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Loh JM, Lim YJL, Tay JT, Cheng HM, Tey HL, Liang K. Design and fabrication of customizable microneedles enabled by 3D printing for biomedical applications. Bioact Mater 2024; 32:222-241. [PMID: 37869723 PMCID: PMC10589728 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Microneedles (MNs) is an emerging technology that employs needles ranging from 10 to 1000 μm in height, as a minimally invasive technique for various procedures such as therapeutics, disease monitoring and diagnostics. The commonly used method of fabrication, micromolding, has the advantage of scalability, however, micromolding is unable to achieve rapid customizability in dimensions, geometries and architectures, which are the pivotal factors determining the functionality and efficacy of the MNs. 3D printing offers a promising alternative by enabling MN fabrication with high dimensional accuracy required for precise applications, leading to improved performance. Furthermore, enabled by its customizability and one-step process, there is propitious potential for growth for 3D-printed MNs especially in the field of personalized and on-demand medical devices. This review provides an overview of considerations for the key parameters in designing MNs, an introduction on the various 3D-printing techniques for fabricating this new generation of MNs, as well as highlighting the advancements in biomedical applications facilitated by 3D-printed MNs. Lastly, we offer some insights into the future prospects of 3D-printed MNs, specifically its progress towards translation and entry into market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Min Loh
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Yun Jie Larissa Lim
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Jin Ting Tay
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | | | - Hong Liang Tey
- National Skin Centre (NSC), Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Yong Loo Ling School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kun Liang
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Singapore
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2
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Cheng HM, Honda T, Asahina R, Miyake T, Chow Z, Tomura M, Sakabe JI, Tokura Y, Kabashima K. In-vivo Imaging of CD8 + T cell-mediated Keratinocyte Apoptosis in Graft-Versus Host Disease-like Dermatitis in Involucrin-mOVA Mice. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:2827-2831.e3. [PMID: 35341733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | - Tetsuya Honda
- Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Ryota Asahina
- Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiya Miyake
- Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Zachary Chow
- Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Skin Immunology Laboratory, A STAR Skin Research Labs (A SRL), Singapore
| | - Michio Tomura
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Sakabe
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan; Skin Immunology Laboratory, A STAR Skin Research Labs (A SRL), Singapore
| | - Yoshiki Tokura
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kenji Kabashima
- Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Skin Immunology Laboratory, A STAR Skin Research Labs (A SRL), Singapore.
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3
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Cheng HM, Lim KH, Oh CC. Blasenbildung im Gesicht einer Patientin mit akutem Atemstillstand. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2022; 20:117-120. [PMID: 35040562 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14646_g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.,Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | - Kok Hing Lim
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Choon Chiat Oh
- Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
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4
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Cheng HM, Lim KH, Oh CC. Facial blistering eruption in a patient with acute respiratory failure. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2021; 20:117-120. [PMID: 34850553 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.,Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | - Kok Hing Lim
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Choon Chiat Oh
- Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
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5
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Cheng HM, Zhao X, Lim WS, Tan BJM, Tey HL. Factors affecting duration of SARS-Cov-2 viral shedding in mildly symptomatic patients isolated in a community facility. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257565. [PMID: 34570805 PMCID: PMC8476038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mildly symptomatic cases of Covid-19 in previously-well individuals form the majority of infections and also serve as potent vectors of transmission. The factors affecting the duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA viral shedding (DVS) in these patients remain largely unknown. Objectives To perform a systematic analysis of the clinical, radiologic, laboratory investigations in patients with few comorbidities infected with mild Covid-19 to identify factors associated with the DVS. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, patients with mild or asymptomatic Covid-19 were included. Baseline characteristics including age, nationality, comorbidities, concomitant medications, and type of isolation arrangement in the facility (single or in pairs) were collected. Clinical features and radiologic/haematologic findings were also collected. Taking day 28 as the cut-off, 187 patients who had a negative swab result up to day 28 (no prolonged DVS) were compared to 126 patients with a persistently positive result on or after day 28 (prolonged DVS). Results Of 964 consecutive patients included, 851 (88.3%) patients were symptomatic. 266 patients had a documented negative RT-PCR assay with a median DVS of 25 days (range: 13 to 96 days; interquartile range (IQR): 22 to 33 days). Patients isolated in pairs were associated with prolonged DVS (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.7 to 4.5; p<0.0001) compared to those isolated individually. Among vital signs, only tachycardia was associated with prolonged DVS (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.0 to 7.1; p = 0.03). Amongst investigations, only a raised CRP was associated with prolonged DVS (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.1 to 6.8; p = 0.02). Conclusions In young, mildly symptomatic Covid-19 patients, prolonged DVS was associated with being isolated in pairs compared to individually. In situations where a negative RT-PCR test result is required, retesting in patients who were not isolated individually, or who had baseline tachycardia or a raised CRP, may be delayed to increase the yield of a negative result.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wei Shyann Lim
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Beatrice Jia Min Tan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong Liang Tey
- National Skin Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: ,
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6
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Cheng HM, Tey HL. Non-Bullous Pemphigoid: A Yet-to-Be Defined Disease Entity. Dermatology 2021; 237:1046-1047. [PMID: 34515097 DOI: 10.1159/000518738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hong Liang Tey
- National Skin Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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7
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Cheng HM, Tee SI, Tan WP. Mycosis fungoides associated with silicone injections. Australas J Dermatol 2020; 62:237-238. [PMID: 33070324 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.13494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shang-Ian Tee
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wee Ping Tan
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore, Singapore
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8
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Wang R, Chen XY, Yu SY, Yang F, Chen ZH, Cheng HM, Huang XS. [Electrophysiological features of patients with subacute combined degeneration]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2020; 100:1023-1027. [PMID: 32294861 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20190716-01577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological features of patients with subacute combined degeneration (SCD). Methods: The electrophysiological data of 85 hospitalized patients in Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Abnormality rate of motor nerve conduction (27.4%(93/339)) was lower than that of sensory nerve conduction (45.9%(107/233)) (P<0.001). Abnormality of sensory nerve action potential amplitude was more frequent than conduction velocity abnormality (22.7%(53/233) vs 4.7%(11/233), P=0.001). Abnormality rate of needle electromyogram (EMG) was higher in lower limbs than upper limbs (31.9%(59/185) vs 5.7%(5/87), P<0.001). Spontaneous potentials were unrelated to disease duration or severity. Abnormal somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) results appeared more frequent in lower limbs (80.8%(118/146)) than upper limbs (61.1%(77/126)) (P<0.001). SEP abnormalities (71.7%(195/272)) were more common than nerve conduction abnormalities (35.0%(200/572)). Abnormal findings presented in 15/16 of visual evoked potential (VEP) studies. Neurological severity score were correlated with electrophysiological findings. Conclusions: Posterior funiculus is more likely to be affected than peripheral nerves in SCD patients. The sensory nerves rather than motor nerves, lower limbs rather than upper limbs, axons of sensory nerves rather than myelin, are more severely affected. Electrophysiological tests can provide evidence in early diagnosis, lesions location, and disease severity evaluation for SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Wang
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China (Wang Rong is now working in the Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Taiyuan Iron Steel(Group) Co., Ltd., Taiyuan 030003, China)
| | - X Y Chen
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - S Y Yu
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - F Yang
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Z H Chen
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - H M Cheng
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - X S Huang
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
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9
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Mogg L, Zhang S, Hao GP, Gopinadhan K, Barry D, Liu BL, Cheng HM, Geim AK, Lozada-Hidalgo M. Perfect proton selectivity in ion transport through two-dimensional crystals. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4243. [PMID: 31534140 PMCID: PMC6751181 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12314-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Defect-free monolayers of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride are surprisingly permeable to thermal protons, despite being completely impenetrable to all gases. It remains untested whether small ions can permeate through the two-dimensional crystals. Here we show that mechanically exfoliated graphene and hexagonal boron nitride exhibit perfect Nernst selectivity such that only protons can permeate through, with no detectable flow of counterions. In the experiments, we use suspended monolayers that have few, if any, atomic-scale defects, as shown by gas permeation tests, and place them to separate reservoirs filled with hydrochloric acid solutions. Protons account for all the electrical current and chloride ions are blocked. This result corroborates the previous conclusion that thermal protons can pierce defect-free two-dimensional crystals. Besides the importance for theoretical developments, our results are also of interest for research on various separation technologies based on two-dimensional materials. Defect-free monolayers of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride are highly permeable to thermal protons, but are impenetrable to gases. Here the authors show that mechanically exfoliated crystals exhibit perfect proton selectivity, corroborating proton transport through the bulk without atomic-scale defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Mogg
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - S Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. .,Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - G-P Hao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - K Gopinadhan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382355, India
| | - D Barry
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - B L Liu
- Shenzhen Graphene Center Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua University, 1001 Xueyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - H M Cheng
- Shenzhen Graphene Center Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua University, 1001 Xueyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - A K Geim
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. .,Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - M Lozada-Hidalgo
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. .,Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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Au AKY, Cheng HM, Cho KY, Tam CW, Khoo JLS, Ng JHY, Hau VTW. Rosai-Dorfman disease presenting as a solitary soft-tissue mass in the thigh: a case report. Hong Kong Med J 2019; 25:149-151. [PMID: 30971504 DOI: 10.12809/hkmj164921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A K Y Au
- Department of Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - H M Cheng
- Department of Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - K Y Cho
- Department of Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - C W Tam
- Department of Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - J L S Khoo
- Department of Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - J H Y Ng
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - V T W Hau
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
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Lu DY, Wang WT, Huang WM, Sung SH, Cheng HM, Chen CH, Yu WC. P1255Disease stage-dependent changes of cardiac contractile performance in patients with fabry cardiomyopathf. Eur Heart J 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy565.p1255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D Y Lu
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - W T Wang
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - W M Huang
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - S H Sung
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - H M Cheng
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - C H Chen
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - W C Yu
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
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12
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Yang YL, Sung SH, Cheng HM. P3646Controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score predicted poor outcome better then prognostic nutritional index(PNI) in patients with acute myocardial infraction. Eur Heart J 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy563.p3646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Y.-L Yang
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - S H Sung
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
| | - H M Cheng
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Cardiology, Taipei, Taiwan ROC
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and has a deleterious effect on dermatological conditions, such as skin cancers, hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a pharmacist-led smoking cessation clinic in reducing cigarette smoking at a tertiary referral dermatology centre. We described the impact of this clinic to provide guidance on how such a model could be further improved and implemented more widely. METHODS In this single-centre, retrospective study, 74 currently smoking patients who received counselling at a structured smoking cessation clinic between January 2010 and March 2013 were identified. Information on baseline demographic characteristics and detailed past medical history, including smoking history, was collected. Follow-up was conducted at two weeks and three months. RESULTS At the first follow-up at two weeks, which was attended by 57 patients, 9 (15.8%) had stopped smoking and 26 (45.6%) showed reduction in the number of cigarette sticks smoked per day, with an average reduction of 4.1 cigarette sticks per day. However, a few patients also reported no change or increased number of cigarette sticks smoked per day following counselling. CONCLUSION A structured pharmacist-led smoking cessation clinic is effective and can be made a part of the holistic management of dermatological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | - Wen Chun Liu
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | - Germaine Chua
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | | | - Winnie Li
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | - Winnie Choo
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
| | - Hazel H Oon
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore
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14
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Cheng HM, Chuah SY, Gan EY, Jhingan A, Thng STG. A retrospective clinico-pathological study comparing lichen planus pigmentosus with ashy dermatosis. Australas J Dermatol 2018; 59:322-327. [PMID: 29635779 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Controversy persists as to whether lichen planus pigmentosus and ashy dermatosis are separate clinical entities. This study was conducted to examine the clinicopathological features and treatment outcome of the two conditions. METHODS A retrospective medical chart review of all patients who were diagnosed with lichen planus pigmentosus or ashy dermatosis was conducted. The information collected included the participants' age at onset, site of onset, duration of disease, presence of precipitating factors, distribution of disease, pigmentation and presence of symptoms. In patients from whom a biopsy was taken the histopathological reports were included. RESULTS Altogether 26 patients with ashy dermatosis and 29 with lichen planus pigmentosus were included in the study. Compared with ashy dermatosis, lichen planus pigmentosus had a more localised distribution with a preponderance for facial involvement, compared with the truncal preponderance in ashy dermatosis. Ashy dermatosis tended to have a more stable clinical course than lichen planus pigmentosus, which was more likely to wax and wane. The utility of histopathology in differentiating between the two conditions is low. CONCLUSION Ashy dermatosis and lichen planus pigmentosus, as defined in this study, appear to be two separate clinical entities with distinguishable clinical features and natural histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Sai Yee Chuah
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Emily Yiping Gan
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Anjali Jhingan
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Steven Tien Guan Thng
- Department of Dermatology, National Skin Centre, Singapore City, Singapore.,Department of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
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15
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Maher NG, Blumetti TP, Gomes EE, Cheng HM, Satgunaseelan L, Lo S, Rezze GG, Scolyer RA, Guitera P. Melanoma diagnosis may be a pitfall for optical coherence tomography assessment of equivocal amelanotic or hypomelanotic skin lesions. Br J Dermatol 2017; 177:574-577. [DOI: 10.1111/bjd.15187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N G Maher
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - T P Blumetti
- AC Camargo Cancer Center, Cutaneous Oncology Department, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - E E Gomes
- AC Camargo Cancer Center, Cutaneous Oncology Department, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - H M Cheng
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - L Satgunaseelan
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Sydney, Australia
| | - S Lo
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - G G Rezze
- AC Camargo Cancer Center, Cutaneous Oncology Department, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Sydney, Australia
| | - P Guitera
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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16
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Du JH, Jin H, Zhang ZK, Zhang DD, Jia S, Ma LP, Ren WC, Cheng HM, Burn PL. Efficient organic photovoltaic cells on a single layer graphene transparent conductive electrode using MoO x as an interfacial layer. Nanoscale 2017; 9:251-257. [PMID: 27906401 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr06942h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The large surface roughness, low work function and high cost of transparent electrodes using multilayer graphene films can limit their application in organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Here, we develop single layer graphene (SLG) films as transparent anodes for OPV cells that contain light-absorbing layers comprised of the evaporable molecular organic semiconductor materials, zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc)/fullerene (C60), as well as a molybdenum oxide (MoOx) interfacial layer. In addition to an increase in the optical transmittance, the SLG anodes had a significant decrease in surface roughness compared to two and four layer graphene (TLG and FLG) anodes fabricated by multiple transfer and stacking of SLGs. Importantly, the introduction of a MoOx interfacial layer not only reduced the energy barrier between the graphene anode and the active layer, but also decreased the resistance of the SLG by nearly ten times. The OPV cells with the structure of polyethylene terephthalate/SLG/MoOx/CuI/ZnPc/C60/bathocuproine/Al were flexible, and had a power conversion efficiency of up to 0.84%, which was only 17.6% lower than the devices with an equivalent structure but prepared on commercial indium tin oxide anodes. Furthermore, the devices with the SLG anode were 50% and 86.7% higher in efficiency than the cells with the TLG and FLG anodes. These results show the potential of SLG electrodes for flexible and wearable OPV cells as well as other organic optoelectronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Du
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
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Cheng HM, Lo S, Scolyer R, Meekings A, Carlos G, Guitera P. Accuracy of optical coherence tomography for the diagnosis of superficial basal cell carcinoma: a prospective, consecutive, cohort study of 168 cases. Br J Dermatol 2016; 175:1290-1300. [PMID: 27146027 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.14714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) can be safely treated topically. Potentially noninvasive imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), may be useful to diagnose and manage patients with sBCC and obviate the need for biopsy. OBJECTIVES To evaluate in OCT (i) the sensitivity and specificity for sBCC diagnosis, (ii) the accuracy in determining BCC depth and (iii) the role in management of sBCC mimickers. METHODS A prospective, consecutive cohort of lesions for which sBCC was considered in the differential diagnosis. These lesions underwent clinical, dermoscopic and OCT assessment. Diagnosis and its confidence were recorded for each modality and were correlated with the histopathological diagnosis (punch biopsy). Interpretation of the OCT images and assessment of individual features were performed blinded to the biopsy results. RESULTS In total, 168 lesions were recruited: 52% were sBCC, 26% were other BCC variants and the remaining lesions were actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma in situ, other benign inflammatory processes and two other malignant tumours. The sensitivity and specificity of OCT for diagnosis of sBCC were 0·87 and 0·80, respectively. There was excellent correlation between OCT and biopsy for tumour depth amongst tumours ≤ 0·4 mm (Pearson correlation r = 0·86, P < 0·001), but the correlation was less as depth increased (Pearson correlation r = 0·71, P < 0·001 for all tumours < 1·0 mm). CONCLUSIONS OCT has good diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing sBCC and measuring depth in tumours ≤ 0·4 mm. Potentially OCT can reduce the need for biopsy in clinically suspected sBCCs. However, careful follow-up is required in such cases as there is a small risk (5%) of misdiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Cheng
- Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - S Lo
- Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - R Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A Meekings
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Medical Physics, London, U.K
| | - G Carlos
- Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - P Guitera
- Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Cheng HM, Thng STG, Tan WP, Chuah SY. Handheld reflectance confocal microscopy: A useful tool to aid diagnosis of acral pigmented lesions. J Dermatol 2016; 43:980-1. [DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.13322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Jia S, Sun HD, Du JH, Zhang ZK, Zhang DD, Ma LP, Chen JS, Ma DG, Cheng HM, Ren WC. Graphene oxide/graphene vertical heterostructure electrodes for highly efficient and flexible organic light emitting diodes. Nanoscale 2016; 8:10714-10723. [PMID: 27153523 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01649a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The relatively high sheet resistance, low work function and poor compatibility with hole injection layers (HILs) seriously limit the applications of graphene as transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Here, a graphene oxide/graphene (GO/G) vertical heterostructure is developed as TCEs for high-performance OLEDs, by directly oxidizing the top layer of three-layer graphene films with ozone treatment. Such GO/G heterostructure electrodes show greatly improved optical transmittance, a large work function, high stability, and good compatibility with HIL materials (MoO3 in this work). Moreover, the conductivity of the heterostructure is not sacrificed compared to the pristine three-layer graphene electrodes, but is significantly higher than that of pristine two-layer graphene films. In addition to high flexibility, OLEDs with different emission colors based on the GO/G heterostructure TCEs show much better performance than those based on indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes. Green OLEDs with GO/G heterostructure electrodes have the maximum current efficiency and power efficiency, as high as 82.0 cd A(-1) and 98.2 lm W(-1), respectively, which are 36.7% (14.8%) and 59.2% (15.0%) higher than those with pristine graphene (ITO) anodes. These findings open up the possibility of using graphene for next generation high-performance flexible and wearable optoelectronics with high stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jia
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
| | - H D Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Polymers Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China.
| | - J H Du
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
| | - Z K Zhang
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
| | - D D Zhang
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
| | - L P Ma
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
| | - J S Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Polymers Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China.
| | - D G Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Polymers Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China.
| | - H M Cheng
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
| | - W C Ren
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.
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Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging tool used in vivo in real time for diagnosis, treatment delineation and monitoring of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Features of BCC on OCT have been widely described and reviewed. However, the diagnostic accuracy of OCT in these various applications is unclear. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the accuracy of OCT in diagnosis and management of BCC using the Embase and Medline databases. In total 179 unique references were identified in the initial search, of which 22 studies with 556 histologically proven BCCs were eligible. Assessment of the quality of eligible studies was undertaken using the STROBE criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by the two authors. This systematic review provides an overview of the clinical applications of OCT in the diagnosis and management of BCC. OCT has been suggested to be useful in the diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment monitoring of BCC. As the technology improves and its utility increases, further studies with good methodological quality will be needed to implement OCT into daily practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Cheng
- Melanoma Institute Australia, 40 Rocklands Rd, North Sydney, NSW, 2060, Australia
| | - P Guitera
- Department of Dermatology, University of Sydney, Sydney New South Wales, Australia
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology; Royal Perth Hospital; Perth Western Australia Australia
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22
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Cheng HM, Kumarasinghe SP. Dermatological problems of asylum seekers arriving on boats: A case report from Australia and a brief review. Australas J Dermatol 2014; 55:270-4. [DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Department of Dermatology; Royal Perth Hospital; Perth Western Australia Australia
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23
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Cheng HM, Kim S, Park GH, Chang SE, Bang S, Won CH, Lee MW, Choi JH, Moon KC. Low vitamin D levels are associated with atopic dermatitis, but not allergic rhinitis, asthma, or IgE sensitization, in the adult Korean population. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 133:1048-55. [PMID: 24388009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.10.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 10/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of vitamin D on allergic conditions is unclear. In particular, large-scale, population-based studies examining this relationship in adult Asian populations are lacking. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and allergic conditions in the general adult Korean population. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed by using data collected from 15,212 individuals 19 years or older who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2010. The confounder-adjusted mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels of participants with and without allergic conditions (including atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and increased total and allergen-specific serum IgE) were compared by using multiple linear regression analyses. Multiple logistic regression analyses with confounder adjustment estimated the odds ratios (ORs) for developing each condition according to adequate, inadequate, or deficient serum 25(OH)D levels. RESULTS After adjusting for potential confounders, mean serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in participants diagnosed with atopic dermatitis than in those without this diagnosis (mean ± SE, 18.58 ± 0.29 ng/mL vs 19.20 ± 0.15 ng/mL; P = .02). Compared with participants with adequate vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/mL), confounder-adjusted ORs of atopic dermatitis were significantly higher in those with inadequate (12-19.99 ng/mL) or deficient (<12 ng/mL) levels (OR [95% CI], 1.50 [1.10-2.06] and 1.48 [1.04-2.12], respectively; P = .02). This relationship was not observed in participants with the other allergic conditions. CONCLUSION Vitamin D-insufficient adult individuals within the general Korean population have an increased likelihood of atopic dermatitis, but not asthma, allergic rhinitis, or IgE sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sunmi Kim
- Department of Family Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Gyeong-Hun Park
- Department of Dermatology, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, Korea.
| | - Sung Eun Chang
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Chong Hyun Won
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi Woo Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jee Ho Choi
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kee Chan Moon
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Abstract
We present a case of a 59-year-old woman with a hoarse voice of 3 weeks duration. A polypoid lesion involving the anterior aspect of the left vocal cord was detected by flexible fibreoptic endoscopic examination. Flexible bronchoscopic examination was unremarkable. Microlaryngoscopy and excisional biopsy of the laryngeal lesion were carried out. Histology of the biopsy showed stroma exhibiting birefringence under polarised light and a diagnosis of laryngotracheal amyloidosis was made. Systemic amyloidosis was ruled out by further investigations including positron emission tomography scan. Her hoarse voice improved following the excisional biopsy and regular follow-up was arranged for early diagnosis of recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hong Park
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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Abstract
We describe a case of a young woman who developed myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy following 1 year of recreational nitrous oxide (N2O) use. She presented with uncomfortable tingling sensation in her feet and poor balance. Physical examination revealed mild weakness and hyper-reflexia in the lower limbs. Proprioception and vibration were absent in the lower limbs. Pinprick and light touch sensations were reduced below the sixth thoracic dermatome. A broad-based gait and a positive Romberg sign were noted. The level of vitamin B12 was low (76 pmol/l). T2-weighted MRI scans showed hyperintensity changes at the posterior column from the second to the fifth cervical vertebrae. She made a full recovery following injections of vitamin B12 and physiotherapy. This case discusses subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord on a background of N2O abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Mei Cheng
- Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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26
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Abstract
We present a case of a 50-year-old man with a lump in the left parotid gland. A 4 cm soft mobile lump was identified in the left parotid gland clinically. CT of the parotid glands and neck was arranged confirming a 4 cm mass, predominantly situated within the superficial lobe anterosuperiorly but extending deep to the expected plane of the facial nerve. The positron emission tomography scan did not show distant metastasis. Complete excision of the tumour was achieved. Histological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with Extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma. He is undergoing chemoradiation therapy following surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hong Park
- Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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Tang YB, Chen ZH, Song HS, Lee CS, Cong HT, Cheng HM, Zhang WJ, Bello I, Lee ST. Vertically aligned p-type single-crystalline GaN nanorod arrays on n-type Si for heterojunction photovoltaic cells. Nano Lett 2008; 8:4191-4195. [PMID: 19367961 DOI: 10.1021/nl801728d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Vertically aligned Mg-doped GaN nanorods have been epitaxially grown on n-type Si substrate to form a heterostructure for fabricating p-n heterojunction photovoltaic cells. The p-type GaN nanorod/n-Si heterojunction cell shows a well-defined rectifying behavior with a rectification ratio larger than 10(4) in dark. The cell has a high short-circuit photocurrent density of 7.6 mAlcm2 and energy conversion efficiency of 2.73% under AM 1.5G illumination at 100 mW/cm2. Moreover, the nanorod array may be used as an antireflection coating for solar cell applications to effectively reduce light loss due to reflection. This study provides an experimental demonstration for integrating one-dimensional nanostructure arrays with the substrate to directly fabricate heterojunction photovoltaic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y B Tang
- Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films and Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
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Abstract
Natural autoantibodies are normal components of the humoral arm of the immune system found in clinically healthy individuals. There are two subpopulations of natural antibodies, including an overt group of antibodies that are readily detected in unfractionated normal human sera. The other natural antibody subgroup is revealed by physico or biochemical treatment of normal human sera in vitro. Unmasking of this latter cryptic natural autoantibodies (cNA) may occur in vivo by local factors in the tissue environment of disease states. The masking cryptic factors may be immunoglobulin (Ig) or non-Ig in nature. These factors may either be co-inhibitors or co-enhancers of cNA. In the heat-potentiated binding of natural anti-phospholipid antibodies, apolipoprotein H (beta 2-glycoprotein I) appears to act as a co-enhancer. The immuno-relationship between the in vitro and in vivo cNA phenomenon remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Cheng
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Tzeng CT, Tsuei KD, Cheng HM, Chu RY. Covalent bonding and hole-electron Coulomb interaction U in C(60) on Be(0001) surfaces. J Phys Condens Matter 2007; 19:176009. [PMID: 21690946 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/19/17/176009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We have investigated the bonding nature and hole-electron Coulomb interaction U in thin C(60) films on Be(0001) surfaces using valence-band and core-level photoemission, inverse photoemission, and near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopies. The C(60) monolayer had strong covalent bonding with the Be substrate, producing a nearly insulating film, in contrast to a metallic overlayer due to charge transfer observed on many other metallic surfaces. The effect of polarization of surrounding molecules and the image potential decreases the energy gap and U, but the bonding-antibonding contribution increases the gap at the interface. The measured U in thin solid films agrees well with a model calculation using gas-phase values. The deduced hole-electron attraction on the surface is about 0.7 eV larger than the reported hole-hole repulsion determined by Auger spectroscopy. On the basis of the surface-solid difference, the newly estimated value of U for hole-hole correlation places doped C(60) compounds nearer the metallic side of a Mott transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- C T Tzeng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre, Hsinchu 30076, Taiwan, Republic of China. Department of Electronic Engineering, Lan-Yang Institute of Technology, I-Lan 261, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is characterized by very high serum cholesterol and premature coronary atherosclerosis. Arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis are two major underlying pathophysiologies of arterial disease that are predictive of future cardiovascular events. The aims of this study were to quantify atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness and to evaluate their relationship with high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the level of exposure to high serum cholesterol in FH patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We measured traditional risk factors, hs-CRP, intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 35 heterozygous FH subjects and 17 healthy control subjects. Cholesterol-year score (CYS) was calculated to estimate the lifetime cholesterol burden in FH subjects. RESULTS FH subjects had significantly elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and carotid IMT compared with those without mutations. Among FH patients, the baPWV and carotid IMT were higher in cases with high cholesterol burden than those without. Similarly, the baPWV and carotid IMT were also higher in cases with elevated hs-CRP (> 1 mg L(-1)) than those without. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated CYS and hs-CRP were significant independent predictors of baPWV and IMT in FH patients. CONCLUSIONS Both high cholesterol burden and vascular inflammation are not only associated with atherosclerosis, but also contribute to the development of arterial stiffness in FH patients. Early detection of hypercholesterolaemia in FH patients is warranted to prevent the untoward pathophysiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Cheng
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Charng MJ, Chiou KR, Chang HM, Cheng HM, Ye ZX, Lin SJ. Identification and characterization of novel low-density lipoprotein receptor mutations of familial hypercholesterolaemia patients in Taiwan. Eur J Clin Invest 2006; 36:866-74. [PMID: 17087781 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01735.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease associated with a very high risk of coronary vascular disease. The study objective was to identify patients with FH in Taiwan and characterize novel mutations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-one patients with suspected FH living in Taiwan were screened for mutations in both the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and the apolipoprotein (apoB) genes using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction and exon-by-exon DNA sequencing technique. Functional consequences on LDL receptor activity were characterized in vitro for novel mutations and family pedigree was also analyzed. RESULTS Thirteen different functional mutations in the LDL receptor gene and one mutation in the apoB gene were found in 21 patients. Among the 13 mutations in the LDL receptor gene, 10 were single-point missense mutations, one was a two-point mutation in the same allele, one was a non-sense mutation and one was a frame-shift mutation. There were three novel mutations, including two missense mutations (M510K and W512R) and one frame-shift mutation (1953 delTA mutation). The characterization of missense M510K retained 36.2% of the activity of the normal receptor. Conversely, frame-shift 1953 delTA and missense W512R led to defective proteins, with only 0-6% of normal receptor activity. CONCLUSIONS The study identified 13 LDL receptor gene mutations and characterized three novel mutations causing FH in Taiwan. This facilitated a better understanding of FH among the Chinese population and may enable diagnosis of FH at the molecular level at a presymptomatic, early age.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Charng
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Yao X, Wu CZ, Wang H, Cheng HM, Lu GQ. Effects of carbon nanotubes and metal catalysts on hydrogen storage in magnesium nanocomposites. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2006; 6:494-8. [PMID: 16573050 DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2006.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports a study on nanostructured magnesium composites with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and catalytic transition metals with high H2 adsorption capacity and fast adsorption kinetics at reduced hydrogenation temperatures. Nanostructures in such a composite are shown to be responsible for improvements in both adsorption capacity and kinetics. It is found that the carbon nanotubes significantly increase the hydrogen storage capacity, and the catalytic transition metals (Fe and Ti) greatly improve the kinetics. This could be understood from the enhancement of diffusion by CNTs and decrease in energy barrier of hydrogen dissociation at the magnesium surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Yao
- ARC Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland, OLD 4072, Australia
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Abstract
How short can single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) be? How stable are such supershort SWNTs (ss-SWNTs)? This work is the first to address these questions. On the basis of binding energy (E(B)), standard heats of formation , and strain energy (E(S)), we found that SWNTs with only one benzene ring in the axial direction, which we refer to as supershort SWNTs (ss-SWNTs), can be thermodynamically stable. On the basis of the data of E(B), , and E(S), the relative stabilities of ss-SWNTs, fullerenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and butadiyne are discussed. This study has laid a theoretical foundation for the possible synthesis of ss-SWNTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Sun
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China
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Ong SG, Cheng HM, Soon SC, Goh E, Chow SK, Yeap SS. IgG anti-beta(2) glycoprotein I antibodies in Malaysian patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and clinical correlations. Clin Rheumatol 2002; 21:382-5. [PMID: 12223986 DOI: 10.1007/s100670200102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of IgG anticardiolipin antibody (ACL) and IgG anti-beta(2) glycoprotein I antibody (anti-beta2GPI) positivity in patients with primary or secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to assess the association between IgG ACL and anti-beta2GPI, and the relationship between the presence of ACL and anti-beta2GPI with the clinical manifestations of APS. IgG ACL and IgG anti-beta2GPI levels were measured in 51 SLE patients, 20 patients with SLE and APS (secondary APS) and 11 primary APS patients using commercially available ELISA kits. Relationships between laboratory data and clinical manifestations of the patients were examined. The incidence of IgG ACL positivity was significantly higher in primary (36.4%) and secondary (40%) APS than in SLE (13.7%) patients (P = 0.02). The incidence of IgG anti-beta2GPI positivity was significantly higher in primary (54.5%) and secondary (35%) APS than in SLE (7.8%) patients (P = 0.0006). Mean levels of IgG ACL and anti-beta2GPI were significantly higher in the primary and secondary APS than in the SLE patients (P = 0.002 for both). A significant relationship was found between IgG ACL and IgG anti-beta2GPI (P = 0.01, R(2) = 0.56). There was a significant correlation between the presence of IgG ACL and a history of thrombosis in the combined primary and secondary APS group, but not in SLE patients. In conclusion, in this study IgG ACL and IgG anti-beta2GPI are closely related and mean levels of IgG ACL and IgG anti-beta2GPI are higher in patients with either primary or secondary APS than in SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Ong
- University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Yang CY, Chou CW, Chen SY, Cheng HM. Anterior pituitary failure (panhypopituitarism) with balanced chromosome translocation 46,XY,t(11;22)(q24;q13). Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei) 2001; 64:247-52. [PMID: 11458764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Hypopituitarism is the clinical syndrome that results from failure of the anterior pituitary gland to produce its hormones. Hypopituitarism can result from: (1) intrinsic or primary pituitary disease; (2) intrinsic hypothalamic or secondary pituitary disease; or (3) extrinsic extrasellar or parasellar disease. The etiologies of primary hypopituitarism are miscellaneous. The dominant clinical picture of hypopituitarism in the adult is that of hypogonadism. Reports have associated hypopituitarism with anti-pituitary-antibodies, hereditary syndrome and chromosome defects, but hypopituitarism has rarely been associated with balanced chromosome translocation (11;22)(q24;q13). Here, we describe a case of anterior pituitary failure with balanced chromosome translocation. A 19-year-old Chinese teenager presented with failure of pubertal development and sexual infantilism. On examination, the patient had the classic appearance of hypogonadism. Endocrine studies and three combined pituitary function tests revealed panhypopituitarism. A chromosomal study revealed 46,XY,t(11;22)(q24;q13), a balanced translocation between 11q24 and 22q13. Chest films showed delayed fusion of bilateral humeral head epiphyses and bilateral acromions. Scrotal sonography revealed testes were small bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sella revealed pituitary dwarfism. The patient received 19 months replacement therapy, including steroids (prednisolone 5 mg each day), L-thyroxine (Eltroxin 100 ug each day), and testosterone enanthate 250 mg every two weeks. His height increased 4 cm with secondary sexual characteristics developed, and muscle power increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Yang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Chi-Mei Foundation Hospital, 901, Chung-Hwa Road, Yung-Kang, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
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Sasaki H, Shui YB, Kojima M, Chew SJ, Ono M, Katoh N, Cheng HM, Takahashi N, Sasaki K. Characteristics of cataracts in the Chinese Singaporean. J Epidemiol 2001; 11:16-23. [PMID: 11253906 DOI: 10.2188/jea.11.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To conduct an epidemiological survey of cataracts and examine the characteristics of lens opacities in Chinese Singaporeans. The results are then compared with those from two similar surveys previously done in Japan in Noto Area, Honshu, and Amami, Kyushu, respectively. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 468 subjects of > or = 50 years of age, who responded to the invitation to participate, were examined. Examination principally included photo-documentation of the anterior and posterior segments of both eyes. Evaluation and grading of lens opacities were done using graphical analysis of Scheimpflug and retro-illumination images. Inter-group comparisons were based on statistical analysis of cataract prevalence and distribution. RESULTS The prevalence of clear lenses decreased with aging with no significant difference between males and females--a finding common to Singapore and the two Japanese study groups. The prevalence of cataracts (or lens opacities of Grade II and above) in 60-79 year-old Singapore subjects was significantly higher than Noto and Amami subjects in the same age group. Further, cortical opacity was the main type in Singapore subjects in their 50s and which was significantly higher than Noto subjects of the same age group. In all age groups, the distribution and prevalence of both nuclear and subcapsular types in the Singapore group were higher than the two Japanese study groups. CONCLUSIONS Cataracts in Chinese Singaporeans are characterized by a high prevalence of nuclear opacities which was generally seen in tropics and sub-tropics. Our study also suggested the involvement of solar-UV in cortical cataracts as well as that of additional risk factors, such as environmental temperature and race, in nuclear and subcapsular cataract formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Sasaki
- Dept. of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
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Cheng HM. Lupus anticoagulant cofactors and the kidney. Nephron Clin Pract 2000; 78:245. [PMID: 9496755 DOI: 10.1159/000044928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We wish to supplement the useful comment by Stratta et al. [1] on the importance of including lupus anticoagulant (LA) tests when detecting for antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL), since monotesting solely with solid-phase aPL immunoassays may not be clinically relevant.
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Jorio A, Dresselhaus G, Dresselhaus MS, Souza M, Dantas MS, Pimenta MA, Rao AM, Saito R, Liu C, Cheng HM. Polarized raman study of single-wall semiconducting carbon nanotubes. Phys Rev Lett 2000; 85:2617-2620. [PMID: 10978121 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.85.2617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2000] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Polarized Raman spectra were obtained from a rope of aligned semiconducting single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) in the vicinity of the D band and the G band. Based on group theory analysis and related theoretical predictions, the G-band profile was deconvolved into four intrinsic SWNT components with the following symmetry assignments: 1549 cm(-1) [E2(E(2g))], 1567 cm(-1) [A(A(1g))+E1(E(1g))], 1590 cm(-1) [A(A(1g))+E1(E(1g))] and 1607 cm(-1) [E2(E(2g))]. The frequency shifts of the tangential G modes from the 2D graphitelike E(2g(2)) frequency are discussed in terms of the nanotube geometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Jorio
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE Excessive nearwork is believed to be associated with myopia development and progression. To investigate this further, we studied refractive error changes and their correlation with nearwork in a cohort of grade school children in Singapore. METHODS Cycloplegic autorefraction was performed 5 times over 10 months on 168 children aged 7, 9, and 12 years who were further divided into myopic and nonmyopic subgroups based in their initial refractive errors. Information about nearwork was obtained through diaries filled out over 24 h at the commencement of the study. RESULTS Myopia progression was high (overall mean: -0.87 D per year) and largely linear throughout the year, but significantly higher rates were seen after the final school examinations in 7-year-old myopes and nonmyopes. Overall, myopic groups exhibited higher progression rates than nonmyopic groups, although 33.6% of subjects from the latter groups had become myopic by the end of the study. Nearwork scores derived from the diaries were generally not well correlated with overall myopia progression. CONCLUSIONS The tendency for myopia progression rates to increase after the final school examinations in 7-year-olds is interpreted as a delayed effect of the intense nearwork associated with preparing for them. The timing of nearwork-diary data collection at the beginning of the study could be responsible for the poor correlation between these data and overall myopia progression rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- N W Tan
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
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Abstract
An attempt was made to study the effect of dietary taurine on the toxicity of oxidized fish oil in male Wistar rats. The rats were fed different diets with or without supplement of 5% taurine and 3% oxidized fish oil. After feeding diet with 3% oxidized fish oil and 5% taurine at the same time, taurine could improve the decrease of body weight and the glutathione (GSH) level in the liver, and the increase of relative ratios of liver and kidney weight to body weight and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level in the liver of rats caused by oxidized fish oil It also could reduce the activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the plasma of rats caused by oxidized fish oil. It was also found that taurine possessed a good recovering effect and a short-term preventing effect from the toxicity of oxidized fish oil in rats. Judging from these data, this indicates that taurine may play an important role in reducing the toxic effect of oxidized fish oil in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- D F Hwang
- Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, ROC.
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Sasaki K, Sasaki H, Kojima M, Shui YB, Hockwin O, Jonasson F, Cheng HM, Ono M, Katoh N. Epidemiological studies on UV-related cataract in climatically different countries. J Epidemiol 1999; 9:S33-8. [PMID: 10709348 DOI: 10.2188/jea.9.6sup_33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cataract epidemiological surveys applying objective judgement through lens images in the climatically different places of Noto and Amami, Japan, Singapore and Reykjavik, Iceland yielded several significant results about the influence of solar UV. 1) The percentage of transparent and of lens opacification was significantly higher in the Reykjavik subjects than in the Singaporeans. 2) The percentages including early changes were higher in Amami and Singapore than in Noto and Reykjavik. 3) Progressed lens opacification was highest in Singapore. While the main type of lens opacification was cortical in Noto and Reykjavik, that of Singapore was nuclear. 4) A significant correlation between cortical opacification and the history of time spent outdoors was noticed. The UV risk for formation and/or progression of cortical opacification should be acceptable from the epidemiological standpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sasaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
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Abstract
Masses of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a large mean diameter of about 1.85 nanometers, synthesized by a semicontinuous hydrogen arc discharge method, were employed for hydrogen adsorption experiments in their as-prepared and pretreated states. A hydrogen storage capacity of 4.2 weight percent, or a hydrogen to carbon atom ratio of 0.52, was achieved reproducibly at room temperature under a modestly high pressure (about 10 megapascal) for a SWNT sample of about 500 milligram weight that was soaked in hydrochloric acid and then heat-treated in vacuum. Moreover, 78.3 percent of the adsorbed hydrogen (3.3 weight percent) could be released under ambient pressure at room temperature, while the release of the residual stored hydrogen (0.9 weight percent) required some heating of the sample. Because the SWNTs can be easily produced and show reproducible and modestly high hydrogen uptake at room temperature, they show promise as an effective hydrogen storage material.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Liu
- Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110015, China. State Key Lab for Rapidly Solidified Non-equilibrium Alloys, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110015
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Cheng HM, Aafaqi S, Sam CK. Regulatory natural antibodies in hypertension? Hypertension 1999; 34:e10. [PMID: 10567206 DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.34.5.e10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Lam DSC, Cheuk W, Leung ATS, Fan DSP, Cheng HM, Chew SJ. Eye care when using video display terminals. Hong Kong Med J 1999; 5:255-257. [PMID: 11828065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the scientific data in the literature regarding eye problems and possible damage during the use of computer video display terminals. DATA SOURCES: Medline and non-Medline literature search and personal experience. STUDY SELECTION: Studies that provided evidence-based information about eye damage and eye care during the use of video display terminals were selected. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted independently by multiple observers. DATA SYNTHESIS: Most studies have shown that the levels of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation that are emitted by video display terminals are not harmful to the human eye. Eye complaints associated with the use of video display terminals include the McCollough effect, accommodative spasm, 'dry eyes', and eye strain. Ergonomic considerations and good visual hygiene can help alleviate symptoms. CONCLUSION: There is currently no convincing evidence that shows that using video display terminals is harmful to the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- D SC Lam
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong
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Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to map cortical areas that control eye blinking. T2*-weighted asymmetric spin-echo MRI (or BOLD-blood oxygen level dependent-MRI) was used to detect changes caused by focal variations in blood oxygenation. Six normal volunteers and two cases of dry eye (less than 5-mm Schirmer's test) entered the study. The experimental scheme consisted of three cycles of a two-step sequence: (eyes closed)-(blink or blink inhibition). And to minimize contamination from photic activation, the experiments were carried out in a dark environment and the volunteers reported no light perception during the MR scans. In all eight cases, normal blinking (about one blink every 4 sec) activated areas in the orbitofrontal cortex and in some cases, the visual cortex including the anterior portion of the visual cortex and the primary visual cortex. In severe dry eye, blink-inhibition strongly activated the visual cortex even after irritation due to corneal desiccation was removed by topical anesthesia. The blinking process, especially the rate, appears to be controlled in the orbitofrontal cortex. The significance of visual cortex activation in the dark and in the case of severe dry eye still remains unclear; although it may be associated with attention and arousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Tsubota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, 272, Japan
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Cheng HM. Heterogeneity of natural masked autoantibodies: comment on the article by Anderson et al. Arthritis Rheum 1998; 41:2089-90. [PMID: 9811071 DOI: 10.1002/1529-0131(199811)41:11<2089::aid-art35>3.0.co;2-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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49
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Cheng
- Division of Nephrology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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Chew SJ, Cheng HM, Lam DSC, Cheng ACK, Leung ATS, Chua JKH, Yu CP, Balakrishnan V, Chan WK. OphthWeb---cost-effective telemedicine for ophthalmology. Hong Kong Med J 1998; 4:300-304. [PMID: 11830687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
'OphthWeb' is an ophthalmic electronic medical record that can be accessed locally and globally via the Internet. OphthWeb can provide secure multimedia patient data to doctors, patients, and health care providers at any time and in any place. Patients have secured access to their own records in the convenience of their homes or during any emergency at any time or place around the world. OphthWeb provides interactive educational information and answers frequently asked questions by way of multimedia images on the Worldwide Web. A data transmission trial was conducted between the Xiamen Eye Centre in the Fujian province in southern China and Singapore. Clinical records, voice messages, and fundus and slit-lamp images were transmitted from Xiamen, and an off-line dialogue by e-mail and Internet-relay chat was conducted. The time delay from transmission to receipt was 30 minutes, which would be adequate to respond to most ophthalmic emergencies. This pilot project will promote computer literacy among doctors, and inter-institutional interaction in the health care profession. OphthWeb can provide telemedicine and electronic medical records at a low cost and great convenience.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Chew
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168751, Singapore
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