p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression in gestational trophoblastic disease: correlation with clinicopathological parameters, and Ki67 and p53 gene expression

Background--The p21(WAF1/CIP1) gene mediates growth arrest by inhibiting G 1 cyclin dependent kinases and has been considered as a downstream effector of the tumour suppressor gene p53. Aim--To analyse the role of p21(WAF1/CIP1) in gestational trophoblastic disease. Methods--The immunohistochemical expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) gene was measured in 33 placentas, 28 partial hydatidiform moles, 54 complete hydatidiform moles, and 13 choriocarcinomas in paraffin wax embedded tissue. The results were correlated with p53 (DO7) and Ki67 (MIB1) immunoreactivity as well as clinical progress. Results--p21(WAF1/CIP1) immunoreactivity was found predominantly in the nuclei of the syncytiotrophoblasts. p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein expression correlated with gestational age in normal placentas (p = 0.0001) but not in hydatidiform moles (p = 0.89). Complete hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinomas had a significantly higher p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression compared with normal placentas and partial hydatiform moles (p 0.05) in p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression between the 17 patients who developed persistent gestational trophoblastic disease and those who did not. Conclusions--This study suggests that p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression in trophoblastic disease may be induced by a p53 independent pathway. The proliferative activity of gestational trophoblastic diseases might not be determined solely by the control of the cell cycle operated by p21(WAF1/CIP1). p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression is not an accurate prognostic indicator of gestational trophoblastic disease.published_or_final_versio

Cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination for elderly people living in the community.

Key Messages 1. Influenza vaccination of elderly people living in the community was cost-effective from a societal perspective but did not cut publicly funded medical costs or total medical costs. 2. For the oldest group (≥75 years) living in the community, influenza vaccination can cut publicly funded medical costs if the total vaccination cost per head is HK$39.6 or less. 3. Influenza vaccination is costeffective if the value of increasing an elderly person’s lifespan for a year at most is measured as HK$68 047 or more.published_or_final_versio

Metabolism of chloramphenicol by human bone marrow

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Quality-adjusted life years: population-specific measurement of the quality component.

Key Message: A valid scoring algorithm was developed to translate local SF-36 datasets to quality-adjusted life years.published_or_final_versio

Pathway of psychiatric care in Hong Kong

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Higgs production in association with top quark pair at e+e- colliders in theories of higher dimensional gravity

The models of large extra compact dimensions, as suggested by Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos and Dvali, predict exciting phenomenological consequences with gravitational interactions becoming strong at the TeV scale. Such theories can be tested at the existing and future colliders. In this paper, we study the contribution of virtual Kaluza-Klein excitations in the process $e^+e^- \to t \bar t H$ at future linear collider (NLC). We find that the virtual exchange KK gravitons can modify the cross-section $\sigma(e^+e^- \to t \bar t H)$ significantly from its Standard Model value and will allow the effective string scale to be probed up to 7.9 TeV.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, 4 postscript figure

Targeting aberrant epigenetic networks mediated by PRMT1 and KDM4C in acute myeloid leukemia

SummaryTranscriptional deregulation plays a major role in acute myeloid leukemia, and therefore identification of epigenetic modifying enzymes essential for the maintenance of oncogenic transcription programs holds the key to better understanding of the biology and designing effective therapeutic strategies for the disease. Here we provide experimental evidence for the functional involvement and therapeutic potential of targeting PRMT1, an H4R3 methyltransferase, in various MLL and non-MLL leukemias. PRMT1 is necessary but not sufficient for leukemic transformation, which requires co-recruitment of KDM4C, an H3K9 demethylase, by chimeric transcription factors to mediate epigenetic reprogramming. Pharmacological inhibition of KDM4C/PRMT1 suppresses transcription and transformation ability of MLL fusions and MOZ-TIF2, revealing a tractable aberrant epigenetic circuitry mediated by KDM4C and PRMT1 in acute leukemia

Improved approximation algorithms for inventory problems

We give new approximation algorithms for the submodular joint replenishment problem and the inventory routing problem, using an iterative rounding approach. In both problems, we are given a set of N items and a discrete time horizon of T days in which given demands for the items must be satisfied. Ordering a set of items incurs a cost according to a set function, with properties depending on the problem under consideration. Demand for an item at time t can be satisfied by an order on any day prior to t, but a holding cost is charged for storing the items during the intermediate period; the goal is to minimize the sum of the ordering and holding cost. Our approximation factor for both problems is [Formula Presented]; this improves exponentially on the previous best results

A comparison of two systems of patient immobilization for prostate radiotherapy

2013-2014 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

A meta-analysis on the clinical outcomes of bridge to surgery stenting versus emergency surgery in malignant left-sided colonic obstruction

Poster PresentationINTRODUCTION: Left-sided malignant colonic obstruction was conventionally managed by emergency operation until the introduction of bridge to surgery stenting (BTS stenting). Despite evidence showing superior short-term outcome, the long-term oncological safety for BTS stenting is still questionable. Large-scale comparative studies on the long-term outcomes were scarce. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of BTS stenting and emergency surgery for ...postprin