Publications (77) View all
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Article: Different sham procedures for rats in traumatic brain injury experiments induce corresponding increases in levels of trauma markers.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In traumatic brain injury animal models, sham or naïve control groups are often used for the analysis of injured animals; however, the existence and/or significance of differences in the control groups has yet to be studied. In addition, recent controversies regarding the decompressive craniectomy trial in which decompressive craniectomies in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and refractory increased intracranial pressure remains unsettled. Although the report demonstrated that the procedure may result in less favorable long-term outcomes despite the decrease in intracranial pressure and shorter length of intensive care unit stay, the study has been criticized, and the debate is still inconclusive partly because of a lack of mechanistic explanation. We have recently discovered epithelial and endothelial tyrosine kinase (Etk) to exhibit upregulation after traumatic neural injury and will compare the effects of craniectomy procedure with those of other procedures inducing different levels of severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of rats receiving different procedures (controlled cortical impact, craniectomy, bicortical drilling, and unicortical drilling [UD]) were compared. Polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and immunoflorescence staining of Etk, S100, and glial fibrillary acidic protein levels were used to analyze the results and compare the different groups. RESULTS: Etk upregulation was statistically significant between craniectomy and UD groups. The level of change for glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 was only significant when cortex was impacted. CONCLUSIONS: UD may be preferable as a sham control procedure over craniectomy or bicortical drilling. Increases in the expression of Etk in the craniectomy group suggest a possible mechanism by which unfavorable outcome occurs in patients receiving craniectomy procedures.Journal of Surgical Research 10/2012; · 2.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Location and level of Etk expression in neurons are associated with varied severity of traumatic brain injury.
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ABSTRACT: Much recent research effort in traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been devoted to the discovery of a reliable biomarker correlating with severity of injury. Currently, no consensus has been reached regarding a representative marker for traumatic brain injury. In this study, we explored the potential of epithelial/endothelial tyrosine kinase (Etk) as a novel marker for TBI. TBI was induced in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by controlled cortical impact. Brain tissue samples were analyzed by Western blot, Q-PCR, and immunofluorescence staining using various markers including glial fibrillary acidic protein, and epithelial/endothelial tyrosine kinase (Etk). Results show increased Etk expression with increased number and severity of impacts. Expression increased 2.36 to 7-fold relative to trauma severity. Significant upregulation of Etk appeared at 1 hour after injury. The expression level of Etk was inversely correlated with distance from injury site. Etk and trauma/inflammation related markers increased post-TBI, while other tyrosine kinases did not. The observed correlation between Etk level and the number of impacts, the severity of impact, and the time course after impact, as well as its inverse correlation with distance away from injury site, support the potential of Etk as a possible indicator of trauma severity.PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(6):e39226. · 4.09 Impact Factor -
Article: The injury epidemiology transition in South Asia.
Injury 11/2009; 41(9):975-6. · 1.98 Impact Factor -
Article: Clinical practice guidelines in severe traumatic brain injury in Taiwan.
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ABSTRACT: Severe TBIs are major causes of disability and death in accidents. The Brain Trauma Foundation supported the first edition of the Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in 1995 and revised it in 2000. The recommendations in these guidelines are well accepted in the world. There are still some different views on trauma mechanisms, pathogenesis, and managements in different areas. Individualized guidelines for different countries would be necessary, and Taiwan is no exception. In November 2005, we organized the severe TBI guidelines committee and selected 9 topics, including ER treatment, ICP monitoring, CPP, fluid therapy, use of sedatives, nutrition, intracranial hypertension, seizure prophylaxis, and second-tier therapy. We have since searched key questions in these topics on Medline. References are classified into 8 levels of evidence: 1++, 1+, 1-, 2++, 2+, 2-, 3, and 4 based on the criteria of the SIGN. Recommendations are formed and graded as A, B, C, and D. Grade A means that at least one piece of evidence is rated as 1++, whereas grade B means inclusion of studies rated as 2++. Grade C means inclusion of references rated as 2+, and grade D means levels of evidence rated as 3 or 4. Overall, 42 recommendations are formed. Three of these are rated as grade A, 13 as grade B, 21 as grade C, and 5 as grade D. We have completed the first evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines for severe TBIs. It is hoped that the guidelines will provide concepts and recommendations to promote the quality of care for severe TBIs in Taiwan.Surgical Neurology 10/2009; 72 Suppl 2:S66-73; discussion S73-4. · 1.67 Impact Factor -
Article: Percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty with polymethyl methacrylate for pathological fracture of the spine.
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ABSTRACT: We aimed to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty (PVP) using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in patients with symptomatic metastatic spine lesions. We included 31 patients in this retrospective study who were treated with PMMA from 2003 to 2005 for intractable pain due to metastatic spine lesions. The types of cancer (and numbers of patients) included: lung cancer (9), breast cancer (7), gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancers (5), hepatobiliary malignancies (3), and other types of cancer (7). All patients received vertebroplasty, resulting in 41 treatments (16 in thoracic, 25 in lumbar spine). Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain were measured in all patients. Image studies including contrast-enhanced MRI were performed in all patients. Results showed characteristic metastatic lesions. Suspicious lesions were further confirmed as malignant by a bone scan, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, and pathological exam. Vertebroplasty resulted in complete or partial pain relief in 29 patients (95%), and provided no pain relief in 2 patients (5%). The mean preoperative VAS score of 8.9 (+/-0.93) was higher than the mean postoperative VAS score (2.6+/-1.71). Metastatic spine lesions were most common in lung and breast cancer patients and these lesions were located more often on segments T12 to L2 (53.6%). Patients with malignancy of hepatobiliary origin did not show improvement in pain scores as dramatically as patients with other types of malignancies, although only a few cases were included in this study. No patients experienced worsening of symptoms or suffered from vertebroplasty complications. We conclude that vertebroplasty is a safe, effective, and simple treatment for the management of intractable spinal pain due to metastases.Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 07/2009; 16(10):1300-4. · 1.25 Impact Factor
