Infection Risks Faced by Public Health Laboratory Services Teams When Handling Specimens Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Wong, Chun-Kwan,Tsang, Dominic N.C.,Chan, Rickjason C.W.,Lam, Edman T.K.,Jong, Kwok-Kwan Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2020 Safety and health at work Vol.11 No.3

Infection risks of handling specimens associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by public health laboratory services teams were assessed to scrutinize the potential hazards arising from the work procedures. Through risk assessments of all work sequences, laboratory equipment, and workplace environments, no aerosol-generating procedures could be identified except the procedures (mixing and transfer steps) inside biological safety cabinets. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks, protective gowns, face shields/safety goggles, and disposable gloves, together with pertinent safety training, was provided for laboratory work. Proper disinfection and good hand hygiene practices could minimize the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection at work. All residual risk levels of the potential hazards identified were within the acceptable level. Contamination by gloved hands was considered as a major exposure route for SARS-CoV-2 when compared with eye protection equipment. Competence in proper donning and doffing of PPE accompanied by hand washing techniques was of utmost importance for infection control.

Early Intervention with High-Dose Steroid Pulse Therapy Prolongs Disease-Free Interval of Severe Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study

( Chao Chun Yang ),( Chun Te Lee ),( Chao Kai Hsu ),( Yi Pei Lee ),( Tak Wah Wong ),( Sheau Chiou Chao ),( Julia Yu Yun Lee ),( Hamm Ming Sheu ),( Wenchieh Chen ) 대한피부과학회 2013 Annals of Dermatology Vol.25 No.4

Background: Spontaneous recovery of severe alopecia areata is rare and the condition is difficult to treat. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the effects and safety of steroid pulse therapy between oral and intravenous administrations between 1999 and 2010 at the Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital. Methods: Data were retrospectively retrieved. A satisfactory response was defined as more than 75% hair regrowth in the balding area. Results: A total of 85 patients with more than 50% hair loss were identified and treated, with an overall satisfactory response rate of 51.8%. The mean follow-up time was 37.6 months, with a relapse rate of 22.7%. Patients with alopecia areata (hereafter, AA) of recent onset within one year showed higher response rates (p< 0.001) and lower relapse rates compared to patients with AA persisting for more than 1 year. Further, even in patients with alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis or ophiasis type, early treatment resulted in a satisfactory response rate of 47% among the treated patients. In general, oral therapy was as effective and well-tolerated as intravenous therapy. Conclusion: The response rate is determined by disease severity and time of intervention, not by the administration form of steroid pulse therapy. Oral steroid pulse therapy can be considered as the first-line treatment for patients with severe AA of recent onset within one year. (Ann Dermatol 25(4) 471∼474, 2013)

The Efficacy of Herbal Supplement Danggui Buxue Tang for Relieving Menopausal Symptoms

( Eliza L. Y. Wong ),( Annie W. L. Cheung ),( C. J. Haines ),( C. C. Wang ),( Chun-kwok Wong ),( Karl W. K. Tsim ),( William K. F. Cheng ),( Ping-chung Leung ) 대한폐경학회 2022 대한폐경학회지 Vol.28 No.1

Objectives: This study aimed to further explore the efficacy and safety of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a simple herbal formula, for improving the quality of life of women suffering from menopausal symptoms. Methods: A third clinical trial to determine the clinical efficacy of high-dose DBT for a period of 12 weeks was carried out. The standard Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) assessment chart was used for the evaluation. Safety was defined as an absence of direct estrogenic effects, serum inflammatory cytokines. Notably, interleukin IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor TNF-α, known to be directly related to estrogenic reactions in menopause studies, were monitored. Results: The third clinical trial indicated an overall improvement in the four domains of MENQOL, offering further proof of the efficacy of DBT demonstrated in the two previous trials. The serial checks of the three cytokines related to estrogen activities did not show either upward or downward trends. The haphazard behavior reactions of the three cytokines offered indirect indications that DBT improved the MENQOL independently from estrogen activities. Conclusions: The three clinical trials using DBT to relieve menopausal syndrome have offered solid evidence for its efficacy. The uncertainty regarding whether the “phytoestrogen” contained in DBT had bioactivities similar to estrogen was alleviated through the confirmation that no strict estrogenic bioactivities were observed. The issue of safety was further clarified via laboratory platform studies on DBT, which not only showed the lack of similarity with estrogen actions but also confirmed the value of combining the two herbs in the classic formula.

A retrospective analysis of 20-year data of the surgical management of ulcerative colitis patients in Taiwan: a study of Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

( Chun-chi Lin ),( Shu-chen Wei ),( Been-ren Lin ),( Wen-sy-tsai ),( Jinn-shiun Chen ),( Tzu-chi Hsu ),( Wei-chen Lin ),( Tien-yu Huang ),( Te-hsin Chao ),( Hung-hsin Lin ),( Jau-min Wong ),( Jen-kou 대한장연구학회 2016 Intestinal Research Vol.14 No.3

Background/Aims: With the recent progress in medical treatment, surgery still plays a necessary and important role in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. In this study, we analyzed the surgical results and outcomes of UC in Taiwan in the recent 20 years, via a multi-center study through the collaboration of Taiwan Society of IBD. Methods: A retrospective analysis of surgery data of UC patients from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2014, in 6 Taiwan major medical centers was conducted. The patients’ demographic data, indications for surgery, and outcome details were recorded and analyzed. Results: The data of 87 UC patients who received surgical treatment were recorded. The median post-operative follow-up duration was 51.1 months and ranged from 0.4 to 300 months. The mean age at UC diagnosis was 45.3±16.0 years and that at operation was 48.5±15.2 years. The 3 leading indications for surgical intervention were uncontrolled bleeding (16.1%), perforation (13.8%), and intractability (12.6%). In total, 27.6% of surgeries were performed in an emergency setting. Total or subtotal colectomy with rectal preservation (41.4%) was the most common operation. There were 6 mortalities, all due to sepsis. Emergency operation and low pre-operative albumin level were significantly associated with poor survival (P =0.013 and 0.034, respectively). Conclusions: In the past 20 years, there was no significant change in the indications for surgery in UC patients. Emergency surgeries and low pre-operative albumin level were associated with poor survival. Therefore, an optimal timing of elective surgery for people with poorly controlled UC is paramount.

The Optimization of Culture Condition for the High Efficiency Production of a Self-Silicifying Fusion Protein, GFP-R5

In-Wong SONG,Byung-Chun KIM,HyoJung PARK,Byoung-In SANG 한국생물공학회 2014 한국생물공학회 학술대회 Vol.2014 No.4

흉요추부 경막내에 발생한 Sparganosis 1예

박춘근,하영수,허춘웅,송진언 대한신경외과학회 1983 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.12 No.4

The authors experienced a case of sparganosis involving the intradural space of the thoracolumbar spine, in which unusual pathologic findings such as caseous necrosis without any inflammatory cells were noted. We confirmed the sparganosis by microscopic findings of the worm and immunologic studies of serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Epidemiology, pathogenesis and particularly diagnostic methods in association with CNS sparganosis are discussed.

BIOPOLYMER-BASED RECHARGEABLE BATTERY

LO Chun Kit Jason,WONG Chi Sum 국제과학영재학회 2014 APEC Youth Scientist Journal Vol.6 No.2

THE AMELIORATING EFFECTS OF BROWN ALGAE EXTRACTS ON DIABETES INDUCED REPRODUCTIVE DAMAGE

Yu-Chun Hsu,Christina Wong,Zwe-Ling Kong 한국수산과학회 양식분과 2015 한국수산과학회 양식분과 학술대회 Vol.2015 No.5

Improvement of the Thermal Latency for Epoxy-Phenolic Resins by Novel Amphiphatic Imidazole Catalysts

Fung Fuh Wong,Chun Min Lin,Kun-Lung Chen,Yun-Hwei Shen,Jiann-Jyh Huang 한국고분자학회 2010 Macromolecular Research Vol.18 No.4

Novel amphiphatic imidazole compounds were evaluated as thermal latent catalysts for the polymerization of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). Amphiphatic compounds 5-9, two commercially available catalysts 1 and 2, and compounds 3 and 4 were used to cure epoxy resin systems for an investigation of their thermal latency and storage stability. The results from the cure activation energy and viscosity-storage time of the catalysts, the order of thermally latent activity was 3-phenylpropanoic acid (4) > 2-amino-3-phenylpropinoic acid (5) > 2-amino-3-(imidazole-4-yl)-propionic acid (H-His-OH, 8) > N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-histidine (9) > imidazole-4-acrylic acid (6) >3-(imidazole-4-yl)propionic acid (7) > 1-cyanoethyl-2-ethyl-4-methyl-imidazole (2) > 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole (1) > histamine (3). From the results, the amphiphatic imidazole catalysts 5-9 showed better thermal latency than commercialized catalysts 1 and 2, basic catalyst 3 and acidic catalyst 4. Concerning the glass transition temperature (Tg), the use of amphiphatic imidazole catalysts 5-9 provided complete or near complete curing systems at temperatures ranging from 152-163 oC, which were similar to two commercially available catalysts (151-152 oC, 1 and 2)and histamine (159 oC, 3). On the other hand, the Tg for compounds 4 and 5 could not be detected at 30-300 oC from the temperature scans because of their weak nucleophilicity and low cross-linking reactivity.

급성 허혈성 뇌병소에 대한 혈압강하의 영향에 관한 실험적 연구

허춘웅,박춘근,김문찬,김달수,하영수,강준기,송진언 대한신경외과학회 1986 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.15 No.1

Controlled hypotension and temporary clip of feeding artery are used to reduce bleeding and to facilitate the neurosurgical operations, especially in intracranial aneurysm surgery, but the microvasculature of acute ischemic brain from impaired blood flow is quite susceptible to decrease in blood pressure and blood volume. The reversibility of brain damage following an ischemic brain lesion depends on the amount of regional cerebral blood flow as well as the severity of ischemia. The present study was designed to elucidate the effect of controlled hypotension on cerebral blood flow, cerebrovascular resistance, and pathological changes in acute ischemic brain lesion. Cerebral ischemia was induced in cats by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 6 hours through the transorbital appraoch. Forty-nine cats were divided into 3 groups, namely control group with mean blood pressure maintained at normal after right middle cerebral artery occlusion, hemorrhagic hypotension group with mean blood pressure decreased to 80, 60, and 40 ㎜Hg by with drawing of blood after right middle cerebral artery occlusion and drug-induced hypotension group with mean blood pressure decreased to 80, 60, and 40 ㎜Hg with arfonad infusion after right middle cerebral artery occlusion Regional cerebral blood flow was measured by the hydrogen clearance method following middle cerebral artery clipping and gradual decreasing mean blood pressure. Cerebrovascular resistance was calculated after regional cerebral blood flow was measured and size of infarct were examined in each groups after the experiment was completed. Results were as follows: 1) In control group, regional cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular resistance of the right parietal area with mean blood pressure maintained at normal after right middle cerebral artery occlusion were 19.4±2.1㎖/2.1㎖/100g/min and 5.5±0.4㎜Hg/㎖/100g/min. The size of cerebral infarct was minimal in 71% of the control group. 2) In hemorrhagic hypotension group, regional cerebral blood flow of the right parietal area with mean blood pressure decreased to 80, 60, and 40 ㎜Hg was 17.6 ±1.5, 15.4±3.8, and 7.8±2.9㎖/100g/min respectively, thus 6, 25, and 57% lower than the control group. Cerebrovascular resistance of the right parietal area with mean blood pressure at 80 and 60㎜Hg was 4.7±0.1 and 4.5±0.3㎜Hg/㎖/100g/min respectively, thus showing a gradual decrease in relation to the decreasing mean blood pressure. With mean blood pressure reduced to 40 ㎜Hg, the cerebrovascular resistance drastically increased to 5.1±0.5㎜Hg/㎖/100g/min. When mean blood pressure was reduced to 60 and 40 ㎜Hg, the size of infarct was marked in 57 and 85% of the hemorrhagic hypotension group. 3) In drug-induced hypotension group, regional cerebral blood flow of the right parietal area with mean blood pressure reduced to 80, 60, and 40 ㎜Hg was 19.1±2.3, 17.8±3.1, and 7.4±2.7㎖/100g/min respectively, thus 2, 10, and 38% lower than the control group. The regional cerebral blood flow of the right parietal area in the drug-induced hypotension group was slightly higher than the hemorrhagic hypotension group when mean blood pressure was reduced to 80 or 60㎜Hg, while there was no significant difference of regional cerebral blood flow in the both groups when mean blood pressure was reduced to 40㎜Hg. Cerebrovascular resistance of the right parietal area with mean blood pressure at 80 and 60 ㎜Hg was 4.1±0.3 and 3.1±0.2㎜Hg/㎖/100g/min respectively, thus showing a gradual decrease in relation to decreasing mean blood pressure. With mean blood pressure reduced to 40㎜Hg, the cerebrovascular resistance was 5.6±0.9㎜Hg/㎖/100g/min, thus higher than the hemorrhagic hypotension group. When mean blood pressure was decreased to 60 and 40 ㎜Hg, the size of infarct was marked in 42 and 85% of the drug-induced hypotension group. The extent of cerebral infarct was more extensive in the hemorrhagic hypotension group than in the drug-induced hypotension. 4) In the contralateral hemisphere of the infarct, there was no change in regional cerebral blood flow when the mean blood pressure was decreased to 80 and 60㎜Hg but when the mean blood pressure decreased to 40㎜Hg, the regional cerebral blood flow was markedly reduced in all groups. When the mean blood pressure decreased to 60 ㎜Hg there was no change in cerebrovascular resistance, however when the mean blood pressure was at 40 ㎜Hg, there was a drastic increase in cerebrovascular resistance in all groups. Due to loss of autoregulation in the ischemic brain lesion, the regional cerebral blood flow depends on the brain perfusion pressure and accordingly when there is ischemic brain lesion., the hemorrhagic hypotension produces serious brain infarction and edema than drug-induced hypotension.