Pigtail tube drainage in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.

We report our experience in using pigtail tube drainage in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax compared with traditional chest tube thoracotomy. One hundred two patients were included and analyzed. Fifty patients were treated with the pigtail tube and 52 patients were treated with the traditional chest tube.

The elevated serum interleukin-6 correlates with the increased serum butyrate level in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

We investigated the clinical significance and regulation of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Serum IL-6 levels of 314 NPC patients and 202 healthy individuals were determined. Of the NPC patients, 69.

Paclitaxel (taxol) inhibits the arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity and gene expression (mRNA NAT1) and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adduct formation in human bladder carcinoma cells (T24 and TSGH 8301).

Acetylator polymorphism in man results from differential expression of human liver N-acetyltransferase. N-Acetyltransferase enzyme activity has been demonstrated to be involved in some types of chemical carcinogenesis. Paclitaxel (taxol) had been shown to affect N-acetyltransferase activity of human lung cancer cells.

Detection of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas with technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile single photon emission computed tomography in patients with indeterminate magnetic resonance imaging findings after radiotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for detecting recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are indeterminate. Twenty-eight NPC patients who had received radiotherapy and had indeterminate MRI findings were included in the study. We performed MRI, Tc-99m MIBI SPECT, and biopsy at least 4 months after radiotherapy and within 1 week.

Aortic dissection presenting as acute lower extremity ischemia: report of a case.

Although not common, acute leg ischemia is an important element in the clinical presentation of a patient with aortic dissection. This report describes a case of aortic dissection in which the main feature at presentation was acute right leg ischemia. The angiography showed right common iliac artery and external iliac artery occlusion.

A radiological study after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament is a common injury, often resulting in functional instability. Currently, arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using the central third bone-patellar tendon-bone graft is a common surgical procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative structural remodeling in the ligament following ACL reconstruction over time by X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Inoue-balloon mitral valvuloplasty in double-orifice mitral stenosis.

We report 7 symptomatic patients with stenotic double-orifice mitral valve of incomplete bridge type. In each patient, the fibrous bridge tissue between the valve leaflets was successfully split using an Inoue balloon valvuloplasty technique with stepwise dilations applied only to the posteromedial orifice.

Retrospective analysis of inflammatory parameters in acute pyelonephritis.

Objective: Different parameters were compared in children with acute pyelonephritis in order to facilitate the early detection of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in primary healthcare settings.

Material And Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study. A total of 149 children with confirmed acute pyelonephritis were retrospectively analyzed between January 1999 and December 2000.

The ALUI calcitonin receptor gene polymorphism (TT) is associated with low bone mineral density and susceptibility to osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Osteoporosis is a common disorder with a strong genetic component. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation of the ALUI calcitonin receptor gene polymorphism to bone mineral density and their relationship to osteoporosis. We determined the ALUI calcitonin receptor gene polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis in 167 postmenopausal women in Taiwan.

Nasal Rosai-Dorfman disease with intracranial involvement: a case report.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) is a rare but distinctive entity. It was initially described as a nodal-based disease but later found to affect a variety of extranodal sites. The diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease is based on the unique histologic changes that are characterized by proliferation of S-100 protein-positive histiocytes, the presence of emperipolesis, and a mixture of prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates.

Safety monitoring of cardiac and hepatic systems in beta-thalassemia patients with chelating treatment in Taiwan.

We conducted a prospective 3-yr clinical study comparing deferiprone (L1) with desferrioxamine (DFX). The therapeutic efficacy and potential side-effects on cardiac and/or hepatic systems of thalassemia patients were assessed by left ventricular ejection fraction, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and biochemical parameters. In both groups, levels of serum ferritin decreased significantly, and the hepatic function improved notably.

Lack of association of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in central Taiwan.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) gene promoter polymorphisms in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in central Taiwan. A total of 106 RA patients and 253 normal controls were studied. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction analysis was used to identify A/G polymorphism at position 308 in the promoter region of the TNFalpha, which is located at 6q21.

The effect of different frequency electrical acu-stimulation on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy subjects.

Background/aims: Acupuncture has been used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms in oriental countries for many years. The underlying mechanism is still not fully understood.

Methodology: Fifteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled into this study.

Comparison between technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamineoxide labeled white blood cell abdomen scan and abdominal sonography to detect appendicitis in children with an atypical clinical presentation.

Background/aims: Diagnosing acute appendicitis in children with equivocal signs and symptoms is usually difficult. The usual approach to the patient is hospital observation and frequent reexamination. However, many surgeons are reluctant to delay surgery because of the risk of perforation and a negative laparotomy.

The usefulness of technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamineoxide labeled white blood cell abdomen scan to differentiate periappendiceal abscess from acute appendicitis--a preliminary report.

Background/aims: The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of Tc-HMPAO (technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamineoxide) labeled white blood cells abdomen scan to differentiate acute appendicitis from periappendiceal abscess.

Methodology: Forty-five patients with atypical symptoms and signs of appendicitis were included in this preliminary study. At 4 hours after an intravenous injection of Tc-HMPAO labeled white blood cells, static images over the anterior abdomen were obtained using a gamma camera.

C-reactive protein and gallium scintigraphy in patients after abdominal surgery.

Background/aims: Early detection of post-surgical infection is important to decrease mortality in patients after operation. Both C-reactive protein test and gallium-67 scan (gallium scan) are sensitive examinations in the detection of infection. In this study, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of the two modalities in the detection of infection after abdominal surgery.

A clinical pathway for laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy. Impact on costs and clinical outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the cost of and clinical outcome of implementing a clinical pathway for laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy.

Study Design: A retrospective study of the case records of patients who underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy before (May-December 1997) and after (January 1998-March 1999) implementation of a clinical pathway. Data regarding resource consumption and clinical outcome represented by 10 clinical indicators were collected.

The lack of association between febrile convulsions and polymorphisms in SCN1A.

Febrile convulsions (FCs) represent the majority of childhood seizures, and patients have a genetic predisposition to their development. The genetic susceptibility to FCs seems to involve multiple genes in most instances. Recent studies provided evidence that mutations in SCN1A represent the most frequent cause of generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus an autosomal-dominant epilepsy syndrome.

Usefulness of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile liver single photon emission computed tomography to detect hepatocellular carcinoma.

Technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) has been shown to be useful in identifying several types of tumors, such as breast, lung and thyroid cancers. The usefulness of Tc-99m MIBI liver imaging in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still controversial. In this study, 22 patients with HCC performed Tc-99m MIBI liver single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Detecting metastatic pelvic lymph nodes by 18F-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with prostate-specific antigen relapse after treatment for localized prostate cancer.

Aim: To evaluate whether positron emission tomography (PET) with (18)F-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) can detect pelvic lymph node metastases in prostate cancer patients who had elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after treatment.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with a rising serum PSA level after treatment for localized prostate cancer were examined with FDG-PET before pelvic lymph node dissection. All patients had negative findings on whole body bone scan and equivocal pelvic computed tomography (CT) results.

Association of E-cadherin gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism with calcium oxalate stone disease.

Introduction: Urinary stone disease is one of the most commonly seen urological diseases in Taiwan. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are commonly used for the investigation of genetic markers for stone disease. E-cadherin (CDH-1) is one of the cellular junction proteins related to the integrity of epithelial cells.

Improvement of esophageal and gastric motility after 2-week treatment of oral erythromycin in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Forty-five patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were enrolled in the study. Before and after the 2-week treatment course of oral erythromycin, esophageal (the mean transit time, MTT) and gastric motility (the halftime of gastric emptying, GETt1/2) were evaluated by radionuclide labeled liquid and solid meals. Meanwhile, the fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were monitored.

Confirmation of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Serratia marcescens: preliminary report from Taiwan.

Although Serratia marcescens is a common cause of nosocomial infection in Taiwan, strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are rare. We detected four clinical isolates of S. marcescens from Taiwan that exhibited resistance to cefotaxime (MICs, > 256 microg/ml) and cefepime (MICs, > or = 32 microg/ml), but were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphism is associated with calcium oxalate stone disease.

Growth factor-related genes regulate cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis in the kidney in response to cellular injury. One of the theories of stone formation is that cellular injury, and thus growth factors, play a role. We therefore investigated the association between growth factor genes and calcium oxalate stone disease.

Technetium-99m tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography in syndrome X: a preliminary report.

Syndrome X is used to describe patients with chest pain and a normal coronary angiogram. We reviewed technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-99m TF) myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) results and clinical data of 43 syndrome X patients and 30 healthy controls with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and no cardiac abnormalities. The Tc-99m TF myocardial perfusion SPECT results showed 12 (27.