Congenital myopathies: characteristic and subtypes in Hong Kong

This journal suppl. entitled: 20th International Congress of The World Muscle SocietyCongenital myopathies are a group of childhood onset neuromuscular disorder with the diagnosis mainly based on genetic and pathological features. This is a unique group with phenotypic, genotypic and pathological heterogeneity, so the confirmation of an underlying diagnosis is often challenging. This is the first congenital myopathy case series in Hong Kong. A total of 15 patients have been diagnosed to have congenital myopathies with 11 patients had the genetic mutations being identified (4 patients had RYR1 mutations, 3 patients had ACTA1 mutations, 2 patients had KLHL40 mutations, 1 patient had MTM1 mutation and 1 patient had DNM2 mutation).postprin

Effects of Antibiotics on the Growth and Physiology of Chlorophytes, Cyanobacteria, and a Diatom

The occurrence of antibiotics in surface waters has been reported worldwide with concentrations ranging from ng L−1 to low µg L−1 levels. During environmental risk assessments, effects of antibiotics on algal species are assessed using standard test protocols (e.g., the OECD 201 guideline), where the cell number endpoint is used as a surrogate for growth. However, the use of photosynthetic related endpoints, such as oxygen evolution rate, and the assessment of effects on algal pigments could help to inform our understanding of the impacts of antibiotics on algal species. This study explored the effects of three major usage antibiotics (tylosin, lincomycin, and trimethoprim) on the growth and physiology of two chlorophytes (Desmodesmus subspicatus and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), a cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae), and a diatom (Navicula pelliculosa) using a battery of parameters, including cell density, oxygen evolution rate, total chlorophyll content, carotenoids, and the irradiance–photosynthesis relationship. The results indicated that photosynthesis of chlorophytes was a more sensitive endpoint than growth (i.e., EC50 derived based on the effects of tylosin on the growth of D. subspicatus was 38.27 µmol L−1 compared with an EC50 of 17.6 µmol L−1 based on photosynthetic rate), but the situation was reversed when testing cyanobacteria and the diatom (i.e., EC50 derived based on the effects of tylosin on the growth of A. flos-aquae was 0.06 µmol L−1; EC50 0.33 µmol L−1 based on photosynthetic rate). The pigment contents of algal cells were affected by the three antibiotics for D. subspicatus. However, in some cases, pigment content was stimulated for P. subcapitata, N. pelliculosa, and A. flos-aquae. The light utilization efficiency of chlorophytes and diatom was decreased markedly in the presence of antibiotics. The results demonstrated that the integration of these additional endpoints into existing standardised protocols could provide useful insights into the impacts of antibiotics on algal species

Bioavailability in soils

The consumption of locally-produced vegetables by humans may be an important exposure pathway for soil contaminants in many urban settings and for agricultural land use. Hence, prediction of metal and metalloid uptake by vegetables from contaminated soils is an important part of the Human Health Risk Assessment procedure. The behaviour of metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, lead and zinc) and metalloids (arsenic, boron and selenium) in contaminated soils depends to a large extent on the intrinsic charge, valence and speciation of the contaminant ion, and soil properties such as pH, redox status and contents of clay and/or organic matter. However, chemistry and behaviour of the contaminant in soil alone cannot predict soil-to-plant transfer. Root uptake, root selectivity, ion interactions, rhizosphere processes, leaf uptake from the atmosphere, and plant partitioning are important processes that ultimately govern the accumulation ofmetals and metalloids in edible vegetable tissues. Mechanistic models to accurately describe all these processes have not yet been developed, let alone validated under field conditions. Hence, to estimate risks by vegetable consumption, empirical models have been used to correlate concentrations of metals and metalloids in contaminated soils, soil physico-chemical characteristics, and concentrations of elements in vegetable tissues. These models should only be used within the bounds of their calibration, and often need to be re-calibrated or validated using local soil and environmental conditions on a regional or site-specific basis.Mike J. McLaughlin, Erik Smolders, Fien Degryse, and Rene Rietr

Behavioral aspects in construction partnering

Lack of cooperation has been identified as one of the major causes of inefficiency in the construction industry. Industry-wide studies have suggested the use of partnering as a way to promote co-operative contracting. This paper examines the behavioral aspect of the participants in construction partnering. In particular, the criticality of trust as a success factor for partnering is discussed. The main sources of mistrust in construction, including incompetence, failure of integrity and unworthy information are also identified. Data obtained from a case study on a major railway project in Hong Kong is used to illustrate the impact of the behavioral aspect. The case study also suggests that the tools used to implement partnering have positive effects on building trust by suppressing the sources of identified mistrust. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd and IPMA. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the integrated smoking cessation services in Hong Kong: a 26-weeks follow-up

Oral Session 17: 33 - Health Promotion for the Elderly (English Session): O-17-00-118Conference Theme: Empowerment for Healthy Settings - Healthy City and Community, Healthy School and University, Healthy Hospital and Healthy WorkplaceThe 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Health Promotion and Education (2nd APHPE), Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan, 4-6 May 2012

Enhancement by ampicillin of antibody responses induced by a protein antigen and a DNA vaccine carried by live-attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi

Live-attenuated Salmonella species are effective carriers of microbial antigens and DNA vaccines. In a mouse model, the immunoglobulin M (IgM) and total antibody levels directed toward the lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi were significantly enhanced at day 21 after oral immunization with live-attenuated serovar Typhi (strain Ty21a) when ampicillin was concomitantly administered (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively). The heat-killed Ty21a-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation indices for the ampicillin group at day 21 were significantly higher than those for the normal saline (NS) group (P < 0.005, P < 0.001, and P < 0.01) for all three doses of antigen (10 4, 10 5, and 10 6 heat-killed Ty21a per well, respectively). The 50% lethal doses for mice from the ampicillin and NS groups immunized with Ty21a with pBR322 after wild-type serovar Typhi challenge on day 24 were 3.4 x 10 7 and 5.0 x 10 6 CFU, respectively. The fecal bacterial counts for the ampicillin group at days 1, 3, and 5 were significantly lower than those for the NS group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05, respectively), and there was a trend toward recovery of Ty21a in a larger number of mice from the ampicillin group than from the NS group. Furthermore, the IgG2a levels directed toward tetanus toxoid were significantly enhanced at days 7 and 21 after oral immunization with Ty21a that carried the fragment c of tetanus toxoid when ampicillin was concomitantly administered (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively), and the IgM and total hepatitis B surface antibody levels were significantly enhanced at days 7 (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively) and 21 (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) after oral immunization with Ty21a that carried the DNA vaccine that encodes hepatitis B surface antigen when ampicillin was concomitantly administered. The present observation may improve the efficacy of the protein antigens and DNA vaccines carried in live-attenuated bacteria, and further experiments should be carried out to determine the best antibiotics and dosage regimen to be used, as well as the best carrier system for individual protein antigens and DNA vaccines.published_or_final_versio

Downregulation of SOX7 by DNA methylation and its tumor suppressing role in acute myeloid leukemia.

Session: Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors: Poster II: no. 4189BACKGROUND: The SOX (Sry-related HMG box) gene family is a group of transcription factors containing in common a High-Mobility-Group (HMG) box domain which shares more than 60% homology to that in Sry. SOX proteins are involved in diverse embryonic processes and recently Sox7 was shown to regulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells during mouse development. In this study, we examined the expression, regulation and function of SOX7 in human acute myeloid leukemia with a view to understand its ...link_to_OA_fulltex

Development and validation of bone-suppressed deep learning classification of COVID-19 presentation in chest radiographs

202309 bcvcVersion of RecordOthersChinese Society of Clinical Oncology; Food and Health Bureau, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionPublishe

Deep learning attention-guided radiomics for COVID-19 chest radiograph classification

202404 bcchVersion of RecordOthersHealth and Medical Research Fund; Food and Health Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macau S&T Program; Shenzhen Basic Research Program; Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation CommitteePublishedC