Scalable group-based checkpoint/restart for large-scale message-passing systems

The ever increasing number of processors used in parallel computers is making fault tolerance support in large-scale parallel systems more and more important. We discuss the inadequacies of existing system-level checkpointing solutions for message-passing applications as the system scales up. We analyze the coordination cost and blocking behavior of two current MPI implementations with checkpointing support. A group-based solution combining coordinated checkpointing and message logging is then proposed. Experiment results demonstrate its better performance and scalability than LAM/MPI and MPICH-VCL. To assist group formation, a method to analyze the communication behaviors of the application is proposed. ©2008 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disorders in Hong Kong Chinese

Poster PresentationBACKGROUND: Classical multiple sclerosis (CMS) must be differentiated from neuromyelitis optica (NMO) as treatments are different. Serum aquaporin-4 autoantibodies (AQP4 Ab) are specific for NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD). We aimed to study the diagnoses of CNS inflammatory demyelinating disorder (IDD) patients presenting to a hospital over 29 years. METHODS: Chinese patients presenting with CNS IDD to our hospital from 1981 to 2009 were studied. Patients referred from other centres were excluded. Since 2008, patients had yearly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain and cord for 3 years even without relap…published_or_final_versio

Brainstem encephalitis in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Poster: abstract no. 41published_or_final_versionThe 17th Medical Research Conference (MRC), Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 14 january 2012. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2012, v. 18 suppl. 1, p. 3

Acupuncture and related therapies for symptom management in palliative cancer care: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Available systematic reviews showed uncertainty on the effectiveness of using acupuncture and related therapies for palliative cancer care. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize current best evidence on acupuncture and related therapies for palliative cancer care. Five international and 3 Chinese databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture and related therapies with conventional or sham treatments were considered. Primary outcomes included fatigue, paresthesia and dysesthesias, chronic pain, anorexia, insomnia, limb edema, constipation, and health-related quality of life, of which effective conventional interventions are limited. Thirteen RCTs were included. Compared with conventional interventions, meta-analysis demonstrated that acupuncture and related therapies significantly reduced pain (2 studies, n=175, pooled weighted mean difference: -0.76, 95% confidence interval: -0.14 to -0.39) among patients with liver or gastric cancer. Combined use of acupuncture and related therapies and Chinese herbal medicine improved quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (2 studies, n=111, pooled standard mean difference: 0.75, 95% confidence interval: 0.36-1.13). Acupressure showed significant efficacy in reducing fatigue in lung cancer patients when compared with sham acupressure. Adverse events for acupuncture and related therapies were infrequent and mild. Acupuncture and related therapies are effective in reducing pain, fatigue, and in improving quality of life when compared with conventional intervention alone among cancer patients. Limitations on current evidence body imply that they should be used as a complement, rather than an alternative, to conventional care. Effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for managing anorexia, reducing constipation, paresthesia and dysesthesia, insomnia, and limb edema in cancer patients is uncertain, warranting future RCTs in these areas

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization is involved in oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death in LAMP2-deficient iPSCs-derived cerebral cortical neurons

postprin

Chinese herbal medicine for symptom management in cancer palliative care systematic review and meta-analysis

© 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) in symptom management for cancer palliative care is very common in Chinese populations but clinical evidence on their effectiveness is yet to be synthesized. To conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to summarize results from CHM randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on symptoms that are undertreated in conventional cancer palliative care. Five international and 3 Chinese databases were searched. RCTs evaluating CHM, either in combination with conventional treatments or used alone, in managing cancer-related symptoms were considered eligible. Effectiveness was quantified by using weighted mean difference (WMD) using random effect model meta-analysis. Fourteen RCTs were included. Compared with conventional intervention alone, meta-analysis showed that combined CHM and conventional treatment significantly reduced pain (3 studies, pooled WMD:-0.90, 95% CI:-1.69 to-0.11). Six trials comparing CHM with conventional medications demonstrated similar effect in reducing constipation. One RCT showed significant positive effect of CHM plus chemotherapy for managing fatigue, but not in the remaining 3 RCTs. The additional use of CHM to chemotherapy does not improve anorexia when compared to chemotherapy alone, but the result was concluded from 2 small trials only. Adverse events were infrequent and mild. CHM may be considered as an add-on to conventional care in the management of pain in cancer patients. CHM could also be considered as an alternative to conventional care for reducing constipation. Evidence on the use of CHM for treating anorexia and fatigue in cancer patients is uncertain, warranting further research

Myasthenic crisis in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis

INTRODUCTION: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an important autoimmune disease causing generalised weakness and even mortality, which is amenable to immunotherapies. Myasthenic crisis (MC) is the most serious presentation of MG typically requiring ventilator support under the care of intensive care unit. We studied factors which predict development of MC in generalised MG (gMG) patients and patients’ serum cytokine levels as potential biomarkers for MG exacerbation and crisis ...published_or_final_versio

Clinical and neuroradiological features of viral encephalitis: a hospital-based study

Oral PresentationThis journal supplement contains abstracts from the 17th MRC; Dept. of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong KongTopics: Basic science, translational and clinical researchINTRODUCTION: Viral encephalitis is an important infection of the central nervous system with significant morbidity and mortality. We studied the clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of viral encephalitis patients managed in our hospital, focusing on factors associated with poor prognosis. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical features of patients diagnosed …published_or_final_versionThe 17th Medical Research Conference (MRC), Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 14 January 2012. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2012, v. 18 suppl. 1, p. 31, abstract no. 3

Raman spectroscopy in head and neck cancer

In recent years there has been much interest in the use of optical diagnostics in cancer detection. Early diagnosis of cancer affords early intervention and greatest chance of cure. Raman spectroscopy is based on the interaction of photons with the target material producing a highly detailed biochemical 'fingerprint' of the sample. It can be appreciated that such a sensitive biochemical detection system could confer diagnostic benefit in a clinical setting. Raman has been used successfully in key health areas such as cardiovascular diseases, and dental care but there is a paucity of literature on Raman spectroscopy in Head and Neck cancer. Following the introduction of health care targets for cancer, and with an ever-aging population the need for rapid cancer detection has never been greater. Raman spectroscopy could confer great patient benefit with early, rapid and accurate diagnosis. This technique is almost labour free without the need for sample preparation. It could reduce the need for whole pathological specimen examination, in theatre it could help to determine margin status, and finally peripheral blood diagnosis may be an achievable target