The role of circulating serotonin in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Oral PresentationBACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in the development of age-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The degree of cigarette smoking mediated the association between serotonin transporter (SERT) gene polymorphism and COPD. However, the interrelation between ...published_or_final_versionThe 17th Medical Research Conference, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 14 January 2012. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2012, v. 18 n. 1, suppl. 1, p. 31, abstract no. 4

Brassiere wearing and breast cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Prevalence of past or current Hepatitis B infection and factors for non-vaccination in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

The Conference program's website is located at http://jsibd.jp/1staocc/program.htmlPoster Oral: PO-46Information on the prevalence and natural history of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) among Asian IBD patients are scarce. Moreover, the prevalence of HBV vaccination coverage in Asian IBD patients remains unknown. AIM: We determined the prevalence and clinical course of current and past HBV infection among Chinese IBD patients. We also determined the proportion of Chinese IBD patients without protective antibody against HBV and factors associated with non-vaccination. METHODS: All patients attending our IBD Clinic had blood tests for viral hepatitis B markers. The prevalence of current and past infection with HBV, and effective HBV vaccination were determined. We also identified for risk factors associated with non-vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 267 Chinese IBD (166 ulcerative colitis and 101 Crohn’s disease) patients were studied. The mean follow up was 10.5 years. Current HBV infection was detected in 6.7% patients whereas 28.5% had evidence of past HBV infection. One hundred and two (38.2%) patients had no detectable anti-HBs antibodies. Multivariate analysis found that young age of diagnosis (OR 1.021; 95% CI 1.00 – 1.04) and the use of thiopurines (OR 0.51; 95%CI 0.29 – 0.91) were associated with absence of anti-HBs. Deranged liver function was detected in 27 (10.1%) IBD patients including three (16.7%) HBsAg-positive patients. The corresponding proportion of patients with liver derangement was 7.9% in patients with past HBV infection, 8.9% in HBsAg-negative patients without anti-HBs and 11.2% in patients with effective HBV vaccination (P = 0.71). CONCLUSION: Current and past infection with HBV was detected in about one-third of Chinese IBD patients. Approximately 40% of IBD patients lacked protective antibody against HBV. The use of thiopurines and young age of diagnosis was associated with non-vaccination among Chinese IBD patients. A more intensive HBV vaccination program with regular monitoring of anti-HBs may be needed in this group of patients.published_or_final_versio

10th anniversary book 1995-2005: Department of Nursing Studies

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Defining normal liver stiffness range in a normal healthy Chinese population without liver disease

BACKGROUND: For patients with chronic liver disease, different optimal liver stiffness cut-off values correspond to different stages of fibrosis, which are specific for the underlying liver disease and population. AIMS: To establish the normal ranges of liver stiffness in the healthy Chinese population without underlying liver disease. METHODS: This is a prospective cross sectional study of 2,528 healthy volunteers recruited from the general population and the Red Cross Transfusion Center in Hong Kong. All participants underwent a comprehensive questionnaire survey, measurement of weight, height, and blood pressure. Fasting liver function tests, glucose and cholesterol was performed. Abdominal ultrasound and transient elastography were performed on all participants. RESULTS: Of the 2,528 subjects, 1,998 were excluded with either abnormal liver parenchyma on ultrasound, chronic medical condition, abnormal blood tests including liver enzymes, fasting glucose, fasting cholesterol, high body mass index, high blood pressure, or invalid liver stiffness scan. The reference range for the 530 subjects without known liver disease was 2.3 to 5.9 kPa (mean 4.1, SD 0.89). The median liver stiffness was higher in males compared with females (4.3 vs 4.0 kPa respectively, p55 years (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The healthy reference range for liver stiffness in the Chinese population is 2.3 to 5.9 kPa. Female gender and older age group was associated with a lower median liver stiffness.published_or_final_versio

Use of liver stiffness measurement for liver resection surgery: correlation with indocyanine green clearance testing and post-operative outcome

Background:Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography has recently become available for the assessment of liver fibrosis. Whether LSM can predict the functional liver reserve in patients undergoing liver resection is not certain.Aim:To correlate liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test and liver biochemistry, and to determine its usefulness in predicting postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing liver resection.Patients and Methods:Transient elastography and ICG clearance test were performed pre-operatively in 44 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The LSM and ICG retention rate at 15 minutes (R15) were correlated with pre-operative factors and post-operative outcomes.Results:There was significant correlation between ICG R15 and LSM. In patients with LSM ≥11 kPa vs <11 kPa, there was significantly higher ICG R15 (17.1% vs 10.0% respectively, p = 0.025). For patients with ICG R15≥10% compared to those <10%, there was significantly higher LSM (12.0 vs 7.6 kPa respectively, p = 0.015). Twenty-eight patients proceeded to resection. There was a significant correlation between LSM and the peak INR after liver resection (r = 0.426, p = 0.024). There was a significant correlation between ICG R15 and the post-operative peak AST level (r = -0.414, p = 0.029) and peak ALT level (r = -0.568, p = 0.002). The operative time was a significant independent factor associated with post-operative complications and peak INR.Conclusion:LSM correlated well with ICG R15 in patients undergoing liver resection, and predicted early post-operative complications. Addition of LSM to ICG R15 testing may provide better prognostic information for patients undergoing resection. © 2013 Fung et al.published_or_final_versio

Interleukin-1β increases the risk of gastric cancer through induction of aberrant DNA methylation in a mouse model

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A pro-drug of the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) prevents differentiated SH-SY5Y cells from toxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine

Regular consumption of green tea benefits people in prevention from cardiovascular disorders, obesity as well as neurodegenerative diseases. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is regarded as the most biologically active catechin in green tea. However, the stability and bioavailability of EGCG are restricted. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether a pro-drug, a fully acetylated EGCG (pEGCG), could be more effective in neuroprotection in Parkinsonism mimic cellular model. Retinoic acid (RA)-differentiated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of EGCG and pEGCG for 30 min and followed by incubation of 25 μM 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) for 24 h. We found that a broad dosage range of pEGCG (from 0.1 to 10 μM) could significantly reduce lactate dehydrogenase release. Likewise, 10 μM of pEGCG was effective in reducing caspase-3 activity, while EGCG at all concentrations tested in the model failed to attenuate caspase-3 activity induced by 6-OHDA. Furthermore, Western-blot analysis showed that Akt could be one of the specific signaling pathways stimulated by pEGCG in neuroprotection. It was demonstrated that 25 μM of 6-OHDA significantly suppressed the phosphorylation level of Akt. Only pEGCG at 10 μM markedly increased its phosphorylation level compared to 6-OHDA alone. Taken together, as pEGCG has higher stability and bioavailbility for further investigation, it could be a potential neuroprotective agent and our current findings may offer certain clues for optimizing its application in future. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.postprin

Risk Factors and Post-Resection Independent Predictive Score for the Recurrence of Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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Fatal pancytopenia due to albendazole treatment for strongyloidiasis

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