A case-control study on environmental and familial risk factors for colorectal cancer in Hong Kong: chronic illnesses, medication and family history

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A case-control study on environmental and familial risk factors for colorectal cancer in Hong Kong: dietary determinants of colorectal cancer risk

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A case-control study on environmental and familial risk factors for colorectal cancer in Hong Kong: physical activity reduces colorectal cancer risk

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Value of gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction after unsuccessful conservative treatment: A prospective evaluation

Aim: Gastrografin is a hyperosmolar water-soluble contrast medium. Besides its predictive value for the need for operative treatment, a potential therapeutic role of this agent in adhesive small bowel obstruction has been suggested. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction when conservative treatment failed. Methods: Patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction were given trial conservative treatment unless there was fear of bowel strangulation. Those responded in the initial 48 h had conservative treatment continued. Patients who showed no improvement in the initial 48 h were given 100 mL of gastrografin through nasogastric tube followed by serial abdominal radiographs. Patients with the contrast appeared in large bowel within 24 h were regarded as having partial obstruction and conservative treatment was continued. Patients in which the contrast failed to reach large bowel within 24 h were considered to have complete obstruction and laparotomy was performed. Results: Two hundred and twelve patients with 245 episodes of adhesive obstruction were included. Fifteen patients were operated on soon after admission due to fear of strangulation. One hundred and eighty-six episodes of obstruction showed improvement in the initial 48 h and conservative treatment was continued. Two patients had subsequent operations because of persistent obstruction. Forty-four episodes of obstruction showed no improvement within 48 h and gastrografin was administered. Seven patients underwent complete obstruction surgery. Partial obstruction was demonstrated in 37 other cases, obstruction resolved subsequently in all of them except one patient who required laparotomy because of persistent obstruction. The overall operative rate in this study was 10%. There was no complication that could be attributed to the use of gastrografin. Conclusion: The use of gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction after unsuccessful conservative treatment is safe and reduces the need for surgical intervention. © 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.published_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

Total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer decreases local recurrence

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

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

Hope-based intervention for individuals susceptible to colorectal cancer: a pilot study

Individuals undergoing genetic testing for hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC) are prone to develop psychological problems. This study investigated the short-term efficacy of a hope-based intervention program in increasing hope levels and decreasing psychopathology among HCRC genetic testing recipients. A longitudinal study was carried out on HCRC genetic testing recipients recruited by the Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry. Participants joined a hope-based intervention program consisting of six sessions of weekly closed group therapy. Psychological questionnaires were administered immediately before the first and after the last sessions of the program measuring hope, anxiety and depression levels of the participants. There were 22 participants (7 men and 15 women) at a mean age of 49.4 ± 9.6 years. Women tended to have higher level of anxiety than men at pre-intervention. Paired sample t tests were conducted. Hope levels increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention (pre-total hope score = 5.56; post-total hope score = 6.07; t(1) = -0.281, p < 0.05). Anxiety level also decreased significantly from pre- to post-intervention (pre-anxiety score = 7.38; post-anxiety score = 5.90; t (1) = 2.35, p < 0.05). Our findings imply that hope-based intervention program would be effective in enhancing hope in HCRC genetic testing recipients. The program may also be more effective in alleviating anxiety than depression in these individuals. © 2012 The Author(s).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

MSH2 c.1452-1455delAATG Is a Founder Mutation and an Important Cause of Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer in the Southern Chinese Population

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) accounts for ∼2% of all colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and is the most common hereditary CRC syndrome. We have previously reported a high incidence of microsatellite instability (MSI) and germline mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutations in young Hong Kong Chinese with CRC. Ongoing studies at the Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry in Hong Kong have revealed a unique germline MSH2 c.1452-1455delAATG mutation that has not been reported in other ethnic groups. Detailed analysis showed that this specific MSH2 mutation constituted 21% of all germline MMR gene mutations and 36% of all MSH2 germline mutations identified. We designed a specific PCR-based diagnostic test on paraffin-embedded tissues and identified this germline mutation in 2 1.5%) of 138 consecutive patients with early-onset CRC (93 million. Further analysis suggested that this founder mutation may date back to between 22 and 103 generations ago. The identification of this MSH2 founder mutation has important implications for the design of mutation-detection strategies for the southern Chinese population. Since there were major emigrations from Hong Kong and Guangdong province during the 19th and 20th centuries, this finding is also significant for Chinese communities worldwide.published_or_final_versio