What motivates adolescents to choose engineering? Attitudes, experiences, and cultural influences in Hong Kong

Conference Theme: The Power of Education Research for Innovation in Practice and Polic

Isolation of Laribacter hongkongensis, a novel bacterium associated with gastroenteritis, from Chinese tiger frog

Laribacter hongkongensis is a recently discovered novel bacterium associated with community-acquired gastroenteritis. Although the bacterium has been isolated from freshwater fish and natural freshwater environments, it is not known if other freshwater animals could also be a source of L. hongkongensis. In a surveillance study on freshwater food animals (other than fish) in Hong Kong, L. hongkongensis was isolated from eight of 10 Chinese tiger frogs (Hoplobatrachus chinensis), a widespread frog species commonly consumed in China and southeast Asia. The large intestine was the site with the highest recovery rate, followed by the small intestine and stomach. None of the 30 Malaysian prawns, 20 pieces of sand shrimp, 20 Chinese mystery snails or 10 Chinese soft-shelled turtles was found to harbor the bacterium. Among the eight positive frogs, a total of 26 isolates of L. hongkongensis, confirmed by phenotypic tests and PCR, were obtained. As with human, freshwater fish and natural water isolates, a heterogeneous population of L. hongkongensis in frogs was identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, with 6 different patterns among the 26 isolates and a single frog often carrying different strains. The present report represents the first to describe the isolation of L. hongkongensis from amphibians. The high isolation rate and genetic heterogeneity of L. hongkongensis among the Chinese tiger frogs suggested that these animals are also natural reservoir for the bacterium. Caution should be exercised in handling and cooking these frogs. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Seasonal and tissue distribution of Laribacter hongkongensis, a novel bacterium associated with gastroenteritis, in retail freshwater fish in Hong Kong

Laribacter hongkongensis, a recently discovered bacterium associated with community-acquired gastroenteritis, has been found in the intestines of freshwater fish. To better understand the epidemiology and ecology of the bacterium, we carried out a surveillance study to investigate possible seasonal variation in the recovery of L. hongkongensis and its distribution in various organs in retail freshwater fish in Hong Kong. Forty whole freshwater fish of two species (20 grass carps and 20 bighead carps), and intestines from 120 grass carps were sampled during a one-year period. L. hongkongensis was isolated from 11 (55%) of the 20 grass carps and 6 (30%) of the 20 bighead carps; and the intestines of 49 (41%) of 120 grass carps. Seasonal variation in the recovery of L. hongkongensis from both whole fish and intestines was observed, with higher isolation rates in spring and summer than in fall and winter. There was also positive correlation between temperature and the isolation rates. When L. hongkongensis was cultured in vitro at different temperatures, shorter lag time and higher growth rate were observed at higher temperatures, with 37 °C being optimal among the tested temperatures. L. hongkongensis was commonly found in the gills, stomachs and intestines in both grass carps and bighead carps, and on the skin surface of one fish, but not in other organs. Proper handling of freshwater fish for cooking, especially the gills and gut, is recommended to prevent acquisition of L. hongkongensis, and other freshwater fish related infections. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The correlation of noise and vibration in bridge movement joints

The 4th International Symposium on Environmental Vibrations: Prediction, Monitoring, Mitigation and Evaluation (ISEV2009), Beijing, China, 28-30 October 2009.第4届环境振动国际学术研讨会, 中国, 北京, 2009年10月28-30日

High mortality associated with Catabacter hongkongensis bacteremia

Catabacter hongkongensis is a recently described catalase-positive, motile, anaerobic, nonsporulating, Gram-positive coccobacillus that was first isolated from blood cultures of four patients from Hong Kong and Canada. Although DNA sequences representing C. hongkongensis have been detected in environmental sources, only one additional case of human infection has been reported, in France. We describe five cases of C. hongkongensis bacteremia in Hong Kong, two presenting with sepsis, one with acute gangrenous perforated appendicitis, one with acute calculous cholecystitis, and one with infected carcinoma of colon. Three patients, with gastrointestinal malignancy, died during admission. All five isolates were catalase positive, motile, and negative for indole production and nitrate reduction and produced acid from arabinose, glucose, mannose, and xylose. They were unambiguously identified as C. hongkongensis by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Of the total of 10 reported cases of C. hongkongensis bacteremia in the literature and this study, most patients had underlying diseases, while two cases occurred in healthy young individuals with acute appendicitis. Six patients presented with infections associated with either the gastrointestinal or biliary tract, supporting the gastrointestinal tract as the source of bacteremia. C. hongkongensis bacteremia is associated with a poor prognosis, with a high mortality of 50% among reported cases, especially in patients with advanced malignancies. All reported isolates were susceptible to metronidazole. Identification of more C. hongkongensis isolates by 16S rRNA gene sequencing will help better define its epidemiology and pathogenesis.link_to_OA_fulltex

Next-Generation Sequencing with a 54-Gene Panel Identifies Unique Mutational Profile and Prognostic Markers in Chinese Patients with Myelofibrosis

634. Myeloproliferative Syndromes: Clinical: Poster I: no. 1638Introduction and objectives: Myelofibrosis (MF) has the worst outcome amongst various myeloproliferative neoplasms. Its prognosis is determined by clinicopathologic features and mutations in key driver genes. An increasing number of gene mutations involving various biological pathways in myeloid malignancies has been discovered. The prognostic significance of these mutations have not been clearly defined. In this study, we aim to describe the genomic characteristic in a large cohort of MF patients and identify clinical and molecular predictors of outcome. Methods: We evaluated the genetic profile of 101 patients with MF (primary, N=70; secondary, N=30) using next-generation sequencing with a 54-gene panel comprising: ABL1, ASXL1, ATRX, BCOR, BCORL1, BRAF, CALR, CBL, CBLB, CBLC, CDKN2A, CEBPA, CSF3R, CUX1, DNMT3A, ETV6, EZH2, FBXW7, FLT3, GATA1, GATA2, GNAS, HRAS, IDH1, IDH2, IKZF1, JAK2, JAK3, KDM6A, KIT, KMT2A, KRAS, MPL, MYD88, NOTCH1, NPM1, NRAS, PDGFRA, PHF6, PTEN, PTPN11, RAD21, RUNX1, SETBP1, SF3B1, SMC1A, SMC3, SRSF2, STAG2, TET2, TP53, U2AF1, WT1, ZRSR2. Multivariate cox regression analysis was used to determine prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS). Results: We identified mutations in 39 genes implicated in myeloid malignancies (Figure 1A). 96 patients (95%) with MF had a mutation in 1 or more genes: 14 patients (13.9%) had 1 mutation, 38 patients (37.6%) had 2 mutations, 18 patients (17.8%) had 3 mutations, 15 patients (14.9%) had 4 mutations, 7 patients (6.9%) had 5 mutations and 4 patients (4%) had 6 or more mutations. TET2/JAK2V617F (16 patients, 15.9%), ASXL1/JAK2V617F (12 patients, 11.9%) and ASXL1/CALR (10 patients, 9.9%) were the most frequently co-mutated genes (Figure 1B). Other JAK2 variants occurred concomitantly with JAK2V617F in 10 patients (9.9%) and CALR mutations in 4 patients (4%) mutations. Other frequently concomitant mutations included CUX1/JAK2V617F (6 patients, 5.9%), EZH2/JAK2V617F (6 patients, 5.9%), RUNX1/JAK2V617F (5 patients, 5%), SF3B1/JAK2V617F (5 patients, 5%), SETBP1/JAK2V617F (4 patients, 4%) and ZRSR2/JAK2V617F (4 patients, 4%). The median follow-up of the cohort was 49 (1-256) months. The 5-year and 10-year OS were 66.3% and 35.4%. The 5-year and 10-year LFS of were 84% and 63.3%. There were no statistically significant differences in OS and LFS between primary and secondary MF. Significant negative prognostic indicators were identified on multivariate analysis, including male gender (P=0.044), age > 65 years (P=0.044), Hb < 10g/dL (P=0.001), mutated CUX1 (P=0.003) and mutated TP53 (P=0.043) for OS, and Hb < 10g/dL (P=0.007), mutated TP53 (P=0.043) and mutated IDH2 (P=0.001) for LFS. In primary MF, inferior prognostic indicators included male gender (P=0.031), Hb < 10g/dL (P=0.002), platelet count < 100 x 109/L (P=0.021), mutated TET2 (P=0.011) and mutated CUX1 (P=0.011) for OS; and Hb < 10g/dL (P=0.027), mutated RUNX1 (P=0.019) and mutated DNMT3A (P=0.004) for LFS. In JAK2V617F positive MF, inferior prognostic indicators included mutated ASXL1 (P=0.006) and mutated SRSF2 (P<0.001) for OS; and mutated U2AF1 (P=0.037) for LFS. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated unique molecular profiles and prognostic predictors of outcome in Chinese patients with MF

Review of Newly Registered Oncology Drugs in Hong Kong

Erratum in v. 23 n. 4, p. 151: It should be 'EWIG, Celeste Lom Ying' instead of 'EWING, Celeste Lom Ying'.link_to_OA_fulltex