Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for stenosis of arteriovenous fistulae: a review of local experience

The stenosis and subsequent thrombosis of the arteriovenous fistula may lead to a loss of vascular access sites; this a major problem in chronic haemodialysis patients. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has been a popular way of correcting such lesions in recent years. We have reviewed patients who underwent this operation from 1993 to 1996 at the Queen Mary Hospital. Among 11 patients who were documented as having arteriovenous fistula stenosis, 60% of lesions were in the anastomotic area while 40% were in the venous limb. All patients had abnormal dialysis blood line pressures corresponding to the actual site of stenosis. The initial success rate of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in treating the stenotic lesions was 73%. This method is thus a promising form of semi-invasive treatment for symptomatic arteriovenous fistula stenosis.published_or_final_versio

喉部神經鞘瘤：一種造成聲帶癱瘓的罕見原因

We present a rare case of schwannoma of the larynx in a 26-year-old Chinese patient. The tumour was excised using a lateral thyrotomy approach, with satisfactory restoration of laryngeal function. The presentation, management, and outcome of treatment for this type of tumour are discussed.published_or_final_versio

A regimen of systematic periodontal care after removal of impacted mandibular third molars manages periodontal pockets associated with the mandibular second molars

Aim: This randomized, single-blinded control trial investigated the local effects of periodontal care on the mandibular second molar delivered during and after impacted third molar surgical extraction. Method: Thirty subjects (50% male, 32.1 ± 7.8 years) out of 35 enrolled, with a mesio-angular impacted mandibular third molar, having probing pocket depth (PPD) > 5 mm at adjacent second molar distal, and crestal radio-lucency between the two teeth, completed the study. Oral hygiene instruction, scaling and caries stabilization were performed before surgery. Controls (n = 16) had their third molar extracted followed by standard socket debridement. Test group subjects (n = 14) received the same treatment, except that before wound closure the operator was informed of the group allocation and ultrasonic root debridement on the second molar was performed, followed by a three-visit plaque control programme. Results: Six months post-extraction, statistically significantly (p < 0.007) better plaque control and shallower probing depths were observed at test second molars' distal (%plaque = 21; PPD = 3.2 ± 1.2 mm) than at control second molars (%plaque = 88; PPD = 5.2 ± 0.7 mm). Conclusions: The periodontal interventions investigated prevented residual pockets on periodontally involved second molars 6 months after ipsilateral impacted mandibular third molar removal. Copyright © Blackwell Munksgaard 2005.postprin

Effectiveness of calcium acetate as a phosphate binder in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We compared the effectiveness of calcium acetate as a phosphate binder with that of calcium carbonate by substituting one for the other in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Twenty patients who had been receiving calcium carbonate as a phosphate binder were instead given calcium acetate, initially with two thirds of the previous dose of elemental calcium. The calcium acetate dose was adjusted to achieve adequate calcium-phosphate balance; 65.6% of the previous dose of elemental calcium in calcium carbonate was required. Eighteen of the 20 patients completed the 3-month study. There were no significant differences in the pre-study and study levels of serum phosphate (1.81Ը?0.04 [SEM] versus 1.89Ը?0.06 mmol/L), corrected serum calcium (2.54Ը?0.04 versus 2.57Ը?0.03 mmol/L), calcium phosphate product (4.60Ը?0.15 versus 4.87Ը?0.18), serum alkaline phosphatase (64.75Ը?4.17 versus 69.94Ը?3.77 U/L), and serum parathyroid hormone (122Ը?31 versus 124Ը?27 ng/L). Three patients developed a total of five episodes of hypercalcaemia (corrected calcium level >/=2.85 mmol/L) and four other patients developed gastrointestinal upset. Calcium acetate can thus achieve similar phosphate control to calcium carbonate, using 65.6% of the dose of elemental calcium in calcium carbonate; however, its clinical superiority was not demonstrated in this study.published_or_final_versio

Intelligent integration of BIPV and load management systems for modern buildings

This paper outlines the basics of load management, and highlights the possibility of maximising the contribution from the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) power generation. It will also explain the underlying principles of a dynamic modelling approach and its application in supporting the anticipatory control strategy for load shifting. For many types of building applications, the load profiles are well matched with the BIPV generation profiles such that the BIPV power source is already acting as the peak clipping device. The application of Building Management Systems (BMS) in load shifting should consider the supply from BIPV system. Secondly, due to the thermal mass of the building, there exists time delay in the response of the power requirement of the HVAC system in the building from the solar radiation data. The BIPV system, on the contrary, is responding almost instantaneously to the solar irradiance. A dynamic BIPV model could be applied in aiding the prediction of the load profile. This paper will outline these aspects of the BIPV system as a demonstration of its application in BMS.postprintThe 8th Annual Power Symposium, Hong Kong, 19 June 2009

Integration of BIPV systems and load management

This paper outlines the basics of load management, and highlights the possibility of maximising the contribution from the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) power generation. It will also explain the underlying principles of a dynamic modelling approach and its application in supporting the anticipatory control strategy for load shifting. For many types of building applications, the load profiles are well matched with the BIPV generation profiles such that the BIPV power source is already acting as the peak clipping device. The application of Building Management Systems (BMS) in load shifting should consider the supply from BIPV system. Secondly, due to the thermal mass of the building, there exists time delay in the response of the power requirement of the HVAC system in the building from the solar radiation data. The BIPV system, on the contrary, is responding almost instantaneously to the solar irradiance. A dynamic BIPV model could be applied in aiding the prediction of the load profile. This paper will outline these aspects of the dynamic model developed as a demonstration of its application.postprintThe International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2009

On Buffered Threshold Garch Models

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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

Periodontal conditions in adults resident in Lhasa, Tibet

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Surveillance colonoscopy in patients with serrated lesions at baseline

Poster Session: Other Lower GI Disorders 3: Lower GI malignant disease, pathogenesis: Paper no. 1655published_or_final_versio