An empirical analysis of the decision-making of forgoing life-sustaining treatments for patients with advanced dementia in the United States

2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Oral health of renal transplant patients in Hong Kong

published_or_final_versio

An empirical analysis of the decision-making of forgoing life-sustaining treatments for patients with advanced dementia in the United States

2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalpublished_fina

Human COL2A1-directed SV40 T antigen expression in transgenic and chimeric mice results in abnormal skeletal development

The ability of SV40 T antigen to cause abnormalities in cartilage development in transgenic mice and chimeras has been tested. The cis- regulatory elements of the COL2A1 gene were used to target expression of SV40 T antigen to differentiating chondrocytes in transgenic mice and chimeras derived from embryonal stem (ES) cells bearing the same transgene. The major phenotypic consequences of transgenic (pAL21) expression are malformed skeleton, disproportionate dwarfism, and perinatal/neonatal death. Expression of T antigen was tissue specific and in the main characteristic of the mouse α1(II) collagen gene. Chondrocyte densities and levels of α1(II) collagen mRNAs were reduced in the transgenic mice. Islands of cells which express cartilage characteristic genes such as type IIB procollagen, long form α1(IX) collagen, α2(XI) collagen, and aggrecan were found in the articular and growth cartilages of pAL21 chimeric fetuses and neonates. But these cells, which were expressing T antigen, were not properly organized into columns of proliferating chondrocytes. Levels of α1(II) collagen mRNA were reduced in these chondrocytes. In addition, these cells did not express type X collagen, a marker for hypertrophic chondrocytes. The skeletal abnormality in pAL21 mice may therefore be due to a retardation of chondrocyte maturation or an impaired ability of chondrocytes to complete terminal differentiation and an associated paucity of some cartilage matrix components.published_or_final_versio

Relationship of plasma interleukin-6 and its genetic variants with hypertension in Hong Kong Chinese

published_or_final_versionThe 15th Annual Research Conference of the Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 16 January 2010. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2010, v. 16, suppl. 1, p. 50, abstract no. 8

Relationship of genetic variants in gene encoding adrenomedullin with hypertension and dysglycaemia in Hong Kong Chinese

published_or_final_versionThe 15th Annual Research Conference of the Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 16 January 2010. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2010, v. 16, suppl. 1, p. 50, abstract no. 8

Predominant cultivable subgingival flora of renal transplant recipients

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Association of a genetic variant in adrenomedullin gene with its plasma level

published_or_final_versionThe 16th Annual Research Conference of the Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 22 January 2011. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2011, v. 17, suppl. 1, p. 19, abstract no. 1

Mendelian randomisation analysis suggests that plasma interleukin-6 is raised in hypertension but does not cause its development

Introduction: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a central role in inflammation and insulin resistance as well as atherogenesis. We investigated the associations of plasma IL-6 and its genetic variants with hypertension in both cross-sectional and prospective study designs. Methods: Plasma IL-6 was measured in 648 normotensive and 294 hypertensive subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study-2 (CRISPS-2) in 2000-2004 and three tagging SNPs in the IL-6 gene (IL6) were genotyped. Among subjects normotensive in CRISPS-2, 515 subjects were followed up in CRISPS-3 in 2005- 2008 and 100 of them had developed hypertension. Results: Plasma IL-6 correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.128, P<0.001), pulse pressure (r=0.144, P<0.001), and mean arterial pressure (r=0.086, P=0.008). Hypertensive subjects have significantly higher plasma IL-6 level after adjusting for age and sex (geometric mean [95% CI]=0.60 [0.54-0.65] vs 0.47 [0.44-0.50] pg/mL, P=0.021). In stepwise logistic regression, plasma IL-6 was associated with hypertension in women (P=0.004), but not in men. The SNP rs1800796 was associated with plasma IL-6 (beta= –0.098, P=0.002) in stepwise linear regression. However, this SNP was not associated with hypertension or blood pressure. Among subjects normotensive in CRISPS-2, plasma IL-6 was not associated with the development of hypertension in CRISPS-3. Conclusion: Elevated plasma IL-6 is associated with hypertension, especially in women. Plasma IL-6 is influenced by the SNP rs1800796. However, this SNP is not associated with hypertension, suggesting that hypertension is caused by other factors that elevate plasma IL-6. Acknowledgement: This study was funded by Hong Kong Research Grant Council grants (HKU7229/01M and HKU7626/07M) and the Sun Chieh Yeh Heart Foundation.published_or_final_versio

Subgingival microbiota of renal transplant recipients

Renal transplant patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy may experience periodontal side-effects such as gingival overgrowth. This study evaluated the subgingival microbiota of renal transplant recipients with or without periodontal tissue destruction who may have concurrent gingival enlargement. Subgingival paper point samples taken from the deepest probing sites of 38 subjects (one per patient) were examined using direct microscopy and culture techniques. A complex microflora comprising gram-positive and gram-negative cocci, rods and filaments, fusiforms, curved rods and spirochetes was observed using microscopy. Yeasts were occasionally detected. Significantly higher proportions of gram-positive morphotypes, including gram-positive cocci, were observed in samples from periodontally healthy patients. The predominant cultivable microflora from anaerobic culture comprised several species of facultative and obligate anaerobes. Colonization of the subgingival sites by 'foreign' microbes that are normally dermal, intestinal or vaginal flora was detected in up to 50% of the samples. High mean proportions of lost or unidentified species were also occasionally noted. The results showed that the subgingival biofilm of renal transplant recipients with chronic periodontitis comprised mainly gram-negative rods and spirochetes. Besides the usual predominant cultivable subgingival microbiota associated with periodontitis, the high prevalence of unidentified and 'foreign' microbes indicates the possibility of subgingival microbial alteration in renal transplant patients.postprin