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S T Wang

Publications and source records attributed to S T Wang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Using the prevalence of an elevated serum alanine aminotransferase level for identifying communities with a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) is a widely accepted method for the diagnosis of HCV infection. However, it is too expensive to use in large-scale health surveys. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level to predict the prevalence of HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A sample of 6095 residents aged 35 years old or older in a small township of southern Taiwan, Republic of China, were examined in a community health survey. These persons were walk-ins to the government-sponsored stations after an intensive health promotion for this survey. Blood samples were obtained and analyzed for serum ALT levels. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV were determined by enzyme immunoassay methods. RESULTS: The overall prevalences of hepatitis B surface antigens(+), anti-HCV(+), and elevated ALT levels were 11.8%, 15.0%, and 7.5%, respectively. Among the 13 villages in this community, the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen(+) ranged from 6.8% to 17.3%, anti-HCV(+) ranged from 7.2% to 37.6%, and an elevated ALT level ranged from 5.8% to 16.5%. A strong positive correlation was found between the prevalence of an elevated ALT level and anti-HCV(+) (r= 0.91, Spearman rank correlation; P<.001). However, nearly 0 correlation (r= -0.05, P=.87) was obtained between the prevalence of an elevated serum ALT level and hepatitis B surface antigen(+). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of an elevated serum ALT level in a community is a strong indicator of its prevalence of anti-HCV(+), even in areas where there is a similar prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection. This result is useful for economically identifying hyperendemic communities with HCV infection.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2001

Activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis during dengue virus infection.

Dengue virus infection can induce mild dengue fever (DF) or severe dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) in human. The pathogenesis of hemorrhage in dengue virus infection is not fully understood. Since hemostasis depends on the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis, alternation of some coagulation parameters (platelet count and activated partial thromoboplastin time, APTT) as well as fibrinolytic parameters (tissue plasminogen activator, tPA and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, PAI-1) were compared in 8 DHF/DSS and 17 DF patients. Patients showed thrombocytopenia, APTT prolongation, and tPA increase in the acute stage of disease, indicating activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. The activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis in DHF/DSS patients was much more severe than DF patients. In the convalescent stage, a rise of PAI-1 level and platelet count with concomitant decline of tPA level and APTT returned to normal in both DHF/DSS and DF patients. Therefore, the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis during the acute stage of dengue virus infection is offset by the increase of platelet and PAI-1 during convalescent stage. Taken together, these results suggest that the degree of coagulation and fibrinolysis activation induced by dengue virus infection is associated with the disease severity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Reappraisal of the role of NM23-H1 in colorectal cancers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A number of evidence indicate that downregulation of the nm23-H1 gene may be relevant to metastatic progression of many kinds of human cancer. However, its role in colorectal cancers remains controversial. To address the issue, this study was performed to investigate the clinical relevance of nm23-H1 in patients with colorectal cancers. METHODS: Immunohistochemical expression of nm23-H1 protein product (NM23-H1) was studied in a total of 146 colorectal cancer patients and compared for its prognostic value at a mean follow-up of 54 months. RESULTS: There was no apparent correlation between NM23-H1 expression and clinicopathological indicators, including Dukes category, lymphatic metastasis, distant metastasis, histological grading, and tumor location (P < 0.1, respectively). In addition, determination of NM23-H1 expression status did not provide independent prognostic information compared with conventional pathological staging. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that nm23-H1 gene does not play an important part in the progression of colorectal carcinogenesis.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Differences in 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPET perfusion imaging between Tourette's syndrome and chronic tic disorder in children.

Early differential diagnosis between Tourette's syndrome and chronic tic disorder is difficult but important because both the outcome and the treatment of these two childhood-onset diseases are distinct. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of brain single-photon emission tomography (SPET) perfusion imaging in distinguishing the two diseases, and characterized their different cerebral perfusion patterns. Twenty-seven children with Tourette's syndrome and 11 with chronic tic disorder (mean age 9.5 and 8.6 years, respectively) underwent brain SPET with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO). Visual interpretation and semiquantitative analysis of SPET images were performed. On visual interpretation, 22 of 27 (82%) of the Tourette's syndrome group had lesions characterized by decreased perfusion. The left hemisphere was more frequently involved. None of the children with chronic tic disorder had a visible abnormality. Semi-quantitative analysis showed that, compared with children with chronic tic disorder, children with Tourette's syndrome had significantly lower perfusion in the left lateral temporal area and asymmetric perfusion in the dorsolateral frontal, lateral and medial temporal areas. In conclusion, using the visual approach, brain SPET perfusion imaging is sensitive and specific in differentiating Tourette's syndrome and chronic tic disorder. The perfusion difference between the two groups, demonstrated by semi-quantitative analysis, may be related more to the co-morbidity in Tourette's syndrome than to tics per se.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Renal fibrosis: prediction from acute pyelonephritis focus volume measured at 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid SPECT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether acute pyelonephritis lesion volume derived from acute technetium 99m ((99m)Tc) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) images is predictive of the development of subsequent renal fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with acute pyelonephritis underwent (99m)Tc DMSA renal SPECT during acute infection and 6-10 months later. At quantitative analysis, the volume of photopenic lesions and the ratio of radioactivity in the photopenic lesion to that in normal renal tissue were calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were determined. RESULTS: Sixty-nine acute pyelonephritis foci in 44 children were analyzed. Thirty-seven (54%) of these lesions were normal on follow-up renal scans, while 32 (46%) developed scars. Significant differences in the photopenic lesion volume were found between the two groups (P < .001). When photopenic lesion volume indicated a positive diagnosis (>or=4.6-cm(3) lesion volume), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values were 96.7%, 92.3%, 90.6%, and 97.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of acute DMSA renal SPECT findings is valuable in predicting renal fibrosis. The volume of an acute pyelonephritis lesion is useful in predicting the development of fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Use of 99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy in the detection and localization of intestinal inflammation: comparison of findings and colonoscopy and biopsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential use of technetium 99m (99mTc) (V) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy in the detection and localization of intestinal inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 62 patients who were suspected of having intestinal inflammation and 30 control subjects were enrolled. All patients underwent 99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy and colonoscopy with biopsy within 1 week. 99mTc (V) DMSA scintigrams were interpreted blindly with respect to clinical information, and radiotracer uptake in the bowel segments was graded. The findings were then compared with the results of the colonoscopy and colonoscopic biopsy. RESULTS: In the detection of intestinal inflammation, findings at 99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy were as follows: true-positive in 55, false-positive in two, true-negative in 32, and false-negative in three. Overall sensitivity was 95%; overall specificity, 94%; and overall accuracy, 95%. CONCLUSION: Our results show that 99mTc (V) DMSA scintigraphy is a useful noninvasive diagnostic test for the detection and localization of intestinal inflammation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Clinicopathologic correlation of serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) has been introduced as a cell proliferation marker. Little is known about its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to clarify serum TPS levels and tumor invasiveness of HCC. METHODS: Serum TPS levels were determined with a monoclonal TPS IRMA assay in 69 patients with HCC. A correlation between serum TPS levels and clinical, biochemical, and pathological features was sought and compared with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). In 57 healthy subjects, 56 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis and in 49 patients with liver cirrhosis, serum TPS levels were assayed and compared. RESULTS: Serum TPS levels were significantly correlated with glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (p < 0.0001), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (p < 0.001), and lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.027). There tended to be a positive relationship between serum TPS levels and tumor size, histological differentiation, capsular invasion, portal invasion, and clinical staging, although it did not reach statistical significance. A significant correlation, however, was observed between AFP and tumor size (p = 0.01), number (p = 0.042), histological grading (p = 0.028), portal invasion (p = 0.009), and clinical staging (p = 0.03). Patients with HCC had significantly higher TPS than healthy subjects (p < 0.001). However, there was substantial overlap between patients with HCC, chronic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that serum TPS is not significantly related to tumor invasiveness in patients with HCC. Serum TPS levels are affected by the proliferative activity of the underlying chronic liver disease, which is frequently associated with HCC in Chinese patients. As a cell proliferation marker, serum TPS should be interpreted cautiously in the presence of chronic liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Generation of IgM anti-platelet autoantibody in dengue patients.

Dengue virus infection causes a wide range of diseases from dengue fever to life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). The mechanisms involved in DHF/DSS pathogenesis remain unclear. Patient sera collected from an outbreak in southern Taiwan from November 1998 to January 1999 were studied. The presence of antibodies which cross-reacted with platelets could be detected in patient sera, and the isotype of these autoantibodies was IgM. The anti-platelet IgM levels were higher in DHF/DSS than in dengue fever patient sera in disease acute phase. These autoantibodies were still detectable in convalescent stage (1-3 weeks after acute phase) and even eight to nine months after illness. The platelet binding activity was not observed in other virus-infected patient sera tested. Further investigation showed that dengue patient sera caused platelet lysis in the presence of complement. The platelet cytotoxicity induced by DHF/DSS patient sera was higher than that by dengue fever sera. Dengue patient sera also inhibited platelet aggregation which, however, appeared to be not related to DHF/DSS development.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Quality of life and sexuality changes in postmenopausal women receiving tibolone therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and tibolone on the sexuality and quality of life of Taiwanese postmenopausal women. METHODS: Forty-eight postmenopausal women were enrolled and prospectively randomized to receive either HRT or tibolone for 3 months. At the end of the 3-month period, quality of life measures were assessed using the Greene Climacteric Scale and attitudes of sexuality were evaluated using the McCoy Sex Scale. RESULTS: Based on subjective qualitative scores, tibolone treatment was at least as effective as continuous combined HRT in improving quality of life. It also effectively prevented withdrawal bleeding, which may occur during HRT use. Compared with continuous combined HRT, tibolone treatment was also associated with perceived improvement of sexual performance, including general sexual satisfaction, sexual interest, sexual fantasies, sexual arousal and orgasm, with decreased frequencies of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that both tibolone and continuous combined HRT have positive effects on the quality of life of Taiwanese postmenopausal women. Sexuality is affected more by tibolone than by HRT.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Pharmacological study on Tianxiong (tuber of Aconitum carmichaeli Debx.), a Chinese drug for reinforcing the kidney yang retail in Hong Kong market].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pharmacodynamic mechanism of Tianxiong (Aconitum carmichaeli) in tonifying the kidney and supporting Yang, so as to provide evidences for further development of new drugs treating Yang-eficiency of the kidney. METHOD: Observing parameters such as visceral index, survival time of low-temperature swimming for hydrocortisone-induced Yang-deficiency model mouse and testis-removed kidney-deficiency model rat. RESULT: The decoction of processed Tianxiong could strengthen the antifatigual ability and prolong the survival time of low-temperature swimming for mice, and promote immunization in rats. CONCLUSION: Tianxiong is able to reinforce the kidney Yang, which reconforms the conclusion of "replenishing the fire of vital gate and the Qi of kidney" recorded in Chinese historical literature and proved by overseas clinical practice.

Aconitum↗
PubMed2001

[Synthesis, characterization and fluorescence property of europium ternary complex p-nitrophenylacetic acid and 1, 10-phenanthroline].

The europium ternary solid complex containing p-nitrophenylacetic acid and 1, 10-phenanthroline was synthesized in this work, and the chemical formula of this compound was determined to be EuL3 phen by elemental analysis. The complex has been characterized by analysis of molar conductivity, TG-DTA, IR and UV. The fluorescence spectra of this Eu3+ complex has been investigated also in this paper.

Chelating Agents↗
PubMed2000

Incisional hernia after laparotomy: prospective randomized comparison between early-absorbable and late-absorbable suture materials.

Incisional hernia is a serious postoperative complication of laparotomy. Selecting an appropriate suture material may lessen such morbidity. This study undertook a prospective, randomized comparison of early-absorbable polyglactin 910 suture versus late-absorbable polydioxanone loop suture for fascial closure after abdominal surgery. A series of 340 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparotomy were randomized to have fascial closure with either polyglactin 910 suture or polydioxanone loop suture between October 1993 and August 1996. A 2-year follow-up revealed that 23 patients had died, and the overall mortality rate was 6.8% (23/340). Ten (10/340, 2.9%) patients, including seven with polyglactin 910 suture and three with polydioxanone loop suture, developed incisional hernias. The early postoperative evaluation revealed an incidence of wound infection of 4.1% (14/340). The development of incisional hernia was not secondary to postoperative wound infection in this study. Among these 340 patients, 192 had malignant diseases and 148 had nonmalignant ones. Fascial closure with polyglactin 910 suture was associated with more incisional hernias than that with polydioxanone loop suture, with marginal significance for patients in the malignant group (4.7% versus 0%, p = 0.07) but not in the nonmalignant group (2.6% versus 4.2%, p = 0.67). In conclusion, abdominal closure with a late-absorbable polydioxanone loop suture may be beneficial to patients with a malignant disease for preventing incisional hernia.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2000

Novel image analysis of corpus cavernous tissue in impotent men.

OBJECTIVES: To objectively evaluate the contents of corpus cavernous tissue in impotent men using an automated novel image analysis system. METHODS: Thirty-three impotent men and 2 normal potent men (controls) underwent corpus cavernous biopsies. The procedures were performed using a Biopty gun under local anesthesia. The obtained specimens were stained with Masson's trichome technique, and the collagen fiber contents were evaluated by a computerized morphometric analysis method. In addition, we estimated the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of this automated image analysis system. RESULTS: No major complication was noted during or after the biopsies. Of the 33 impotent patients, 3 were diagnosed as having psychogenic, 11 as having arteriogenic, 13 as having venogenic, 1 as having neurogenic, and 5 as having idiopathic impotence. The collagen fiber percentages in the 35 men were as follows: normal potent: 48.2% +/- 1.4%, psychogenic 55.2% +/- 11.6%, arteriogenic 73.2% +/- 4.4%, venogenic 66.5% +/- 4.2%, neurogenic 76.9%, and idiopathic 77.4% +/- 4.2%. Significant differences were found between the normal potent and arteriogenic groups (P <0.05) and between the normal potent and idiopathic groups (P <0.05). Patients older than 60 years had a higher collagen fiber content (70.4% +/- 3.7%) than those younger than 50 years old (58.6% +/- 5.2%). The interobserver and intraobserver variances were both negligible for this automated image analysis system. This method significantly reduced the amount of variation introduced by the intra-rater reliability of a technician compared with the manual method. CONCLUSIONS: The present automated image analysis system is believed to be a reliable, accurate quantitative measurement tool for studies of penile tissue. Cavernous biopsy is a rapid, safe, and representative modality to study penile disease. An increase in cavernous collagen fibers (or corporal fibrosis) is considered an important factor in impaired erectile function.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in colorectal cancer patients.

Solid tumours require neovascularisation for growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to be an important regulator of tumour angiogenesis. To examine the relevance of VEGF in the neoplastic transformation of human colon, we analysed protein expression in a total 30 polyps and 145 colorectal carcinomas by immunohistochemistry. All adenoma specimens, regardless of histological differentiation, and normal colonic mucosa did not express VEGF. Amongst 90 patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer, VEGF expression was observed in 43 (48%) cases, whilst 29 of the 55 patients (53%) with metastases expressed the angiogenic factor. Both the proportion and intensity of VEGF expression were positively associated with the progression of colon carcinogenesis. Tumours with the highest VEGF expression tended to correlate with patients' survival, although VEGF expression did not emerge as an independent risk factor in a multivariate analysis. After exclusion of the patients with distant metastases, both univariate and multivariate analysis did not indicate any prognostic value for the tissues with the highest VEGF expression. Our results suggest that VEGF may play a role in the progression of colon cancer, although evaluation of this angiogenic phenotype did not provide additional prognostic information compared with that obtained from Dukes' staging of the tumours.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2000

The use of the motion analysis system for evaluation of loss of movement in the finger.

We have used the motion analysis system to measure loss of finger movement after injury. The motion analysis system can provide information about the dynamic angular changes of each finger joint and the fingertip motion area for the injured finger. The latter can be used to calculate the percentage of fingertip motion area preserved. A stiff finger may show limited fingertip motion area with the finger joints tending to flex and extend together.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Carbon urea breath test is not as accurate as endoscopy to detect Helicobacter pylori after gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine (1) whether Helicobacter pylori infection decreases in conjunction with time elapsed after gastrectomy and (2) the diagnostic efficacy of (13)C urea breath test (UBT) for H pylori in patients after gastrectomy. METHODS: From January 1997 to June 1998, 86 patients who had undergone gastrectomy and 180 patients with dyspepsia without gastrectomy were enrolled. A UBT for the analysis of excess (13)CO(2)/(12)CO(2) ratio (ECR) was obtained for each patient. Each patient also underwent endoscopy to obtain gastric biopsies for histology and H pylori culture. The presence of H pylori by either histology or culture served as the standard to test the efficacy of UBT. The 86 patients with a prior gastrectomy were categorized into 3 subgroups (I, less than 1 year; II, 1 to 3 years; III, greater than 3 years), according to the interval between surgery and UBT. The initial H pylori status of these 86 patients was determined by histologic evaluation of the resected stomach. RESULTS: At trial initiation, the postgastrectomy group had a lower H pylori infection rate (52.3%) as compared with the dyspeptic control group (80%). The initial H pylori status among subgroups I, II, and III was similar. There was a trend for the presence of H pylori in the stomach to decrease with increasing time elapsed after surgery (I to III: 68.8%, 48.3%, 36%, respectively; p < 0.05). The maximum UBT sensitivity and specificity achieved were 82.2% and 87.8% in the gastrectomy group and 97.2% and 96.3% in the dyspeptic group, with cutoff points of 2.5 and 4.0, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H pylori diminishes with time elapsed after gastrectomy. UBT for detection of H pylori is more effective in patients without prior gastrectomy than in patients who have undergone gastrectomy and is less effective than endoscopy for patients who have had a gastrectomy.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2000

Influence of nucleotide polymorphisms in the CCR2 gene and the CCR5 promoter on the expression of cell surface CCR5 and CXCR4.

Polymorphisms in the CCR2 gene (CCR2-64I) and the CCR5 promoter (pCCR5-59029G) have been correlated with slower HIV-1 disease progression. How these polymorphisms influence the rate of AIDS progression has remained unclear. We have therefore investigated whether these nucleotide polymorphisms will reduce the expression levels of surface CCR5 and CXCR4, and thus lead to slower AIDS progression. For this, a cohort of Chinese volunteers in Taiwan was subjected to the determination of CCR2 and pCCR5 genotypes followed by analysis of the surface CCR5 and CXCR4 expression on five cell types derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry. Several significant associations were detected between genotypes and expression levels of the proteins. The most important finding was that an increased number of CD4(+) cells expressing CCR5 correlated with pCCR5-59029A homozygosity without the interference of both the CCR2-64 and the CCR5 delta 32 (deleted 32 bp) mutations (P: = 0.0453), which is consistent with the previous data on the association of the genotype to AIDS progression. Since different genetic polymorphisms co-exist in human beings, the rate of AIDS progression as well as the risk of rheumatoid arthritis may be governed by the interplay of the array of nucleotide changes and their affected proteins.

Adult↗