Chen-Liang Chou

Taipei Veterans General Hospital · Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background: Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) is not uncommon, and various nonsurgical injection therapy for PTRCTs emerged. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) injection were proposed for treating PTRCTs, however, the relation of dose among injectates was still lacking. Methods: This was a prospective, non-randomized...

Objectives: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has long been regarded as the "gold standard" when resecting a supratentorial glioma, as it facilitates the goals of maximal tumor resection and preservation of sensorimotor function. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the ability of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) monito...

Objectives To determine whether ultrasound (US)-detected synovitis affects the therapeutic efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) injection for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Patients with symptomatic knee OA were recruited. All the patients received HA injection two times at 2-week intervals. Clinical assessments were performed using a visu...

Objectives To evaluate whether the therapeutic effect of ultrasound-guided injections with 10 mg or 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide (TA) was dose-dependent in patients with idiopathic mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Design Prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study with 12 weeks of follow-up. Setting Rehabilitation outp...

Infection with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes the development of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and associated clinical symptoms, which typically presents as an upper respiratory syndrome such as pneumonia. Growing evidence indicates an increased prevalence of neurological involvement (e.g., in the f...

Coronavirus disease 2019 has severely affected public health. Under social distancing and lockdown policies, patients with musculoskeletal pain have fewer opportunities than usual to receive routine medical care for pain management in hospitals. Therefore, we provided some suggestions for such patients to manage musculoskeletal pain and techniques...

Objectives The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the correlation between coracohumeral ligament (CHL) thickness and restricted shoulder range of motion (ROM) in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC) using ultrasound measurements. The secondary objective is to investigate the correlation between CHL thickness and disease duration. Des...

Objective: Glenohumeral joint hydrodilatation with corticosteroids has been proposed as an effective secondary therapeutic procedure for primary adhesive capsulitis (AC). However, little is known about which subgroup of patients would benefit from this procedure. This study aimed to identify covariates associated with improved prognosis in patient...

Background: In the present study, we investigated whether blink synkinesis monitoring during microvascular decompression (MVD) is effective for predicting long-term outcomes in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS). Methods: This retrospective study included 69 patients who had undergone MVD for HFS at a tertiary hospital. All patients underwent...

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was affected in children and adolescents with scoliosis. However, there was lack of study to compare the HRQoL among patients with different types of scoliosis. We aimed to investigate whether the HRQoL differs among patients with idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular, and syndromic scoliosis....

Background: Congenital or early acquired brain structural lesions often cause contralateral hemiparesis as well as cognitive deficits, developmental delays, and seizures. Among them, seizure is the most debilitating condition, as it greatly impairs the quality of life in both the affected individuals and their caregivers and prevents them from act...

Massage-related nerve injury is an uncommon, rarely reported complication. We report an unusual case of radial nerve neuropathy at the spiral groove in a 58-year-old woman that resulted from a single episode of deep tissue massage. Although the spiral groove is known as the most common site implicated in radial nerve neuropathy, to our knowledge, t...

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of local steroid injection plus splinting to that of local steroid injection alone using clinical and electrophysiological parameters in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Design; Randomized controlled study with 12 weeks of follow-up. Setting: Tertiary care center. Participants: Volunteer samp...

To determine whether hyaluronic acid (HA) injection into rheumatoid arthritis ankles and feet can achieve improvement in foot function and reduce synovial hyper-vascularization. Forty-four patients with RA having unilateral or bilateral painful ankle and foot involvement ( N ¼ 75) were studied. All the patients were randomized to receive HA ( N ¼ 4...

Objectives: To investigate the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) versus steroid injections for trigger fingers in adults using ultrasound-guided injection. Design: Prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled study SETTING: Tertiary care center PARTICIPANTS: 36 subjects with the diagnosis of trigger finger INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomi...

We report here the case of a 32-year-old man with a history of traumatic brain injury who presented with swelling of his right thigh. Soft tissue ultrasonography performed 3 days after the onset of symptoms showed a heterogeneous hyperechoic lesion with the formation of cysts and hypervascularity in the right iliopsoas abutting the surface of the f...

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with increased age, prolonged disease, low body mass index (BMI), and overlap with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Elevated fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 in cyclosporine A (CsA) users with SLE are associated with decreased active vitamin D and osteocalc...

Background A delayed decrease in heart rate recovery (HRR) following a maximal exercise test is a predictor of mortality in healthy adults and in those referred for diagnostic testing evaluation. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of numerous diseases. The purpose of this retrospective study was to explore...

Background There is evidence that adipocytokines play an important role in metabolism and in inflammation. Adipocytokines are involved in numerous rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. They exert potent modulatory actions on target tissues and cells in rheumatic diseases, including cartil...

Background Accumulating evidence showed smoking has been associated with inflammation and play a pivotal role in the development of RA. Objectives To investigate whether the smoking has an association with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) on disease activity, functional ability and physical mobility in Chinese patients. Methods Seventy-five Chinese male...

Background and purpose: Although there has been extensive research on the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve patients' motor performance after experiencing chronic stroke, explicit findings on the coupling of different rTMS protocols are meager. We designed this sham-controlled randomized study to inves...

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is becoming a popular method for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. We herein report a case of Achilles tendon rupture possibly related to ESWT. A 49-year-old female was treated with a calcaneal osteotomy due to Haglund's disease on the right. However, she developed chronic calcific Achilles tendino...

To determine the influence of mechanical intermittent cervical traction on the autonomic system. Prospective, cases series study. Sixteen healthy volunteers without contraindications for cervical traction. Subjects received mechanical intermittent cervical traction in a sitting position under two traction forces (10% and 20% of total body weight)....

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between patients' aerobic fitness and general health perceptions and how they correspond with functional aerobic impairment (%FAI) and quality of life (QOL). One hundred and two patients were administered a version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life brief form questionnaire (WHOQOL-...

Mould-induced atopic respiratory diseases are a worldwide problem. Characterization of fungal allergens is of major clinical importance. We identified a novel transaldolase family allergen of Cladosporium and Penicillium species. Fungal allergens were identified by immunoblotting, peptide mass mapping and partial sequencing, cDNA cloning and IgE ep...

Little is known about the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of magnolol despite numerous pharmacological investigations. Hence the present study which aimed to examine the pharmacokinetics of magnolol after its oral administration in rats, and to determine its pharmacodynamic properties with regard to its effect on locomotor activity.The absorp...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of musculoskeletal pain that causes morbidity, physical limitation, and poor quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of intra-articular (IA) injection of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) for advanced knee OA. Twenty-four patients (38 knees) were enrolled, and the subject...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with higher morbidity and mortality among ethnic Chinese patients than Whites. Corticosteroid and other immunosuppressive drugs, including cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine are traditional therapies for this disease. Since the year 2000, mycophenolate mofetil and ritux...

Anti-agalactosyl IgG antibody (anti-Gal(0) IgG) has been regarded as a useful serological marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unknown whether it is also elevated in serum and implicated in the pathogenesis of joint inflammation in seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SpA) such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Sera...

Entrapment and compression of peripheral nerves of the lower extremities, such as the sural nerve, are known to be infrequent sequelae of injuries resulting from exercise, posture, or footwear. Although testing for Tinel's sign and nerve conduction velocity examinations contribute to an accurate diagnosis, the use of high-resolution ultrasonography...

Walking is a popular and easily accessible form of physical activity. However, walking instruction for older adults is based on the evidence gathered from younger populations. This study evaluated walking conditions, strength, balance, and subjective health status after a 12-week walking-training program in community-dwelling adults > 65-years-old....

Cutaneous vasculitis (CV) is a condition with cutaneous manifestations and possible systemic involvement. The causative factors or associated diseases are usually drugs, infection, collagen vascular disease, or malignancy. Syphilis as a cause of cutaneous vasculitis is rare. We report the case of a large cutaneous ulcer and small-vessel vasculitis...

Diabetic foot care has yet to be enhanced in a universal health-care system in which specialized podiatric medical services are unavailable. This baseline assessment surveyed diabetic patients attending group education to improve current foot-care practices. Of 302 diabetic patients receiving usual outpatient care, 155 received group patient educat...

Aerobic fitness is among the various aspects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients' lives that may deteriorate as a result of the disease and, in doing so, influence patient attitudes toward their own general health. This cross-sectional study examined (1) relationships between patients' aerobic fitness and general health perceptions, (2) relations...

Ankylosing spondylitis is a common chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease, characterized by axial joint inflammation, peripheral arthritis, and enthesopathy. It primarily affect young male, and has strong linkage with HLA-B27. Persistent inflammation could lead to the bony growth or syndesmophyte, ankylosing of the adjacent vertebral body, and loss...

The aim of this study was to investigate whether preconditioned local somatotheral stimulation (LSTS) protects the muscle and nerve against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries. Male rats were randomly assigned to normal, preconditioned LSTS only, and I/R-injured groups with or without LSTS preconditioning. I/R injuries of the lower limb were induce...

To estimate the prevalence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) and the clinical features of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27-associated acute anterior uveitis (HLA-B27 uveitis) in Chinese patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a structured chart review to record the complete ocular history, including the onset of uveitis, month of uveiti...

Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) is a well-documented treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA). One of the multifactorial mechanisms is that exogenous HA can stimulate endogenous HA production. HA can regulate the growth and function of chondrocytes by binding to CD44 receptors on the chondrocytes. Synovitis is often found in patient...

Promoting the health and improving the ability and confidence of the elderly to live independently can reduce health care expenditures and increase the health of society as a whole. However, the evidence to promote physical activity in order to promote health among the aged population is weak, especially in regards to the economic evaluation of a w...

The aim of the current study was to determine the contribution of interleukin (IL)1 gene cluster polymorphisms previously implicated in susceptibility for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to AS susceptibility in different populations worldwide. Nine polymorphisms in the IL1 gene cluster members IL1A (rs2856836, rs17561 and rs1894399), IL1B (rs16944), IL...

Previous studies have shown that cytokine gene polymorphisms may confer susceptibility to psoriasis. To determine whether genetic polymorphisms of the cytokine genes might influence the development of psoriasis in Chinese patients in Taiwan. DNA samples were obtained from 170 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV), 102 patients with psoriatic arthri...

HLA, human leukocyte antigen; KIR, killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor; PA, psoriatic arthritis; PV, psoriasis vulgaris

Besides the HLA-Cw*0602 allele, the psoriasis susceptibility 1 candidate 3 (PSORS1C3) and corneodesmosin (CDSN) genes are two probable psoriasis susceptibility genes in the PSORS1 locus. The -79C, -26C and +246A alleles of the PSORS1C3 gene, the CDSN*971T allele, CDSN*TTC (619T-1236T-1243C) and CDSN*5 (619T-1240G-1243C) are strongly associated with...

To test the association of interleukin 1 (IL1) gene family members with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), previously reported in Europid subjects, in an ethnically remote population. 200 Taiwanese Chinese AS patients and 200 ethnically matched healthy controls were genotyped for five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the IL1RN.VNTR, markers pre...

To present a method for adapting chopsticks to persons with hand impairments and to compare the efficiency of the adapted chopsticks with spoons among adults with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Equipment development and pilot evaluation. Rehabilitation center. Two adults with complete C8-level SCI and 9 adults with incomplete SCI from the C6 to...

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disease with unclear pathophysiology. The condition is characterized by pain, soft tissue change, vasomotor change, and even psychosocial disturbance. It may affect the upper more than the lower extremities, and the distal more than the proximal. The trigger factors include carpal tunnel release, Dupuytren...

To submit serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) to statistical analyses to test their exact degrees of clinical usefulness as biomarkers for detecting high disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), comparing them with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (C...

To evaluate the changes in anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) following etanercept treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study included 90 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who failed treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). All patients were allowed to continue t...

To estimate in a Chinese population the prevalence of undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (USpA) among first-degree relatives (FDRs) of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) probands, and to compare the clinical features of familial USpA with those of sporadic USpA. The FDRs of two separate cohorts of consecutive AS probands were evaluated for the prevalenc...

Carriage of HLA-B60 has been shown to increase the risk of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in B27-positive Caucasian patients, but the association in B27-negative cases is less certain. This study assessed HLA class I gene associations in Chinese HLA-B27-negative AS patients. Forty-one Chinese HLA-B27-negative AS patients fulfilling the modified New Yo...

Candida albicans has been implicated in human allergic disorders. However, many of its immunoglobulin E (IgE)-reacting components have not yet been identified. The purpose of the present study is to characterize a novel 29 kDa IgE-binding protein from C. albicans. The 29 kDa protein was partially purified and its tryptic digests subjected to mass s...

Effects of ergosterol peroxide (C28H44O3; Cpd 6A) from Cordyceps cicadae on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cell proliferation were studied in primary human T cells. The results showed that Cpd 6A suppressed T-cell proliferation for about 24 h after stimulation with PHA. Cell cycle analysis indicated that Cpd 6A arrested the cell cycle progress...

Niu-Chang-Chih, which is the fruiting body of Antrodia camphorata, is a folk medicine that has traditionally been used in Taiwan for treating food and drug poisoning, liver disease, and cancer. By using HBV producing cell line as an in vitro model system, we found that Niu-Chang-Chih displays anti-HBV effects on both wild-type and lamivudine-resist...

We have previously isolated some lanostane- and ergostane-type compounds from the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata and Antrodia sp. in our laboratory. In this study, an ergostane-type chemical, named antcin C (Ant C), and three lanostane-type chemicals including sulphurenic acid (SA), eburicoic acid (EA), and dehydroeburicoic acid (DeEA), wer...

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in shoulders with chronic calcific tendinitis, to compare the functional outcomes of ESWT and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy, and to investigate which types of calcium deposit effectively respond to ESWT. Randomized controlled trial. Outpatient...

The purposes of this study were to compare the daily activity oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and healthy individuals; to compare dyspnea levels found in COPD patients and healthy individuals when they performed daily activities and exercise tests; and to e...

Two meroterpenes bakuchiol and 12-hydroxyisobakuchiol, and three C-glucosylflavonoids, saponaretin, isoorientin and isoaffinetin together with other constituents plumbagin, isoshinanolone, xanthyletin, xanthoxyletin, psoralen, plumbagic acid, plumbagic acid butyl ester, β-sitosterol and β-sitosteryl glucoside have been isolated from the aerial part...

Pan P-J, Chou C-L, Chiou H-J, Ma H-L, Lee H-C, Chan R-C. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulders: a functional and sonographic study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:988-93.

The chemical components and pharmacological effects of a Chinese herbal drug Wu-Chu-Yu, the dry unripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth (Evodiae Fructus, E.F.), have been studied by us since 1976. Totally, thirty-eight chemicals are isolated and identified from Evodiae plants in Taiwan. Among them, eight (7-hydroxyrutaecarpine, and 7 novel...

From the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the aerial part of Pterocypsela formosana, ten compounds were isolated and identified including apigenin (1), luteolin (2), caffeic acid (3), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside (5), apigenin-7-O-β-glucuronide (6), apigenin-7-O-β-galacturonide (7), luteolin-7-O-β-glucuronide (8), lu...

In order to understand the impact of the massive earthquake on disease activity, 60 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) living in the earthquake area (group 1) and 31 patients living away from the area (group 2) were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire was used to record demographic data and clinical manifestations before and 6 mon...

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of a new form of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), acematacin (Acemet), with indomethacin, in patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA). Patients diagnosed with OA were included in a double-blind, randomized, controlled parallel group study A total of 42 patients...