Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S C Chung

Publications and source records attributed to S C Chung.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

One-year follow-up of duodenal ulcers after 1-wk triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori.

OBJECTIVE: to study the ulcer recurrence rate of Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers at 1 yr after eradication of the bacteria by triple therapy. METHOD: Patients with H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcers were randomized to receive either triple therapy for 1 wk plus omeprazole for 4 wk (Triple+OMP) (n = 78), or omeprazole alone (OMP) for 4 wk (N = 77). Patients were followed up every 3 months for symptom enquiry. At 1 yr, all asymptomatic patients were invited to attend for gastroscopy. RESULTS: At 8 wk, 16 patients in the OMP group and four in the Triple+OMP group had an ulcer. During the 1-yr period, 12 patients in the OMP group and no patient in the Triple+OMP group developed symptomatic ulcers. At follow-up endoscopy at 1 yr, another 10 ulcers were detected in the OMP group and two in the Triple+OMP group. Fifteen patients in the OMP group and 13 in the Triple+OMP group were lost to follow-up. In total, ulcers were detected in 39 of 61 (64%) assessable patients in the OMP group, and in six of 65 (9%) assessable patients in the Triple+OMP group after 1 yr (chi 2 test: p < 0.001). Of the patients whose H. pylori were successfully eradicated by Triple+OMP at 8 wk, 90% remained H. pylori negative at 1 yr. CONCLUSION: Triple therapy for 1 wk eradicates H. pylori infection and significantly reduces duodenal ulcer relapses.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy: prospective randomised trial.

Randomised assessment of new laparoscopic surgical techniques is difficult. Surgeons need time to become experienced with the methods and tend, when they have experience, to favour one or other approach. We have carried out a prospective randomised comparison of laparoscopic and conventional appendicectomy done by surgeons of comparable experience in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. Postoperative management decisions were made by surgeons other than the operating surgeon. 140 patients were randomly assigned to open (OA) or laparoscopic (LA) appendicectomy (70 each). The age, sex ratio, duration of symptoms, and proportion of patients with histologically confirmed appendicitis was similar in the two groups. Operating time was longer for LA than for OA (mean 70.3 [SD 21.9] vs 46.5 [25.9] min; p < 0.001). There were no major intraoperative complications in either group. 14 (20%) patients in the LA group required conversion to an open operation. No significant differences between the groups were found postoperatively for pain score, analgesic requirement, time to reintroduction of diet, or hospital stay. 46 LA patients and 42 OA patients attended follow-up 3 weeks after surgery. Similar proportions had returned to work (36 [79%] vs 31 [74%]). The frequency of wound complications and wound pain after leaving hospital was lower after LA but not significantly so. We conclude that the postoperative course after LA and conventional OA does not differ significantly.

Acetaminophen↗

Octreotide infusion or emergency sclerotherapy for variceal haemorrhage.

To compare octreotide with injection sclerotherapy in the treatment of acute variceal haemorrhage, patients admitted with gastrointestinal bleeding and oesophageal varices confirmed by endoscopy were randomised to receive either emergency sclerotherapy with 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate or octreotide (50 micrograms intravenous bolus plus 50 micrograms per h intravenous infusion for 48 h). At the end of the study period (48 h), the octreotide group also had sclerotherapy to obliterate the varices. 100 patients were recruited. Demographic features including the aetiology of portal hypertension and the Child-Pugh's grading of the two groups were similar. Bleeding was initially controlled in 90% of patients by emergency sclerotherapy and in 84% by octreotide infusion (95% confidence interval 0-19.5, p = 0.55). There were no significant differences between the two groups in early (within 48 h of randomisation) rebleeding (16% vs 14%), blood transfusion (3 units vs 3.5), hospital stay (5 days vs 6 days), or hospital mortality (27% vs 20%). No notable side-effects were associated with octreotide. We conclude that octreotide infusion and emergency sclerotherapy are equally effective in controlling variceal haemorrhage.

Adolescent↗

Proximal gastric vagotomy and anterior seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy assessed by the endoscopic congo red test.

The completeness of vagotomy following proximal gastric vagotomy or anterior seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy was assessed prospectively in 48 patients using the intraoperative congo red test. Pentagastrin (6 micrograms/kg) was given subcutaneously before the assessment. An endoscope was passed into the stomach and 180 ml congo red solution washed over the gastric mucosa. Continuing acid production was indicated by the appearance of a black colour (pH < 3) 2 min after introduction of the dye. A grading system was adopted where grades I and II showed little black discoloration and grades III and IV showed increasing areas of discoloration indicating that further denervation was required. All 20 patients undergoing anterior seromyotomy with posterior vagotomy were classified as grade I. Fifteen of an initial 23 patients receiving proximal gastric vagotomy were grade III or IV. Following division of either the right gastroepiploic nerve or the posterior vagal trunk, 22 patients improved to grade I (16) or II (six). In the subsequent five proximal vagotomies, modification of the dissection produced grade I results. Anterior seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy gave consistently complete vagotomy. The congo red test highlighted major differences in the adequacy of vagotomy achieved using various dissection techniques during proximal gastric vagotomy. The test is a useful, reproducible and simple intraoperative method for assessing the completeness of denervation.

Adolescent↗

Conventional versus laparoscopic surgery for acute appendicitis.

A total of 155 consecutive patients with suspected acute appendicitis were studied to compare laparoscopic and conventional operations. Patients were not randomized: laparoscopy was performed when a suitably trained surgeon and laparoscopic instruments were available. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was attempted in 51 patients and was successful in 46 (90 per cent); all conversions to open operation were because of marked inflammatory adhesions around the appendix. There were no intraoperative complications. Reintroduction of normal diet and discharge from hospital occurred earlier after laparoscopic than open surgery (P < 0.05). The requirement for analgesia after successful laparoscopic surgery was less than that after conventional appendicectomy, but the difference was not significant. The incidence of wound infection was reduced after the laparoscopic procedure (P = 0.06). It is concluded that laparoscopic appendicectomy is practical and may have advantages over conventional operation, although a randomized study is necessary.

Acute Disease↗

Gastric adenocarcinoma with ciliated tumor cells.

Ciliated metaplasia (CM) of gastric mucosa is common in Japanese individuals but rare in whites. We studied 36 consecutive gastrectomies from Chinese individuals for the presence of CM. The gastrectomies were performed for adenocarcinoma (n = 22), benign ulcer (n = 13), and malignant lymphoma (n = 1). Ciliated metaplasia was found in 16 (44.4%) of the stomachs, with equal distribution between male and female patients. Ciliated metaplasia was present in 11 cases (50%) of adenocarcinoma and in five cases (38.5%) of benign ulcer, the difference being statistically insignificant. Contrary to previous studies, there was no increased frequency of CM in gastric mucosa harboring an intestinal-type adenocarcinoma compared with those with non-intestinal-type tumors. Ciliated metaplasia always co-existed with intestinal metaplasia. Colonization by Helicobacter pylori was not associated with an increased incidence of CM. In five cases (22.7%) of adenocarcinoma ciliated tumor cells were found, and all of these cases showed CM in the gastric mucosa. In one of these cases the whole tumor was composed of glands formed by ciliated cells. In the other cases there was a morphologically different nonciliated component. The cilia in the tumor cells showed light microscopic and ultrastructural changes identical to those of the cilia seen in CM affecting the nonneoplastic gastric mucosa. This study documents for the first time the co-existence of CM and ciliated adenocarcinoma in the same stomach. It is concluded that in the Hong Kong Chinese population CM is commonly present in gastric mucosa harboring an adenocarcinoma or benign ulcer. Adenocarcinomas with ciliated cells are strongly associated with CM.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing sodium tetradecyl sulphate and ethanolamine oleate in the sclerotherapy of bleeding oesophageal varices.

The efficacy and side effects of 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STD) and 5% ethanolamine oleate (ETH) were compared in 95 patients admitted with variceal bleeding. The patients were allocated in a randomised fashion to one of the treatment groups when varices were identified which were either actively bleeding or had signs of recent haemorrhage. Endoscopic examination was performed within 24 hours of admission. The endoscopist had no knowledge of which sclerosant was used. Intravariceal injections of 2 ml aliquots up to a maximum of 20 ml were made in a double-blinded manner. Repeat injections were performed at weekly intervals until all oesophageal varices were obliterated. Bleeding was successfully controlled in 42/48 (87.5%) patients in the STD group and 41/47 (87.2%) patients in the ETH group after one session of therapy. Variceal obliteration was achieved after 3.3 +/- 1.3 sessions of STD and 4.5 +/- 1.9 sessions of ETH (p < 0.05 Student's t-test). Post-injection pyrexia was significantly more common in the STD group (42% vs 30% p < 0.05, chi-square test). There was no difference in the rates of subsequent oesophageal ulceration, stricture formation or perforation of the oesophagus. It is concluded that STD and ETH are both effective in controlling variceal haemorrhage, but STD obliterates the varices in significantly fewer sessions.

Double-Blind Method↗

The effect of the stabilization splint on the TMJ closed lock.

The mandibular manipulation technique and anterior repositioning splint are considered acceptable conservative therapies for an acute temporomandibular joint (TMJ) closed lock. However, an anterior repositioning splint will result in a corresponding change in occlusion, such as posterior open-bite. Furthermore, invasive treatments such as surgery have many complications. This article describes the effect of the stabilization splint with more conservative therapies, including the manipulation technique, wherein the complications are minimal. In this study, the authors used the stabilization splint instead of the anterior repositioning splint. They obtained acceptable results, including the increase of interincisal distance, a decrease in Fricton's craniomandibular index, and a decrease in Helkimo's clinical dysfunction index. Therefore, the treatment method that is composed of a stabilization splint, manipulation, moist heat, and exercise should be considered as the first choice of treatment for TMJ closed lock, as opposed to a repositioning splint.

Adolescent↗

Reliability and validity of the pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in the TMJ capsules by electronic algometer.

Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) of 39 normal subjects (20 males and 19 females) and 30 female patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) capsulitis (21 lateral and 25 posterior capsulitis) were examined by an electronic algometer. In normal subjects, statistically significant correlation coefficients were obtained from the values of intra-examiners and inter-examiners in both lateral and posterior TMJ capsules (p < 0.01). A comparison with data obtained from contralateral sides failed to demonstrate significant differences. Statistically significant differences were found between the PPT of normal female subjects and female patients with capsulitis in both lateral and posterior TMJ capsules (p < 0.01).

Adult↗

Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax complicating laparoscopic vagotomy. Report of two cases.

Two patients developed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum during laparoscopic vagotomy. One of the patients also had a pneumothorax which produced a sudden increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration preceding arterial oxygen desaturation. The pneumothorax was drained with an intercostal cannula. The patient required a twofold increase in minute ventilation to maintain normocarbia, probably because of the additional absorption of carbon dioxide through the pleural cavity. Despite the presence of a peritoneo-pleural communication, surgery was successfully completed. We believe that gas under tension in the peritoneal cavity dissected along tissue planes around the oesophagus opened up during surgery. Thus pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax are definite risks associated with this new procedure.

Adult↗

Lost stone during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: retrieval using a condom.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of gall stone disease. In this technique, the gall bladder is dissected free under laparoscopic vision and then extracted. We report an interesting complication that occurred during extraction of a gall bladder containing a large stone and a novel method of overcoming the problem.

Abdomen↗

Age-related differences in gastric acid secretion and response of gastric inhibitory polypeptide after oral glucose in male rats.

Effects of aging on the secretion of gastric acid and the response of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and insulin after oral glucose were studied. Male rats with the age of 3 and 20 months (mo) were fasted overnight before anesthetization with pentobarbital (25 mg/kg BW, ip). The right jugular vein was catheterized for pentagastrin infusion. A PE-320 cannula was introduced into the stomach through an incision in the duodenum and was ligated about 0.5 cm from the pylorus. The stomach was flushed through the esophagus cannula via a peristaltic pump with 10 ml saline at room temperature and then irrigated with saline. Acid output was determined by titration of the flushed perfusate with 0.01 N NaOH to pH 7.0. Basal secretions were collected for 45 min before intravenous infusion of pentagastrin (0.5 microgram/kg/min) for 90 min, then for an addition 45 min. In another experiment, rats were fasted for 4 hours before an oral glucose load (3.2 g/kg). Blood samples were collected from each animal via a jugular catheter at -10, 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min following glucose ingestion. The concentrations of plasma GIP, insulin and triiodothyronine (T3) were measured by specific radioimmunoassays. The plasma T3 concentration was decreased in male rats during aging. Pentagastrin infusion stimulated gastric acid secretion in both old and young rats. The spontaneous gastric acid secretion in 20 mo rats was not significantly different from that in 3 mo rats. However, the secretion of gastric acid in response to pentagastrin was greater in 20 mo rats than in 3 mo rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗

Randomised controlled trial of short term treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether one week's drug treatment is sufficient to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer. DESIGN: Single blind, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Specialised ulcer clinic in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 155 patients with H pylori and a duodenal ulcer verified endoscopically which had either bled within the previous 24 hours or was causing dyspepsia. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated randomly to receive either omeprazole for four weeks plus bismuth 120 mg, tetracycline 500 mg, and metronidazole 400 mg (all four times a day) for the first week (n = 78), or omeprazole alone for four weeks (n = 77). Further endoscopy was performed four weeks after cessation of all drugs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence or absence of H pylori (by urease testing, microscopy, and culture of antral biopsy specimens), duodenal ulcer, and side effects. RESULTS: Eradication of H pylori occurred in 70 (95%) patients taking the four drugs (95% confidence interval 86% to 97%) compared with three (4%) patients taking omeprazole alone (1% to 11%). Duodenal ulcers were found in four (5%) patients taking the four drugs (2% to 12%) and in 16 (22%) patients taking omeprazole alone (14% to 32%). Mild dizziness was the only reported side effect (six patients in each group) and did not affect compliance. CONCLUSIONS: A one week regimen of bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole is safe and effective in eradicating H pylori and reduces the number of duodenal ulcers four weeks after completing treatment.

Bismuth↗