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

The effect of ethanol on voltage-dependent K+ currents was examined in single aortic smooth muscle cells. The aortic smooth muscle cells were isolated from guinea pigs. The tight-seal patch clamp technique in whole cell configuration was employed. Ethanol (500 mM) reversibly inhibited voltage-dependent transient outward K+ current, the spontaneous transient oscillatory K+ current (STOC) and steady-state K+ current, whereas ethanol (50 mM) did not produce any change in these K+ currents. When the peak-height amplitudes of STOC were analyzed, the application of ethanol (50 mM) was noted to produce significant inhibition on both amplitude and frequency of STOC evoked at the holding potential of +10 mV. The results shown in the present study indicate that ethanol-induced inhibition of the voltage-dependent K+ channel, which is not required for the elicitation of either GTP-binding protein(s) or inositol triphosphate, may contribute to its vasoconstrictor effect because the inhibition of the voltage-dependent K+ channel may lead to the increase of cell excitability in vascular smooth muscle.

Head injury is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity and disability in Taiwan. This study was based on data from the investigation of head injuries in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, during the period July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1992. The 3729 cases identified represented an overall incidence rate of 267/100,000--359/100,000 for males and 170/100,000 for females. The highest incidence rate was seen in the elderly group, followed by the 20-29 year age group. The population with the highest risk was males aged 20-29 years, with an incidence rate of 585/100,000. Seventy percent of all cases were from motor vehicle-related causes, followed by falls (15.3%) and assaults (8.7%). Of the motor vehicle-related head injuries, 70.9% resulted from motorcycle accidents. The incidence rate of motor vehicle head injuries was 188/100,000--248/100,000 for males and 125/100,000 for females. At all ages motor vehicle head injuries were higher in males than in females. Mortality rates from head injuries were 26/100,000--38/100,000 for males and 14/100,000 for females. The overall case fatality rate was 10%, and 61% of all deaths occurred prior to hospitalization. The case fatality rate was highest in older age groups. Initial clinical assessment was recorded using the Glasgow Coma Scale. Eighty-one percent of the cases were considered mild, and 19% moderate to severe in degree including 367 deaths. The males and the aged not only had a higher incidence of head injuries but also had a higher proportion of more severe ones. These findings indicate that head injuries are nonrandom and likely to occur in certain types of individuals under certain circumstances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fifteen patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were included in the study. Esophageal motility, including esophageal mean transit time (MTT), residual fraction (RF), and retrograde index (RI), was evaluated and calculated by the radionuclide esophageal transit test (RETT). The baseline study was performed before the oral erythromycin therapy. After a 2-week course treatment, the subjects underwent a second study. The results showed that (A) in the baseline study, 93% (14/15) of NIDDM patients had a longer MTT, 67% (10/15) had a higher RF and 80% (12/15) had a higher RI; and (B) after treatment with erythromycin, 73% (11/15) of the patients had a shorter MTT and a lower RF, and 60% (9/15) of the patients had a lower RI. We conclude that (1) most of the NIDDM patients had esophageal motility disorders and (2) a 2-week oral erythromycin therapy can improve diabetic esophagoparesis, as evaluated by non-invasive REET.

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of hemodialysis patients' health belief, knowledge on uremia, and social support upon their compliance behavior. The convenience sample of 330 hemodialysis (HD) patients was obtained at HD centers in southern Taiwan. With the use of a questionnaire developed by the researcher, all subjects were interviewed during hemodialysis. Data analyses were processed by a personal computer with SPSS/PC. Pearson correlation, ANOVA, chi-square, multiple regression and factor analysis were selected as the analysis methods for this study. The results indicated: (1) The average overall rate of compliance was 72.1% by patient self report for fluid limit, diet restriction and taking PBM. (2) Two factors of subject's health belief were identified by factor analysis. (3) Those who had more positive motivation for compliance with therapeutic regiments, more knowledge on uremia and stronger social support were positively correlated with compliance behaviors. (4) The best predictive variables of compliance behaviors of HD patients included positive motivation, knowledge on uremia, educational level, current daily urine amount and age; these five variables explained 23% of variance in compliance behaviors. (5) The instruments with a satisfactory validity and reliability developed by the researcher could provide a valuable basis for relevant future research. Implications of these findings for nursing practice are also discussed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of coffee on solid phase gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Twenty-one NUD patients with an endoscopic negative finding or superficial gastritis were included in this study. Radionuclide labeled solid meals were used to assess the gastric emptying times (GET) of the stomach. A control meal was composed of radionuclide solid meal and 500ml 5% of glucose water. The study meal was made from addition of 4g of instant coffee into the control meal. Of the 21 total cases, 1 demonstrated prolonged GET, 6 had shortened GET, and the other 14 showed no significant difference in GET. There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the control and the study meal after coffee intake. Our data suggests that there may be some ingredient in coffee that promotes gastric motility, but this effect is counteracted by intestinal feedback, and the net effect is not significant.