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Biomedical subjects

T K Wang

Publications and source records attributed to T K Wang.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Endotracheal tube size selection guidelines for Chinese children: prospective study of 533 cases.

Appropriate selection of the size of an endotracheal tube (ETT) for use in children is important both in general anesthesia and critical care practice. Past published data on guidelines for selecting ETT size in children are based on Caucasian measurements. As body build is generally different in Chinese children compared with Caucasians of the same age group, guidelines for Chinese children are needed. The aim of this study was to determine guidelines for ETT size selection by recording and comparing age, body weight, length, head girth and circumference of the right fifth finger of the child. Correlations between internal diameter (ID) of the chosen ETT and the child's data were calculated and compared. In this study, 533 Chinese children. American Society of Anesthesiolgists class I or II, aged from 3 months to 6 years, undergoing oral intubation for general anesthesia for minor pediatric surgery were enrolled. Our results showed that body length (height) had the best correlation to the size of an uncuffed oral ETT. Through stepwise regression, a formula. ETT ID = 2 + (body length (cm)/30), was obtained.

Asian People↗

Determination of amphetamine in human urine by dansyl derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A simple procedure for the determination of amphetamine in urine with minimal sample preparation is described. This method involves direct addition of human urine to an acetone-dansyl chloride solution for simultaneous deproteinization and fluorescence derivatization. The derivatized amphetamine is then measured by HPLC with fluorescence detection. It eliminates the extraction procedures often required by other HPLC or GC methods. The effects of pH, temperature and reaction time on the derivatization reaction were investigated. The stability of amphetamine-dansyl chloride in different storage conditions was examined. The detection limit and linearity associated with this assay are discussed.

Amphetamine↗

[K-serotype analyses of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated in northern Taiwan, 1983 through 1993].

From 1983 through 1993, 786 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were collected from food-borne disease outbreaks and sporadic cases of diarrheal illness in northern Taiwan, involving 42 K-serotypes. Five top leading serotypes were K8 (36.8%), K15 (10.8%), K12 (8.7%), K56 (7.9%) and K63 (4.7%). However, a variation of K-serotypes was found during this study period. From 112 food-borne outbreaks associated with this microorganism, only 54 (48.2%) outbreaks were caused by a single serotype, while 58 (51.8%) were caused by multiple K-serotypes. Numbers of outbreaks caused by two, three and more than three K-serotypes were 29 (26%), 16 (14.2%), and 13 (11.6%), respectively. In a special outbreak, eight K-serotypes was found. Outbreaks caused by party caterers were most frequently associated with multiple K-serotypes.

Disease Outbreaks↗

Food-borne disease outbreaks in Taiwan, 1994.

In 1994, 102 outbreaks of food-borne disease involving 4,726 cases were reported to the Taiwan Department of Health. This is the highest number of outbreaks and cases in recent years in Taiwan. Of these outbreaks, 72.5% (74/102) were caused by bacterial pathogens, with Vibrio parahaemolyticus responsible for 56.7% (42/74), Staphylococcus aureus 20.3% (15/74), Bacillus cereus 14.9% (11/74) and Salmonella spp other than S. typhi and S. paratyphi 8.1% (6/74). V. parahaemolyticus has been a leading cause of problems in Taiwan for many years. Contamination of seafood with this organism has been reported frequently, particularly in the warmer months. In 1994, small outbreaks (fewer than 5 cases) and large outbreaks (more than 50 cases) represented 31.4% (32/102) and 12.7% (13/102), respectively, of the total. The median outbreak size was 10 cases. A high proportion (54%, 7/13) of the large outbreaks was associated with commercial lunch-boxes supplied to elementary and junior high schools. Health education to improve food sanitation and supervision of food sanitation practices need to be strengthened.

Bacillus cereus↗

Detection and identification of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 strains by a simplified polymerase chain reaction method.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with three oligonucleotide primers was used to amplify both 184 bp and 425 bp DNA fragments of cholera toxin A subunit gene (ctxA) for detection and identification of toxigenic V. cholerae O1 strains in one step. For enhancing the sensitivity, we have used the chemiluminescent detection system for Southern hybridization. A total of 92 Vibrio strains were tested by both PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three E. coli (ETEC) strains, one toxigenic V. mimicus, and one toxigenic V. cholerae non-O1 were also tested for cross reactivities. Our results indicated that the correlation between the immunological ELISA method and the molecular biological PCR method were very well. The lowest detectable amount of the purified serotype Inaba chromosomal DNA by PCR is 2 pg and 0.4 pg by chemiluminescent detection system. In this work we report a PCR assay with a combination of three primers to detect and identify the ctxA of V. cholerae O1 in one step. The simplified and accurate method is useful for toxigenic V. cholerae O1 detection and identification.

Base Sequence↗

Adult descending colocolic intussusception caused by a large lipoma.

Adult intussusception is uncommon and varies considerably from the more common occurrence of this disorder in infants and children. Although lipoma represents the most common benign tumor of the colon, it is a relatively rare cause of gastrointestinal symptoms. A rare case of adult intussusception of the descending colon caused by a giant lipoma is presented and discussed.

Colectomy↗

Adaptative control of above knee electro-hydraulic prosthesis.

Conventional designs of an above-knee prosthesis are based on mechanisms with mechanical properties (such as friction, spring and damping coefficients) that remain constant during changing cadence. These designs are unable to replace natural legs due to the lack of active knee joint control. Since the nonlinear and time-varying dynamic coupling between the thigh and the prosthetic limb is high during swing phase, an adaptive control is employed to control the knee joint motion. Two dimensional simulation indicates that the adaptive controller can improve the appearance of gait pattern. It is adaptable to walking speed and can compensate for the variations of hip moment, hip trajectory and toe-off conditions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

[Experience of surgical treatment for colorectal endometriosis: report of 6 cases].

Endometriosis is a common disease with 8-15% occurrence in women during their reproductive period. Involvement of the bowel wall occurs rather frequently and probably presents in 12-34% of patient with pelvic endometriosis. However, it is classically asymptomatic and difficult to find out. From 1977 to 1987, we had six patients of colorectal endometriosis with mainly bowel symptoms. Five of them were located at rectum and sigmoid colon, one at the hepatic flexure of colon. All of the cases developed constipation or diarrhea, and four of them had severe abdominal pain. Four cases developed rectal bleeding. Previous operation for pelvic endometriosis was noted in two cases. The detailed examination included digital examination, endoscopy, barium enema and CT scan. Suspected malignancy was the indication for surgery in 4 cases and one in rectal stenosis. Low diagnostic rate was due to the fact that endometrial tissue rarely infiltrates the mucosa. Therefore, pathology of biopsied specimen often reveals non-conclusive finding to prevent differential diagnosis. However bowel resection offers conclusive diagnosis and chances of cure. In our study, only one suspected endometriosis case received bilateral oophorectomy. The stenotic segment of rectum restored to normal caliber after operation.

Adult↗

Junctional ectopic tachycardia in infancy: report of two cases.

Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) in infancy is one of the serious arrhythmias which can be fatal. Typical features of JET include rapid and irregular heart beats with atrioventricular dissociation. Two cases of JET are reported: Case 1 was a 35-week-gestational age newborn who was found to have hydropsy and fetal tachycardia at the 21st week of gestational age. Antiarrhythmic agents including digoxin, propranolol and verapamil were administered to his mother to treat the fetal arrhythmia without success. JET was recognized at birth which was spontaneously converted into a sinus rhythm at 1 month of age. The maternal history revealed that two previous pregnancies ended in hydrops fetalis, and one of these was documented to have fetal tachycardia. Case 2 was a 6-month-old male infant with JET and congestive heart failure. After failure of various antiarrhythmic agents, amiodarone finally slowed down his heart rate and controlled his congestive heart failure.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗

Formulation and evaluation of a hydrophobic composite plastic.

A hydrophobic co-polymer, heptafluorobutylmethacrylate co-para vinyl phenol, was compounded with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and silanated quartz to produce a hydrophobic composite. The experimental composite had satisfactory working properties and had mechanical properties comparable to commercial composite but a higher modulus of resilience. The wear resistance was equal to or greater than the commercial composite depending on whether a two-body abrasion test or a track width versus normal load test was used for the evaluation. The thermal coefficient of expansion and water sorption values were somewhat higher than those of commercial composites.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Crohn's disease of the appendix.

Granulomatous inflammation typifying Crohn's disease was centred within or confined to appendices in six patients, two of whom developed lesions attributable to Crohn's disease elsewhere in the gut. The remaining four patients have remained symptom-free for periods varying from two to six years. Histological evidence of Crohn's disease was also present in five of 46 appendices available for re-examination in a survey of 63 cases of Crohn's enterocolitis. It is adduced that appendiceal involvement in Crohn's disease is not uncommon.

Appendicitis↗