The relationship of asthma and the pattern of adiposity in adult Chinese

Poster presentationpublished_or_final_versionThe 15th Medical Research Conference, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 16 January 2010. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2010, v. 16, suppl. 1, p. 56, abstract no. 9

Genetic polymorphisms and plasma levels of transforming growth factor-β 1 in Chinese patients with tuberculosis in Hong Kong

Susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) may be affected by host genetic factors. Elevated levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β 1) were found in plasma of patients with active TB compared with those of healthy contacts. To investigate the association of TGF-β 1 gene polymorphisms (C-509T and T869C) and plasma levels with the risk of TB in Hong Kong Chinese adults, a case-control study was carried out on 174 active TB patients and 174 healthy controls matched for age, gender and smoking. Blood samples from 180 blood donors served as another control group. Genotyping was carried out on genomic DNA using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Plasma TGF-β 1 was measured by commercially available ELISA kit. We found no differences in the distribution of genotypes or alleles of TGF-β 1 gene polymorphisms at C-509T and T869C between patients and either group of healthy controls. Patients with TB had elevated plasma TGF-β 1 levels compared with healthy controls irrespective of their genotypes (p < 0.001). In conclusion, TGF-β 1 gene polymorphism at C-509T and T869C is not associated with TB susceptibility in Hong Kong Chinese adults, but elevated plasma TGF-β 1 levels suggests that this cytokine may play a role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Pleuroscopy: Our initial experience in Hong Kong

Objective: To report our preliminary experience using pleuroscopy for patients with pleural diseases. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral hospital with service input from respiratory physicians and cardiothoracic surgeons in Hong Kong. Patients: Between April and November 2007, patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions and proven malignant pleural effusions were recruited for diagnostic evaluations and therapeutic interventions, respectively. Intervention: Pleuroscopy with a semi-rigid thoracoscope performed under local anaesthesia and conscious sedation. Results: A total of 20 patients (16 males and 4 females; mean age, 63 years) underwent the procedure and were followed up for a mean of 19 weeks. For the 14 patients having diagnostic pleuroscopy, the yield was 79% (11 patients). The 3-month success rate for the six patients undergoing pleurodesis was 83% (five patients). Complications were mild and included self-limiting fever (20%, four patients) and localised subcutaneous emphysema (20%, four patients). No major complications or mortality were noted. Conclusion: Pleuroscopy using a semi-rigid instrument is a safe and efficacious procedure for the management of pleural diseases in suitable patients.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The clinical value of autofluorescence bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of lung cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) in the routine work-up of lung cancer. Consecutive patients with atypical or suspicious cells in sputum or bronchial aspirate, no localising abnormality on chest radiography and nondiagnostic white-light bronchoscopic (WLB) results were recruited. WLB and AFB were performed sequentially during the same session. All abnormal areas detected by WLB, AFB or both were sampled and the biopsy specimens sent for histological examination. Sixty-two patients were recruited within the 32-month study period. Seventeen had no endobronchial lesion detected. Among the 45 patients with endobronchial lesions, 37 had lesions with a histopathological grade of mild dysplasia or less; of the eight patients who had a lesion with a histological grade of moderate dysplasia or worse, five were found to have lung cancer, two invasive lung cancer and three an intra-epithelial neoplasm (severe dysplasia). Lesions showing moderate dysplasia or worse were more commonly found in patients with suspicious cells than in those with atypical cells on sputum examination. AFB was more sensitive than WLB (91 versus 58%) at detecting these lesions, but less specific (26 versus 50%). A combination of white-light and autofluorescence bronchoscopy can increase the diagnostic yield of this invasive procedure in patients exhibiting abnormal sputum cytology. Copyright © ERS Journals Ltd 2006.link_to_OA_fulltex

FEV 3, FEV 6 and their derivatives for detecting airflow obstruction in adult Chinese

BACKGROUND: Forced expiratory volume in 3 seconds (FEV 3) and 6 seconds (FEV 6) could complement FEV 1and forced vital capacity (FVC) for detecting airflow obstruction. OBJECTIVE: To compare FEV 1/FEV 6 and FEV 3/FVC with FEV 1/FVC in the detection of airflow obstruction. METHOD: Previous lung function data were re-analysed to establish reference values for FEV 3 and FEV 6. Data from a separate cohort of male smokers were used as test set. FEV 1, FEV 3, FEV 6, FVC, FEV 1/FVC, FEV 1/FEV 6 and FEV 3/FVC were regressed against age, standing height, weight and body mass index, and the mean and 95% confidence intervals for the lower limit of normal (LLN) values for these parameters were determined. RESULTS: The percentage of smokers with airflow obstruction in the test population using FEV 1/FVC < LLN was 15.0%, while using FEV 1/FEV 6 < LLN and FEV 3/FVC < LLN they were respectively 18.5% and 18.1%. Using FEV 1/FVC < LLN as reference, the sensitivity and specificity of FEV 1/FEV 6 < LLN in identifying airflow obstruction were 82.3% and 92.8%, while those for FEV 3/FVC < LLN were 78.5% and 92.6%; the positive and negative predictive values were 67% and 96.7% for FEV 1/FEV 6 < LLN and 65.3% and 96% for FEV 3/FVC < LLN. CONCLUSION: FEV 3/FVC < LLN and FEV 1/FEV 6 < LLN are comparable to FEV 1/FVC < LLN for detecting airflow obstruction. FEV 3/FVC < LLN could be useful in screening for airflow obstruction, while FEV 1/FEV 6 < LLN is useful in detecting airflow limitation in the elderly or in subjects with severe airflow obstruction. © 2012 The Union.link_to_OA_fulltex