Predicting the Impact of Climate Change on Threatened Species in UK Waters

Global climate change is affecting the distribution of marine species and is thought to represent a threat to biodiversity. Previous studies project expansion of species range for some species and local extinction elsewhere under climate change. Such range shifts raise concern for species whose long-term persistence is already threatened by other human disturbances such as fishing. However, few studies have attempted to assess the effects of future climate change on threatened vertebrate marine species using a multi-model approach. There has also been a recent surge of interest in climate change impacts on protected areas. This study applies three species distribution models and two sets of climate model projections to explore the potential impacts of climate change on marine species by 2050. A set of species in the North Sea, including seven threatened and ten major commercial species were used as a case study. Changes in habitat suitability in selected candidate protected areas around the UK under future climatic scenarios were assessed for these species. Moreover, change in the degree of overlap between commercial and threatened species ranges was calculated as a proxy of the potential threat posed by overfishing through bycatch. The ensemble projections suggest northward shifts in species at an average rate of 27 km per decade, resulting in small average changes in range overlap between threatened and commercially exploited species. Furthermore, the adverse consequences of climate change on the habitat suitability of protected areas were projected to be small. Although the models show large variation in the predicted consequences of climate change, the multi-model approach helps identify the potential risk of increased exposure to human stressors of critically endangered species such as common skate (Dipturus batis) and angelshark (Squatina squatina)

Laser spectroscopy of the C1Σ+-X1Σ+ transition of ScBr

The laser induced fluorescence spectrum of scandium monobromide (ScBr) between 795 and 845 nm has been recorded and analyzed. ScBr was produced by reacting laser vaporized Sc atoms with ethyl bromide (C 2H 5Br). Spectra of six vibrational bands of both Sc 79Br and Sc 81Br isotopomers of the C 1Σ +-X 1Σ + transition were observed. A least-squares fit of the measured line positions yielded accurate molecular constants for the v = 0-3 levels of the C 1Σ + state and the v = 0-2 levels of the X 1Σ + state. The equilibrium bond length of the C 1Σ + state has been determined to be 2.4776 . © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.postprin

以前瞻性雙盲隨機對照方式, 試驗香港華籍人士在進行經直腸超聲波導引的前列腺活組織切除術時, 使用含利多卡因的凝膠與純粹潤滑劑在止痛效用上的分別

OBJECTIVE. To compare the level of pain experienced by patients during transrectal ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsy using intrarectal 2% lidocaine gel versus plain lubricant gel. DESIGN. Prospective double-blind randomised controlled trial. SETTING. Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS. From March 2002 to December 2003, patients who underwent ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy at a Geriatric Urology Centre. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Pain and discomfort scores measured by horizontal visual analogue scales. RESULTS. A total of 338 consecutive patients were randomised to lidocaine gel or plain lubricant gel groups. The two groups were statistically similar in demographic and disease characteristics. There were no significant statistical differences in pain or discomfort score in the lidocaine gel and plain lubricant groups—pain score: 1.75 versus 1.79 (P=0.66) on day 0 and 0.21 versus 0.15 (P=0.97) on day 1; discomfort score: 0.79 versus 0.77 (P=0.86) on day 0 and 0.12 versus 0.12 (P=0.76) on day 1. No major complications were recorded in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS. Transrectal ultrasound-guided trucut biopsy of the prostate can be safely performed with no anaesthesia in Chinese patients. Pain and discomfort are minimal. It was found that 2% lidocaine gel has no statistical therapeutic or analgesic benefit over plain lubricant gel.published_or_final_versio

Recreational destinations and leisure-time physical activity in Chinese urban elders

Conference Theme: Promoting Healthy Eating and Activity WorldwideSession - S36 The relationships between the physical environment and physical activity in older adults: results from four different continents: abstract S36.4PURPOSE: The built environment may impact on elders’ ability to engage in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Environmental correlates of LTPA in Chinese older residents of ultra-dense cities are unknown. The main aim of this study was to examine associations of objectively-measured recreational facilities in the neighborhood with LTPA (walking and other forms of activity) in Chinese elders residing in an ultra-dense city. We also examined whether these associations depend on other environmental factors. METHOD: This study was conducted in Hong Kong in …postprin

Improved survival with lymph node sampling in Wilms tumor

We sought to determine the impact of number of lymph nodes examined on survival for Wilms tumor (WT). Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results and Florida Cancer Data System were queried for patients < 20 years of age with WT. Of 1805 WT patients, 1340 had lymph node (LN) data available following surgery. The mean age for the cohort was 3.3 ± 2.8 y. Most patients were White (78%), and non-Hispanic (78%). A total of 297 patients (22%) had 0 LN sampled, while 697 (52%) had 1–5 LN, 210 (16%) had 6–10 LN, and 136 (10%) had >10 LN. Overall 5-y survival was 91%. By univariate analysis, 5-y survival was significantly lower for patients with 0 LN sampled (87% versus 91% 1–5 LN; 93% 6–10 LN; 95% >10 LN, P = 0.005). Multivariate analysis confirmed a survival advantage for patients having 1–5 LN (HR 0.600, P = 0.016), 6–10 LN (HR 0.521, P = 0.048), and >10 LN (HR 0.403, P = 0.039) compared with patients with 0 LN examined. Failure to biopsy lymph nodes for WT patients not only increases the risk of local recurrence due to understaging and inadequate adjuvant therapy, but is also an independent prognostic indicator of lower survival

瑪麗醫院進行腹腔鏡腎臟切除術的早期經驗

OBJECTIVE: To report our early experience of laparoscopic nephrectomy. DESIGN: Prospective data collection. SETTING: Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomies were performed on 40 patients between July 1997 and December 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and perioperative data including operating time, blood loss, postoperative pain score, analgesic requirement, complications, time to resume oral intake, ambulatory state, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed for 21 solid renal masses, five transitional cell carcinomas, and 14 non-functioning kidneys. Seven (17.5%) patients had previous abdominal surgery. The mean body mass index of the patients was 23.9 kg/m(2) and the mean operating time was 229 minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 370 mL, and two patients required conversion to open surgery because of intra-operative bleeding. Other complications include diaphragmatic injury, port-site bleeding, chyle leakage, bleeding peptic ulcer, and myocardial ischaemia. The postoperative mean analgesic requirement was 26 mg of morphine sulphate equivalent. The mean time for patients to resume oral diet and full ambulation was 1.3 and 2.8 days, respectively, and the mean length of hospital stay was 6.7 days. The mean diameter of the solid renal tumour was 4.1 cm and the surgical margins of all resected specimen for malignant tumours were negative. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a safe and efficacious approach for resection of benign non-functioning kidneys and malignant renal tumours.published_or_final_versio

Signaling Network of MIF Knockdown in Inhibiting Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Gastric and Colorectal Cancers

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), one of the first discovered proinflammatory cytokines, has been implicated in the promotion of tumorigenesis by supporting tumor growth and tumor-associated angiogenesis. Given the observation that MIF was overexpressed in most tumor types inspected, we showed in vitro that suppression of endogeneous MIF expression by siRNA can significantly inhibit the growth and metastasis of human gastric epithelial (AGS) and colorectal (DLD-1) carcinoma cell lines. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved, we employed Affymetrix microarray to examine the genome-wide expression profiles of AGS and DLD-1 cells in response to the knockdown of MIF. Two-fold differentially expressed genes were then analyzed by Ingenuity Pathways Analysis tool. We found that AGS cells were generally more sensitive to the MIF knockdown, in which 1130 genes were differentially expressed, compared to 147 genes in DLD-1 cells. In AGS cells, decreased MIF expression resulted in reduced growth and migration, and increased cell adhesion through the following pathways: (i) downregulation of AP-1 dependent transcription through EGR1/FOS, (ii) inhibition of dystroglycan/dystrophin transmembrane signaling, (iii) suppression of BTG1 expression, (iv) induction of ADAMTS3 expression and (v) induction of apoptosis by IGFBP3 and BCL10. On the other hand, DLD-1 cells worked through (i) downregulation of AP-1 mediated transcription via EGR1/JUN and (ii) downregulaton of CYR61 and CTGF (Figure 1). Results from these studies revealed for the first time the common as well as differential mechanisms involved in the MIF-dependent control of gastric and colorectal cancers. We also identified important MIF responsive genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.published_or_final_versio

iRFP is a real time marker for transformation based assays in high content screening

Anchorage independent growth is one of the hallmarks of oncogenic transformation. Here we show that infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP) based assays allow accurate and unbiased determination of colony formation and anchorage independent growth over time. This protocol is particularly compatible with high throughput systems, in contrast to traditional methods which are often labor-intensive, subjective to bias and do not allow further analysis using the same cells. Transformation in a single layer soft agar assay could be documented as early as 2 to 3 days in a 96 well format, which can be easily combined with standard transfection, infection and compound screening setups to allow for high throughput screening to identify therapeutic targets

A correlation study between in-brace correction, compliance to spinal orthosis and health-related quality of life of patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that in-brace correction is the best guideline for prediction of the results of brace treatment for patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). However, bracing may be a stressful experience for patients and bracing non-compliance could be psychologically related. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between brace compliance, in-brace correction and QoL of patients with AIS. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with a diagnosis of AIS were recruited. All were female and aged 10 years or above when a brace was prescribed, none had undergone prior treatment, and all had a Risser sign of 0–2 and a Cobb angle of 25-40°. The patients were examined in three consecutive visits with 4 to 6 months between each visit. The Chinese translated Trunk Appearance Perception Scale (TAPS), the Chinese translated Brace Questionnaires (BrQ) and the Chinese translated SRS-22 Questionnaires were used in the study. The in-brace Cobb angle, vertebral rotation and trunk listing were also measured. Patients’ compliance, in-brace correction and patients’ QoL were assessed. To identify the relationship among these three areas, logistic regression model and generalized linear model were used. RESULT: For the compliance measure, a significant difference (p = 0.008) was detected on TAPS mean score difference between Visit 1 and Visit 2 in the least compliant group (0–8 hours) and the most compliant group (17–23 hours). In addition, a significant difference (p = 0.000) was detected on BrQ mean score difference between Visit 2 and Visit 3 in the least compliant group (0–8 hours) and the most compliant group (17–23 hours). For the orthosis effectiveness measure, no significant difference was detected between the three groups of bracing hours (0–8 hours, 9–16 hours, 17–23 hours) on in-brace correction (below 40% and 40% or above). For the QoL measure, no significant difference was detected between the two different in-brace correction groups (below 40% and 40% or above) on QoL as reflected by the TAPS, BrQ and SRS-22r mean scores. CONCLUSION: The results showed a positive relationship between patients’ brace wear compliance and patients’ QoL. Poor compliance would cause a lower QoL