert Chen.

57 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Lack of association between receipt of conjugate haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine (HbOC) in infancy and risk of type 1 (juvenile onset) diabetes: long term follow-up of the HbOC efficacy trial cohort.

We evaluated the effect of infant vaccination with HbOC Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine on the risk of onset of type 1 juvenile diabetes later in life by examining data from a large controlled prospective Phase III clinical efficacy trial conducted within Northern California Kaiser Permanente between 1988 and 1990. The overall study population included children who were offered the Hib conjugate vaccine (acceptors and refusers) as well as a cohort of children who were systemically excluded from the trial on the basis of their birth date. These children are now 10 to 12 years of age. We found no evidence that vaccination with Hib conjugate vaccine in infancy is associated with risk of diabetes later in life.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2002

Transcranial magnetic stimulation: a new investigational and treatment tool in psychiatry.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a new investigational technique used to explore various neural processes and treat a variety of neuropsychiatric illnesses. The most notable advantage of TMS is its ability to directly stimulate the cortex with little effect on intervening tissue. Single-pulse stimulation techniques can measure cortical inhibition, facilitation, connectivity, reactivity, and cortical plasticity, providing valuable insights into the cortical physiology. Repetitive TMS (rTMS) is currently being used to investigate cognitive processes and as a treatment tool in disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Both TMS and rTMS are safe and well tolerated. The most serious side effect of high-frequency rTMS is seizures. TMS represents an exciting new frontier in neuroscience research, providing insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders.

Brain↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Wheezing lower respiratory disease and vaccination of full-term infants.

PURPOSE: There have been speculations that increases in vaccinations have caused recent increases in wheezing lower respiratory disease during infancy. We assess possible associations between vaccines and incidence of wheezing in full-term infants. METHODS: We conducted a matched case-control study of full-term infants born into the Kaiser Permanente Northwest health plan during 1991-1994 and continuously enrolled for at least 12 months (n = 1366 case-control pairs). Potential cases of wheeze were ascertained from medical care databases and verified by chart review. Vaccinations, demographic factors, and wheeze risk factors were abstracted from charts. Adjusted relative risks of first onset of wheeze during post-vaccination exposure windows were estimated by conditional logistic regression. We also conducted case-series analyses of wheeze onsets. RESULTS: We found no evidence that risk of wheeze during infancy is associated with recency of vaccination with whole-cell pertussis (DTP), hepatitis b (HBV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB), oral polio (OPV), or measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines. We also found no evidence that risk of first wheeze is associated with exposure to HBV or MMR. CONCLUSIONS: Recent increases in wheezing during infancy do not appear to be related to increases in vaccinations of full-term infants.

Age Factors↗