Recurrent acute angle-closure attack due to plateau iris syndrome after cataract extraction with or without argon laser peripheral iridoplasty: a case report

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Glaucoma Drainage Device Tube Retraction and Blockage in a Patient with Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome Treated With Nd:YAG Membranectomy

Purpose: To report on a case that demonstrates the successful treatment of tube blockage of the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve at its aqueous entry site by Nd:YAG laser membranectomy. Method: We report a case of refractory intraocular pressure elevation in a patient with iridocorneal endothelial syndrome after glaucoma drainage device due to blocked tube from the iridocorneal endothelial syndrome membrane. In July 2014, our patient presented with sudden right eye elevated intraocular pressure to 67 mmHg despite a well-controlled intraocular pressure in the range of teens with timolol alone over the last 2 years. Gonioscopy showed total synechial angle closure and increasing her medical treatment failed to control the intraocular pressure. Ahmed glaucoma valve was implanted successfully. However, recurrence of raised intraocular pressure from partial tube retraction and tube blockage at its aqueous entry site by an endothelial membrane was noted at 2 weeks after the surgery. Nd:YAG laser membranectomy was performed on 2 occasions to restore the patency of the tube shunt. After the second laser membranectomy, the patient’s intraocular pressure returned to, and remained at, normal level since. Conclusion: Tube occlusion by membrane is a well-known complication following glaucoma drainage device tube in patients with iridocorneal endothelial syndrome. Nd:YAG membranectomy is effective to restore the patency of tube lumen without subjecting patients to more invasive surgical interventions including tube extender or another glaucoma drainage device. However, more studies are required to ascertain the long term effect of laser membranectomy to a blocked tube, in comparison to other treatment modalities. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of using laser membranectomy alone in treating Ahmed glaucoma valve tube obstruction due to a retracted tube blocked by endothelial membrane.published_or_final_versio

TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator promotes proliferation and invasiveness of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

The TP53induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) is the protein product of the p53 target gene, C12orf5. TIGAR blocks glycolysis and promotes cellular metabolism via the pentose phosphate pathway; it promotes the production of cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which leads to enhanced scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and inhibition of oxidative stressinduced apoptosis in normal cells. Our previous study identified a novel nucleoside analog that inhibited cellular growth and induced apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines via downregulation of TIGAR expression. Furthermore, the growth inhibitory effects of cMet tyrosine kinase inhibitors were ameliorated by the overexpression of TIGAR in the NPC cell lines. These results indicate a significant role for TIGAR expression in the survival of NPCs. The present study aimed to further define the function of TIGAR expression in NPC cells. In total, 36 formalinfixed, paraffinembedded NPC tissue samples were obtained for the immunohistochemical determination of TIGAR expression. The effects of TIGAR expression on cell proliferation, NADPH production and cellular invasiveness were also assessed in NPC cell lines. Overall, TIGAR was overexpressed in 27/36 (75%) of the NPC tissues compared with the adjacent noncancer epithelial cells. Similarly, TIGAR overexpression was also observed in a panel of six NPC cell lines compared with normal NP460 hTert and Het1A cell lines. TIGAR overexpression led to increased cellular growth, NADPH production and invasiveness of the NPC cell lines, whereas a knockdown of TIGAR expression resulted in significant inhibition of cellular growth and invasiveness. The expression of the two mesenchymal markers, fibronectin and vimentin, was increased by TIGAR overexpression, but reduced following TIGARknockdown. The present study revealed that TIGAR overexpression led to increased cellular growth, NADPH production and invasiveness, and the maintenance of a mesenchymal phenotype, in NPC tissues.published_or_final_versio

The Effect of Paternal Age on Relapse in First-Episode Schizophrenia

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Early intervention for psychosis in Hong Kong - the EASY programme

Aim: This article aims to describe the Hong Kong experience in developing and implementing an early psychosis programme. Methods: In 2001, the Early Assessment Service for Young People with Psychosis programme was launched in Hong Kong, providing both educational and service components. Public education includes promotion of timely help-seeking, accessible channels to service and knowledge of psychosis. The 2-year phase-specific intervention includes intensive medical follow-up and individualized psychosocial intervention. The programme has adopted the case-management approach, in which case managers provide protocol-based psychosocial intervention. The programme collaborates with non-governmental organizations and community networks in the provision of rehabilitation service. Results: An average of over 600 young patients enter the programme for intensive treatment each year. Based on preliminary data from a 3-year outcome study, patients in the programme have remarkable reductions in hospital stay accompanied by improvements in vocational functioning. Conclusions: The results suggested that the programme improved patients' outcome. Additional costs such as extra medical staff and medications may be offset by the shortened hospital stay. Further directions in early intervention are also discussed. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.postprin

Yoga and aerobic exercise in early psychosis: neurocognitive effects and brain changes of a novel clinical strategy

Session: Cognitive neuroscience: FC-09 Free Communications: no. FC-09-006OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to explore the effects of aerobic exercise and mind-body exercise (yoga) on cognitive functioning and clinical symptoms for female patients in the early phase of psychosis. We further propose to investigate potential mechanism underlying the clinical consequences. METHOD: 120 female early psychosis patients were recruited from three hospital/clinic sites and randomized into integrated yoga, aerobic exercise, and control groups. 82 patients completed the 12-week study (29 in yoga group, 25 in exercise group, and 28 in control group). Both interventions were held three times weekly, with each session lasted for an hour. All ...postprin

Age-specific incidence rate in severe or symptomatic infection due to pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus

Poster Abstract Session - Influenza and H1N1 Diagnosis, Epidemiology, and Viral Outcome: abstract no. 1133BACKGROUND: Age-specific incidence of the 2009 pandemic influenza provides the scientific basis of public health policies and the basic science research on the age-related susceptibility to influenza. While previous epidemiological studies provided vital information for public health policies, most did not incorporate age-specific data of asymptomatic, symptomatic and severe infection in the analysis. In this study, we incorporated data from seroprevalence and microbiologically-confirmed infection to estimate the relative impact of the pandemic influenza on various age groups. METHODS: For the determination of pre-pandemic and post-pandemic seroprevalence, archived plasma samples randomly collected at the clinical biochemistry department of Queen Mary Hospital in the years 2007 and 2010 were used respectively. Microbiologically-confirmed cases and severe cases reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) from May 1, 2009 to May 23, 2010 were included in our analysis. This study was approved by the institutional review board of the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong. RESULTS: 795 and 1000 plasma samples were collected in 2007 and 2010 respectively. In 2007, 8.7% and 14.2% of individuals had HI titers ≥40 and ≥10 respectively. The pre-existing cross-reactive antibodies were mainly found in patients aged >70 years old. In 2010, the overall proportion of individuals with HI titers ≥40 and ≥10 is 23.2% and 42.2%. The highest overall microbiologically-confirmed incidence rate was found in the 0-10 year age group, and decreased with increasing age (ρ=-1.0, p<0.01). A total of 282 severe cases were reported with a mean age was 47.6 years. The incidence rate of severe cases showed an apparent bimodal age distribution, with higher incidence rate in the age group 0-10 and those older than 50 years old, and the highest incidence rate being those between 51 and 60 years old. CONCLUSION: While the young adults were most commonly infected, the clinical consequence is most alarming in children and older adults aged over 50 years. Public policies should continue to target this high risk group.published_or_final_versionThe 49th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA 2011), Boston, MA., 20-23 October 2011

The impacts of yoga and aerobic exercise on neuro-cognition and brain structure in early psychosis: a preliminary analysis of the randomized controlled clinical trial

This journal suppl. entitled: Abstracts of the 3rd Biennial Schizophrenia International Research ConferenceCognitive impairment was detectable in early psychosis together with a decreased hippocampal volume (Wright et al., 2000). These cognitive deficits of attention and memory often result in severe and longstanding functional impairment. Reducing cognitive impairment with pharmacological intervention has not been universally successful (Addington, 2007). The current study aims to explore the effects of aerobic exercise and mind-body exercise (yoga) on cognitive functioning and brain structure for female patients in the early phase of psychosis. We further propose to investigate potential differential effects of these two forms of exercise. 61 female early psychosis patients were recruited from two hospital/clinic sites and randomized into aerobic ...postprin

Positive symptoms and white matter microstructure in never-medicated first episode schizophrenia

Author name used in this publication: V. Cheung2010-2011 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe