Colonoscopic surveillance and screening for familial colorectal cancer: experience of a regional registry

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Genetic-guided screening programme for familial adenomatous polyposis: result of a regional registry

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Mixed low grade and high grade endometrial stromal sarcoma of uterus: Differences on immunohistochemistry and chromosome in situ hybridisation

A case of a 64 year old woman with a tumour of the uterus is reported. The patient presented with postmenopausal bleeding and subsequently underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy. Sections of the tumour showed a low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma coexisting with areas consistent with high grade sarcoma. The sarcoma cells, in both the low and high grade areas, were positive for vimentin and negative for desmin and cytokeratin on immunohistochemistry. While the sarcoma cells in the low grade region showed immunoreactivity for oestrogen and progestogen receptors, those in the high grade region did not. Using chromosome in situ hybridisation, the low grade portion of the sarcoma was diploid for chromosomes X, 11, 12, and 17, whereas the more anaplastic areas were aneuploid for these chromosomes. This case may represent an example of high grade endometrial stromal sarcoma arising by dedifferentiation from a low grade stromal sarcoma. Adequate sampling is important in identifying such anaplastic changes as the origin of the tumour will affect patient management.published_or_final_versio

Establishment of HKU lung cancer lines in Hong Kong - an ongoing conjoint effort and progress report

published_or_final_versio

Microsatellite instability, Epstein-Barr virus, mutation of type II transforming growth factor receptor and BAX in gastric carcinomas in Hong Kong Chinese

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Promotor hypermethylation of the CpG Islands of human Ras Association Domain Family 1A gene (RASSF1A) in adenocarcinoma of lung in Hong Kong Chinese - a comparison between smokers and non-smokers

published_or_final_versio

Microsatellite instability and mismatch repair gene mutations are common in young colorectal cancer patients in Hong Kong

Conference Theme: Challenges to Specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Short-Term Prognosis of Transient Ischemic Attack and Predictive Value of the ABCD2 Score in Hong Kong Chinese

published_or_final_versio

Nitric Oxide Sustains IL-1 beta Expression in Human Dendritic Cells Enhancing Their Capacity to Induce IL-17-Producing T-Cells

The role played by lung dendritic cells (DCs) which are influenced by external antigens and by their redox state in controlling inflammation is unclear. We studied the role played by nitric oxide (NO) in DC maturation and function. Human DCs were stimulated with a long-acting NO donor, DPTA NONOate, prior to exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Dose-and time-dependent experiments were performed with DCs with the aim of measuring the release and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines capable of modifying T-cell differentiation, towardsTh1, Th2 and Th17 cells. NO changed the pattern of cytokine release by LPS-matured DCs, dependent on the concentration of NO, as well as on the timing of its addition to the cells during maturation. Addition of NO before LPS-induced maturation strongly inhibited the release of IL-12, while increasing the expression and release of IL-23, IL-1β and IL-6, which are all involved in Th17 polarization. Indeed, DCs treated with NO efficiently induced the release of IL-17 by T-cells through IL-1β. Our work highlights the important role that NO may play in sustaining inflammation during an infection through the preferential differentiation of the Th17 lineage

Block of NMDA receptor channels by endogenous neurosteroids: implications for the agonist induced conformational states of the channel vestibule

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) mediate synaptic plasticity, and their dysfunction is implicated in multiple brain disorders. NMDARs can be allosterically modulated by numerous compounds, including endogenous neurosteroid pregnanolone sulfate. Here, we identify the molecular basis of the use-dependent and voltage-independent inhibitory effect of neurosteroids on NMDAR responses. The site of action is located at the extracellular vestibule of the receptor's ion channel pore and is accessible after receptor activation. Mutations in the extracellular vestibule in the SYTANLAAF motif disrupt the inhibitory effect of negatively charged steroids. In contrast, positively charged steroids inhibit mutated NMDAR responses in a voltage-dependent manner. These results, in combination with molecular modeling, characterize structure details of the open configuration of the NMDAR channel. Our results provide a unique opportunity for the development of new therapeutic neurosteroid-based ligands to treat diseases associated with dysfunction of the glutamate system