A factorization-based projective reconstruction algorithm with circular motion constraint

In this paper, we propose a projective reconstruction algorithm for a circular motion image sequence. We first formulate the circular motion constraint in the Euclidean frame, and then deduce its expression in a projective frame. The circular motion constraint is gradually enforced during the iterations of a projective reconstruction. This approach can be used to deal with both constant and varying intrinsic parameters. Experimental results for synthetic and real data are presented to illustrate the performance and improvements of our approach over methods based on general motion. ©2004 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Paradoxical deterioration during anti-tubercular treatment in a dialysis patient on maintenance steroid therapy

We report a 38-year-old Chinese woman with lupus nephritis on peritoneal dialysis and long-term maintenance steroid therapy. This patient developed paradoxical deterioration during anti-tubercular therapy for tuberculous lymphadenitis. The deterioration resolved spontaneously without change to pharmacotherapy. Paradoxical deterioration that may spontaneously resolve is a potential complication of anti-tubercular treatment in patients on long-term renal replacement therapy.published_or_final_versio

New high-definition narrow band imaging versus conventional high-definition white light colonoscopy for detection of colorectal adenomas: a randomised controlled trial with tandem colonoscopy

This journal suppl. entitled: 19th Medical Research Conference; Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong KongPoster PresentationINTRODUCTION: Adenoma detection is important in colonoscopy as polypectomy has been shown to reduce the subsequent incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. Narrow band imaging (NBI), an image-enhanced imaging system of the endoscopy, is developed to improve the diagnostic performance of the endoscopy. We tested whether the new generation of NBI colonoscopy would improve detection of colorectal adenoma when compared with high-definition white light (HD-WL) in a randomised tandem colonoscopy study ...postprin

Ten days quadruple versus sequential therapy as empirical first- and second-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a randomised crossover trial

This journal suppl. entitled: 18th Medical Research Conference; Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong KongOral PresentationINTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is one of the commonest bacterial infections worldwide. The eradication rate of clarithromycin-based and bismuth-based therapy has been declining in the western world. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of HP eradication with a 10-day sequential therapy versus quadruple therapy as empirical first- and second-line ...postprin

Prevalence of past or current Hepatitis B infection and factors for non-vaccination in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

The Conference program's website is located at http://jsibd.jp/1staocc/program.htmlPoster Oral: PO-46Information on the prevalence and natural history of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) among Asian IBD patients are scarce. Moreover, the prevalence of HBV vaccination coverage in Asian IBD patients remains unknown. AIM: We determined the prevalence and clinical course of current and past HBV infection among Chinese IBD patients. We also determined the proportion of Chinese IBD patients without protective antibody against HBV and factors associated with non-vaccination. METHODS: All patients attending our IBD Clinic had blood tests for viral hepatitis B markers. The prevalence of current and past infection with HBV, and effective HBV vaccination were determined. We also identified for risk factors associated with non-vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 267 Chinese IBD (166 ulcerative colitis and 101 Crohn’s disease) patients were studied. The mean follow up was 10.5 years. Current HBV infection was detected in 6.7% patients whereas 28.5% had evidence of past HBV infection. One hundred and two (38.2%) patients had no detectable anti-HBs antibodies. Multivariate analysis found that young age of diagnosis (OR 1.021; 95% CI 1.00 – 1.04) and the use of thiopurines (OR 0.51; 95%CI 0.29 – 0.91) were associated with absence of anti-HBs. Deranged liver function was detected in 27 (10.1%) IBD patients including three (16.7%) HBsAg-positive patients. The corresponding proportion of patients with liver derangement was 7.9% in patients with past HBV infection, 8.9% in HBsAg-negative patients without anti-HBs and 11.2% in patients with effective HBV vaccination (P = 0.71). CONCLUSION: Current and past infection with HBV was detected in about one-third of Chinese IBD patients. Approximately 40% of IBD patients lacked protective antibody against HBV. The use of thiopurines and young age of diagnosis was associated with non-vaccination among Chinese IBD patients. A more intensive HBV vaccination program with regular monitoring of anti-HBs may be needed in this group of patients.published_or_final_versio

Follow up of serial urea breath test results in patients after consumption of antibiotics for non-gastric infections

Aim: The widespread use of antibacterial therapy has been suggested to be the cause for the decline in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. This study examine the serial changes of urea breath test results in a group of hospitalized patients who were given antibacterial therapy for non-gastric infections. Methods: Thirty-five hospitalized patients who were given antibacterial therapy for clinical infections, predominantly chest and urinary infections, were studied. Most (91 %) patients were given single antibiotic of either a penicillin or cephalosporin group. Serial 13C-urea breath tests were performed within 24 hours of initiation of antibiotics, at one-week and at six-week post-therapy. H. pylori infection was diagnosed when one or more urea breath tests was positive. Results: All 35 patients completed three serial urea breath tests and 26 (74 %) were H. pylori-positive. Ten (38 %) H. pylori-infected patients had at least one negative breath test results during the study period. The medium delta 13C values were significantly lower at baseline (8.8) than at one-week (20.3) and six-week (24.5) post-treatment in H. pylori-positive individuals (P=0.022). Clearance of H. pylori at six-week was only seen in one patient who had received anti-helicobacter therapy from another source. Conclusion: Our results suggested that one-third of H. pylori-infected individuals had transient false-negative urea breath test results during treatment with antibacterial agent. However, clearance of H. pylori infection by regular antibiotic consumption is rare.published_or_final_versio

On wireless sensors communication for overhead transmission line monitoring in power delivery systems

The transmission of energy is monitored in the smart grid through deploying sensors in all the components, including the overhead transmission lines. There are many poles/towers supporting a long overhead transmission line. Naturally, sensors are deployed on the location close to the poles/towers on each span. Due to the limited transmission range of the wireless transceiver module of a sensor, researchers generally assume that data generated by a sensor have to be delivered to the substation through a set of sensors in-between. This results in a linear network model. In this paper, we first analyze the performance of this model in handling the traffics extracted from an existing testbed. We realize that the linear network model may not be sufficient to support future smart grid applications which may have diversified requirements on data delivery. We then study a new network model in which sensor/relay nodes can also communicate with other nodes using a wide area network such as the cellular network. In this new model, the network formed can be reconfigured based on the application requirements to deliver information to the substations efficiently and effectively.published_or_final_versionThe 1st IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications (SmartGridComm 2010), Gaithersburg, MD., 4-6 October 2010. In Proceedings of the 1st SmartGridComm, 2010, p. 309-31

Trajectories of psychological distress among Chinese women diagnosed with breast cancer

Background: The distinct trajectories of psychological distress over the first year of the diagnosis with breast cancer (BC) and its determinants have not been explored. Methods: 285 of 405 Chinese women receiving surgery for BC were assessed at 5-day, 1-month, 4-month, and 8-month post-surgery on measures of psychological distress, optimism, treatment decision-making (TDM) difficulties, satisfaction with treatment outcome, satisfaction with medical consultation, and physical symptom distress. Latent growth mixture modelling identified trajectories of psychological response to BC. Multinominal logistic regression compared TDM difficulties, satisfaction with treatment outcome, satisfaction with medical consultation, optimism, and physical symptom distress, by distress pattern adjusted for age, education, employment status, and stage of disease. Results: Four distinct trajectories of distress were identified, namely, resilience (66%), chronic distress (15%), recovered (12%), and delayed-recovery (7%). TDM difficulties, optimism, satisfaction with consultation, and physical symptom distress predicted distress trajectories. Psychologically resilient women had less physical symptom distress at early post-surgery compared with women with other distress patterns. Compared with the resilient group, women in the recovered or chronic distress groups experienced greater TDM difficulties, whereas women in the delayed-recovery group reported greater dissatisfaction with the initial medical consultation. Women in the chronic distress group reported greater pessimistic outlook. Conclusion: Optimism and better early post-operative treatment outcomes predicted resilience to distress. Pre-operative interventions helping women to establish a realistic expectation of treatment outcome may minimize disappointment with treatment outcome and resultant distress, whereas post-operative rehabilitation should focus on symptom management. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.postprin

High hepatitis B surface antigen levels predict insignificant fibrosis in hepatitis B e antigen positive chronic hepatitis B

INTRODUCTION: There is no data on the relationship between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels and liver fibrosis in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: Serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with liver biopsies were analyzed. The upper limit of normal (ULN) of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 30 and 19 U/L for men and women respectively. Histologic assessment was based on Ishak fibrosis staging for fibrosis and Knodell histologic activity index (HAI) for necroinflammation. RESULTS: 140 patients (65% male, median age 32.7 years) were recruited. 56 (40%) had ALT 1, had significantly higher median HBsAg levels (50,320 and 7,820 IU/mL respectively, p/= 25,000 IU/mL was independently associated with fibrosis score </= 1 (p=0.025, odds ratio 9.042).Using this cut-off HBsAg level in patients with ALT </=2xULN, positive and negative predictive values for predicting fibrosis score </= 1 were 92.7% and 60.0% respectively. HBV DNA levels had no association with liver histology. CONCLUSION: Among HBeAg-positive patients with ALT </=2xULN, high serum HBsAg levels can accurately predict fibrosis score </= 1, and could potentially influence decisions concerning treatment commencement and reduce the need for liver biopsy.published_or_final_versio