Effects of intracranial hypertension on steady and pulsatile haemodynamics in dogs.

1. Intracranial hypertension (ICH) tends to elicit various cardiovascular changes. Previous studies on the haemodynamic responses to ICH have been confined mainly to measurements of arterial pressure (AP), cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR).

Differences in gastric emptying between highly selective vagotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy combined with anterior seromyotomy.

Gastric emptying has been reported to be both delayed and unchanged following posterior truncal vagotomy combined with anterior seromyotomy (PTV + AS). When compared to highly selective vagotomy (HSV), our clinical experience was that PTV + AS not uncommonly produced postprandial distress. We studied gastric emptying of both liquids and solids 3 and 12 months following HSV and PTV + AS to determine what if any differences there were in gastric emptying between the two procedures.

Elderly use of the ED in an Asian metropolis.

To compare emergency department (ED) use by elderly patients (age 65 yrs or older) with that by younger adult patients (age 15-64 yrs), a prospective consecutive chart review study was conducted from August 1, 1995 through May 31, 1996 in eight designated hospitals in Taipei city (which has 2.6 million residents, 8.4% of whom are 65 yrs or older).

Partial or complete circular duodenectomy with highly selective vagotomy for severe obstructing duodenal ulcer disease: an initial experience.

Objective: To evaluate partial and complete circular duodenectomy combined with highly selective vagotomy (HSV) for relief of gastric retention.

Design: A retrospective, case-comparison study.

Setting: University hospital referral center.

Emergency medical resource use in Taipei city.

Background: It is a worldwide trend to serve emergency patients at emergency department (EDs) staffed by board-certified emergency physicians (EPs). The question arises as to how many EPs are cost effective? This cannot be answered until utilization of emergency resources in the community is explored, so that appropriate plans for efficient ED use, staffing and training of EPs can be made.

Methods: A prospective randomized chart-review study was conducted from August 1, 1995, until May 31, 1996, in the EDs of eight large hospitals in Taipei City.

Morphological characterization of ventricular septal defect with posterior deviation of the outlet septum.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with posterior deviation of the outlet septum is frequently associated with left ventricular outflow obstruction and aortic arch anomalies. In this study, 17 patients with large VSD and posterior deviation of the outlet septum were evaluated. The VSD was further classified into 'high' and 'low' types according to the extension of the VSD; the high-type VSD (8 patients) extended mainly to the outlet or infundibular portion and the low-type VSD (9 patients) extended mainly to the trabecular or inlet portion.

Characteristics of malignant lymphoma in eastern Taiwan: comparison between aborigines and nonaborigines.

To study the characteristics of malignant lymphoma in aboriginal and nonaboriginal patients in eastern Taiwan, the records of 90 patients treated from July 1986 to September 1994 were reviewed. Immunohistologic staining with UCHL-1 and L-26 was used to determine immunophenotype. There were 20 aboriginal and 70 nonaboriginal patients (22% vs 78%).

Kenny syndrome: case report and literature review.

A 34-month-old girl presented with a clinical picture of Kenny syndrome. The clinical manisfestations included growth retardation, persistent open anterior fontanelle, prominent forehead, mid-facial dysplasia, hypocalcemic tetany and characteristic radiologic skeletal abnormalities. Serum levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) remained inappropriately low during hypocalcemic episodes in the neonatal period; indicating that hypocalcemia was a consequence of the hypoparathyroid state.

Analysis of prehospital ALS cases in a rural community.

Background: An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system containing the advanced life support (ALS) and manned with paramedics, is developing in many countries in view of the importance of prehospital ALS skills on ALS eligible patients, although previous studies have only revealed that a meager need for ALS in urban community. The purpose of this study is to understand the real demand of ALS in a rural community, so that a well organized and cost-effective EMS system can be developed in this country.

Methods: An EMS system with a single tiered response configuration, using firefighters to give basic prehospital care, stored in computer with some necessary informations was established in Ilan County.

Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta complicated by bloody pleural effusion--a case report.

A 68-year-old diabetic male who suffered from recurrent severe lumbago and high fever was found to have mycotic abdominal aneurysm. His symptoms did not improve after maximum-dose antibiotic therapy. Bloody pleural effusion on the left side was noticed hours before he expired.

Clinical and sonographic assessment of liver size in normal Chinese neonates.

Liver size and midclavicular line were measured by clinical and sonographic methods in 145 normal Chinese neonates with gestational ages of 34-42 weeks. The liver span, measured by clinical methods with percussion and percussion/palpation methods, correlated well with that measured by sonography (r = 0.73 and r = 0.

Hepatitis B virus infection among aboriginal children in eastern Taiwan.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Taiwan, with 15-20% of the adult population carrying the surface antigen (HBsAg). Hualien in Eastern Taiwan is relatively isolated from other parts of the island by the Central Mountains. The status of HBV infection among mountain aborigines in Hualien has not been studied on a large scale before.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus: a case report.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is a syndrome characterized by congenital heart block and/or cutaneous lupus erythematosus in the presence of maternal autoantibodies. We report a female newborn with cutaneous lesions of the neonatal lupus erythematosus born to a clinically asymptomatic mother. She presented with erythematous maculopapules on the face, neck and upper trunk at birth.