Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Wong

Publications and source records attributed to Y Wong.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Evaluation of a fiber optic glove for semi-automated goniometric measurements.

Normal subjects were used to evaluate a fiber optic instrumented glove for semi-automated goniometric measurement. The glove electronically records and transmits hand and finger position to a host computer by measuring the amount of joint flexion. The glove was put through a series of range-of-motion (ROM) tests with five subjects. Metacarpal (MP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint angles of the five digits were compared during repetitive standardized motions to evaluate the glove's repeatability. The results showed an overall error of 5.6 degrees, as compared to an error of between 5 and 8 degrees with manual measurement. Additional tests were done to determine factors such as fit, grip force, and wrist motion that may contribute to the overall error. The glove should have applicability to some aspects of hand evaluation as a semi-automated goniometric measurement device.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors associated with the development of peri-intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia.

81 preterm infants of 34 weeks' gestation or less were prospectively and sequentially examined by means of real-time ultrasound in order to identify which clinical risk factors might be associated with the development of peri-intraventricular haemorrhage (PVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Infants were allocated in three groups: group A (n = 44): with normal scans; group B (n = 24): with isolated PVH, and group C (n = 13): with PVL. 28 obstetrical and neonatal factors were compared within the three groups using two methods of statistical analysis (2 x 2 chi 2 analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis). Hyaline membrane disease, acidosis, pneumothorax and Apgar score at 10 min were statistically associated with PVH. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that need for resuscitation, hyaline membrane disease, acidosis and gestational age were the most important factors. Gestational age, seizures, hyaline membrane disease, apnoea with hypoxaemia and bradycardia were strongly associated with PVL. These results suggest that a low gestational age, the need for resuscitation and a respiratory distress syndrome with its consequences might lead to PVH, whereas a low gestational age, hypoxaemia and cardiocirculatory disturbances might decrease cerebral perfusion and result into PVL.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

Plasma reproductive hormones in normal and vasectomized Chinese males.

Plasma reproductive hormones (testosterone, LH, FSH and prolactin) were measured in 298 normal healthy males aged 30-73 years from rural areas of Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China, and in 505 similar men vasectomized between 1 year and 25 years previously. Age-related increases in LH and FSH but not in testosterone or prolactin were noted in normal men. No adverse effects of vasectomy were observed apart from a 16% increase in mean LH levels in the vasectomized compared to non-vasectomized men of similar ages.

Adult↗

The predictive value of estrogen and progesterone receptors' concentrations on the clinical behavior of breast cancer in women. Clinical correlation on 547 patients.

The aims of this study were as follows: to confirm that the presence of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors is an indicator of clinical behavior of human breast cancer independent of other known prognostic factors; to seek clinical correlates of those receptor values that best predict the overall disease evolution; and to determine the relative prognostic importance of PgR versus ER. The clinical records of 547 patients, the follow-up of some extending to 6 years, were analyzed in retrospect. Patients were placed into one of four disease stages and also in three groups according to the degree of axillary node involvement. In each group the prognostic value of receptors for patient survival, disease-free interval and, in case of metastasis or local recurrence, the response to endocrine treatment or chemotherapy were studied. The break point in the spectrum of receptor concentrations with regard to survival, disease-free interval, and response to treatment was greater than or equal to 20 for ER+, greater than or equal to 15 for PgR+, and less than 5 for both ER- and PgR- reported in fmol/mg protein. Survival and disease-free interval showed positive correlations with ER and PgR (P less than 0.001-less than 0.0003). When disease stage or node involvement were considered, these correlations were found essentially in Stage II and node involvement in more than three nodes, where patients had longer survival and disease-free interval if ER and PgR were positive (P less than 0.05-less than 0.0003). Estrogen receptor was a more sensitive prognostic indicator than PgR, and the combination ER+/PgR+ showed a correlation equivalent to ER+/PgR-. The correct prediction percentages of the response of patients to endocrine treatment were 77% if ER+, 69% if PgR+, and 79% if both ER+ and PgR+. However, the correct prediction percentage of the response to chemotherapy was of 50%. These results show that ER and PgR are prognostic factors for survival and disease-free interval mainly on patients at Stage II and node involvement of greater than three, with ER demonstrating a better predictive value than PgR. The measurement of these receptors provides a prognostic index for response to endocrine therapy but is without value in predicting the response to chemotherapy.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Feeding BAY Vi 7533 to hens.

BAY Vi7533 (2-chloro-N-[[[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl] amino] carbonyl] benzamide) was fed to White Leghorn and Vedette Mini-broiler breeder hens at concentrations ranging from 0 to 25 ppm in the ration. Concentrations of 15 and 25 ppm resulted in greater than 95% mortality of house flies, Musca domestica L., seeded as larvae into the droppings. Concentration of 25 ppm reduced egg production in the White Leghorn but not in the Vedette Mini-broiler hens. At each concentration (except 5 ppm for Vedette Mini-broilers) residues of the compound were detected in the eggs. These residues, however, had no adverse effects on fertility or hatchability of the eggs.

Animals↗

Effect of broad-spectrum cephalosporins on the microbial flora of recipients.

The flora in the throat and the stools of 10 patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant diseases in a laminar air-flow room was studied during the prophylactic administration of ceftazidime. Ten percent of aerobic gram-negative bacilli, 41% of aerobic gram-positive organisms, 59% of anaerobes, and 70% of fungi persisted in stool specimens during ceftazidime administration. This drug had a less pronounced effect on the throat flora; 66% of organisms persisted during antibiotic administration. The throat and fecal flora of another eight patients were studied during the prophylactic administration of ceftriaxone. This antibiotic had a profound effect on the fecal flora; none of the gram-negative bacilli, only 24% of aerobic gram-positive organisms, and only 10% of anaerobes persisted during ceftriaxone administration. Like ceftazidime, ceftriaxone had a less marked effect on the throat flora; 59% of organisms persisted during antibiotic administration. The results show that new, expanded-spectrum cephalosporins can have a major suppressive effect on patients' endogenous microbial flora.

Adult↗

Plasma apolipoprotein E concentration is an important determinant of phospholipid transfer protein activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) transfers phospholipids between lipoproteins and plays an important role in HDL metabolism. PLTP exists as a high-activity and a low-activity form in the circulation. In vitro studies have shown that apolipoprotein (apo) E is involved in maintaining PLTP in the active form, while the low-activity form is associated with apo AI. We have therefore investigated whether plasma apo AI, B and E concentrations are important determinants of plasma PLTP activity in type 2 diabetes, a condition associated with increased plasma PLTP activity. METHODS: Plasma PLTP activity was assayed by measuring the transfer of radiolabelled phosphatidylcholine from liposomes to HDL; apo AI and B by rate nephelometry and apo E by a 2-point turbidimetric assay. RESULTS: Type 2 diabetic patients (n = 230) had higher PLTP activity than controls (n = 97) (2374 +/- 628 nmol/mL/h versus 1862 +/- 585 respectively, p < 0.01). They also had increased fasting triglyceride and low HDL. Plasma apo B (p < 0.01) and apo E (p < 0.05) were increased, whereas apo AI was reduced (p < 0.01). Univariate analysis showed that plasma PLTP activity correlated mainly with apolipoproteins AI and E. Stepwise regression analysis showed that apo E was the main determinant of plasma PLTP activity, accounting for 23% of its variability in the diabetic subjects and 8% in the controls respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between plasma apo AI and E concentrations and PLTP activity suggest that these apolipoproteins are important regulators of PLTP activity in vivo. The increase in PLTP activity in type 2 diabetes is partly related to the changes in these apolipoproteins.

Adult↗