Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences最新文献

In 69 patients, the severity of Helicobactor pylori (H. pylori) infection was evaluated by bacterial density of tissue implants and inflammatory responses by histology. The specimens were taken from gastric angle and antrum (greater and lesser curvature sides) by gastroduodenal endoscopy. In urease test, the severity was measured in 3 grades according to color change of the agar: those change are within 30 minutes (grade 3), 30 minutes to 3 hours (grade 2), and 3 to 6 hours (grade 1), respectively; while the grade 0 indicated no color change occurring 6 hours after tissue inoculation. The severity of infection was assessed according to the bacterial density under high power microscopic fields (Gram's stain). Grade 0 indicated no bacterium seen; grade 1, only 1 to 10 bacteria at all fields; grade 2, 1 to 3 bacteria in each high power field; and grade 3 was 4 bacteria or more on average in each high power field. The degree of inflammatory response was evaluated by inflammatory cell infiltration (H & E stain) and classified into grade 0, 1 and 2, which indicated the inflammatory cell infiltration below 50%, between 50% and 75%, and above 75%, respectively. There are no positive relationships among urease test reaction time, bacterial density grading and degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration. Clinically, the reaction time of urease test cannot reflect the severity of H. pylori infection semi-quantitatively, either in terms of bacterial density or cellular inflammatory response.

The monoclonal antibodies CA15-3 were developed against the two antigens 115D8 of the human milk fat globule membrane and DF3 of breast cancer. CA15-3 was assayed radioimmunologically and CEA was analysed using the enzyme immunoassay. Normal control was achieved in 32 healthy women, the mean values for CA15-3 were 11.5 +/- 3.0 u/ml, range from 7.9 to 16.9 u/ml. We compared serum levels of CA15-3 and CEA in 121 patients with histologically proved breast carcinoma. CA15-3 levels above 25 u/ml and CEA levels above 5 ng/ml were considered positive values. 31 of 121 patients studied had elevated CA15-3 levels (sensitivity: 25.6%) and 21 of 121 patients had positive CEA levels (sensitivity 17.4%). 92 of the breast cancer patients (76%) did not have metastatic disease. In this group CA15-3 sensitivity was 7.6%, while CEA sensitivity was 6.5%. Mean values were 15.1 +/- 6.6 u/ml for CA15-3 and 1.78 +/- 2.47 ng/ml for CEA. 29 patients (24%) had metastatic disease. In this group, CA15-3 sensitivity was 82.8% and CEA sensitivity was 51.7% (P < 0.05). Mean values for CA15-3 were 147.5 +/- 175.9 u/ml and 16.9 +/- 24.0 ng/ml of CEA. With regard to the correlation of two tumor markers with clinical course patients had significantly higher levels of CA15-3 than of CEA in metastatic breast cancer. This result suggests CA15-3 to be the more sensitive and more specific of the two for metastatic breast cancer detection and monitoring.

We reviewed 32 knees with osteoarthritis of the knee treated by either arthroscopic debridement in association with drilling the subchondral bone or arthroscopic debridement alone and followed for 2.5 to 11 years. Eighteen knees had arthroscopic debridement and drilling the subchondral bone, and 14 knees had arthroscopic debridement alone. In the group treated with arthroscopic debridement and drilling the subchondral bone, 55.6% had good to excellent results, 22.2% had fair results, and 22.2% had poor results. In the group that had arthroscopic debridement alone, 57.2% had good to excellent results, 35.7% had fair results, and 7.1% had poor results. There was better relief of pain in the group with arthroscopic debridement alone.

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate the risk factors related to alcohol use among adolescents of fathers with alcoholism. 2) to compare their drinking behaviors with the adolescents whose fathers were non-alcoholics. Sixty-one adolescents, including 29 males and 32 females, aged from 12 to 22 whose fathers were alcoholics formed the case group. 122 age and sex matched adolescents in a ratio of 1:2 whose fathers were non-alcoholics were recruited as the comparison group (normal/control). Data were collected by interview during home visits or by mailing questionnaires to patients. The prevalence rates of drinking, smoking and betel-nut chewing among the adolescents of fathers with alcoholism were 67.2%, 19.7%, 18%. There was no significant difference in drinking behavior between the two groups. Beer was the most popular drink in adolescents' drinking habits. The most popular motivation of drinking was the peer pressure by friends. The significant risk factors of alcohol use among the adolescents included male poor mental health status adolescents with behavioral problems and alcohol use amongst classmates or friends.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe and sometimes life-threatening soft tissue infection that is characterized by rapidly widespreading necrosis of fascia and subcutaneous tissue. Fifty-four cases of necrotizing fasciitis were reviewed over a 5-year period. Among them, 25 patients (46%) had diabetes mellitus. The majority of the wound bacterial cultures (71%) yielded a mixed growing. There were negative cultures in six patients, and single organism growth in 14 patients (29%). The predominant organisms growth were Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Escherichia coli. The overall mortality rate was 22% (12/54). Death was caused by systemic septic complications in these patients. All 12 mortalities resulted from delayed debridement (averaging 25 days after initial symptoms appeared). Our study indicates that the early recognition and prompt debridement of all necrotic tissue is essential for reducing the mortality rates of this potentially lethal condition.

The purpose of this study was to describe norms of isometric lifting strength for normal college students and to investigate the effects of gender, body weight, height, and upper and lower limb length on lifting strength. Three types of lifting (i.e., arm, back, and leg lifting) were measured in a sample of 104 college students aged between 18 and 26 years. A Force Evaluation and Testing System (FET 5000) was used for strength measurements with three standard lifting positions. The average of three trials for each lifting strength test was used as the subject's test score. The results showed that the highest mean lifting strength was recorded for leg lifting in both males and females. Both groups also had the lowest score in arm lifting. Of the total sample, there was a difference of strength of nearly three- times between leg and arm lifting. Males were stronger than females in all lifting patterns. In addition, lifting strengths were significantly affected by such variables as sex, weight and height. Body weight was an effective predictor of arm lifting strength, and height an effective predictor of leg lifting strength. Finally, we found that strength in one position had positive relations with strength in other positions. These findings and the establishment of data base can in future provide therapists with an objective evaluation regarding lifting strength of individuals for clinical use.