Efficacy And Safety Of Hylan G-F 20 Injection In Treatment Of Knee Osteoarthritis In Chinese Patients: Results Of A Prospective, Multicentre, Longitudinal Study

published_or_final_versio

Clinical outcome and virologic profiles of severe hepatitis B exacerbation due to YMDD mutations

Background/Aims: To study the outcome and the virologic profiles of severe hepatitis exacerbations due to YMDD mutants in lamivudine-treated patients. Methods: Eighteen lamivudine-treated patients with severe hepatitis exacerbations due to YMDD mutants were recruited. Laboratory and clinical parameters were monitored. Viral genotypes and YMDD mutations were determined. Results: None of the 18 patients had YMDD wild-type during exacerbations. Three (17%) and 15 (83%) patients had genotypes B and C, respectively. Elevated bilirubin levels and prolonged prothrombin time were found in 11 (61%) and six patients (33%) respectively. Three patients (17%) had adverse outcome with the development of ascites and/or encephalopathy. One of these patients required liver transplantation and one died. Both patients had evidence of cirrhosis before treatment and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroreversion from anti-HBe positivity. The remaining 16 patients (89%) have no evidence of pre-existing cirrhosis. Thirty seven percent of patients had normal alanine aminotransferase levels at the last follow-up. The median HBV DNA level at the last follow-up was significantly lower than the pre-treatment level (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Though the majority of patients with severe hepatitis exacerbations due to YMDD mutants had uneventful course, early liver transplantation should be considered in patients with pre-existing cirrhosis and HBeAg seroreversion. © 2003 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.postprin

Significance of HBV DNA levels in liver histology of HBeAg and anti-HBe positive patients with chronic hepatitis B

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and total histologic activity index (HAI), necroinflammation (HAI-NI), and fibrosis (HAI-F) scores. PATIENTS AND Liver histology and HBV DNA levels were determined in 94 patients with chronic METHODS: hepatitis B. RESULTS: There was no association between HBV DNA levels and liver histology in hepatitis-B-e antigen-positive patients (n = 43). In anti-HBe-positive patients (n = 51), HBV DNA levels correlated positively with HAI-NI (r = 0.31, p = 0.014) and HAI-F (r = 0.33, p = 0.017) scores. Though the majority of anti-HBe-positive patients with HBV DNA levels <105 copies/ml had mild necroinflammation and no fibrosis, 14.3% had established fibrosis. Anti-HBe-positive patients with core promoter mutations had a poorer histology compared to those without. There was no difference in the histology between anti-HBe-positive patients with and without precore mutations. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level correlated positively with HAI-NI score. Patients with persistently normal ALT levels had a significantly lower median HAI-NI score compared to patients with either persistently or intermittently elevated ALT levels. CONCLUSIONS: In anti-HBe-positive patients, though HBV DNA level <105 copies/ml was associated with better histology, 14.3% patients had established fibrosis. Further studies to define a better cut-off HBV DNA level to differentiate low- and high-risk patients for disease progression are required.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Factors associated with poor eye drop administration technique and the role of patient education among Hong Kong elderly population

Objectives. To identify the risk factors for poor eye drop application technique in treatment-na¨ıve subjects and to assess if patient education can benefit these subjects. Methods. Chinese subjects above 60 years were recruited. Questionnaires, including Barthel index; Lawton’s instrumental activities of daily living (ADL); Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, and Loss of Weight (FRAIL) scale; and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), were used to correlate with eye drop application technique (before and after patient education) using Spearman correlation analysis. A multiple linear regression was conducted to determine the predictors of successful administration technique and the improvement of technique after education. Results. /e data from 26 subjects (mean age 72) were analyzed. Eye drop instillation technique score improved from 5.42 at baseline to 7.33 after clear instructions. FRAIL score was an independent predictor of baseline score (p � 0.003), as well as the improvement after patient education (p � 0.012). Age, sex, education level, visual acuity, Barthel index, MoCA, and ADL score were not correlated with eye drop instillation technique, before nor after patient education. Discussion. In patients with poor functional status as reflected by FRAIL score, eye drop application is prone to be ineffective. Education with step-by-step instructions could effectively improve the success of eye drop application

A multi-centre, prospective, longitudinal study of the benefits of treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with Hylan G-F 20 in a Chinese population

Conference Theme: Foot and Ankle Surgery - 足部及足踝外科The 31st Annual Congress of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association (HKOA 2011), Hong Kong, 19-20 November 2011