Advantages of video trigger in problem-based learning

Conference Theme: Quality Accreditation and Standard in Medical Educationpublished_or_final_versio

Skin banking in Hong Kong - the development and experience in Queen Mary Hospital

published_or_final_versio

Tensin4 is up-regulated by EGF-induced ERK1/2 activity and promotes cell proliferation and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma

The focal adhesion protein Tensin4, also known as cten (c-terminal tensin like), is structurally distinct from the three other members in the Tensin family. Its expression and potential functions in cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not well understood. With immunohistochemistry, 43% (13/30) of our human HCC cases showed up-regulation of Tensin4 as compared with their corresponding non-tumorous livers. In HCC cells, treatment with epidermal growth factor (EGF) significantly induced Tensin4 transcript and protein expression, while treatment with pharmacological inhibitors against the MEK1/2 kinases abolished such induction, suggesting that Tensin4 expression was dependent on Ras/MAPK signaling. With immunofluorescence microscopy, the focal adhesion localization of Tensin4 was confirmed in HCC cells. Significantly, detailed examination using a panel of Tensin4 deletion constructs revealed that this specific focal adhesion localization required the N-terminal region together with the C-terminal SH2 domain. Up-regulation of ERK signaling by EGF in the HCC cells resulted in a change to a mesenchymal celllike morphology through modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Functionally, stable Tensin4 knockdown in SMMC-7721 HCC cells resulted in reduced cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Taken together, our data suggest that Tensin4 may play a pro-oncogenic role in HCC, possibly functioning as a downstream effector of Ras/ MAPK signaling.published_or_final_versio

Learning needs in a medical curriculum in Hong Kong

Objective To survey medical graduates from the University of Hong Kong on how well they perceived their learning needs had been fulfilled by the old (before 1997) and the new (after 1997) curricula. Design Retrospective questionnaire survey. Setting The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Participants Medical graduates from the University of Hong Kong who graduated between 1997 and 2006 were invited to complete a questionnaire online or in paper form; 1997-2001 graduates were trained under the old curriculum, and 2002-2006 graduates under the new curriculum. Results The response rate was 23%.Thesurvey showed thatthe graduates of both curricula felt that research skills, population health, and ophthalmology were not emphasised enough in the medical programme. In addition, some graduates of the old curriculum mentioned interpersonal skills, ethics and professionalism, and language skills, which were pinpointed in the curriculum reform in 1997. Some graduates of the new curriculum mentioned anatomy, microbiology, and diagnostic radiology. Graduates of both the old and the new curricula perceived the same top five areas as being lacking in their respective curricula, in relationship to their clinical career and personal growth, namely: business administration, law, professional English, life coaching, and humanities. A small percentage of graduates also took courses in these areas after graduation. Conclusions The survey showed that the curriculum reform in 1997 at the University of Hong Kong had correctly pinpointed some of the learning needs. The survey also identified educational needs in the existing curriculum that need to be dealt with in the forthcoming curriculum reform in 2012.published_or_final_versio

Use of deltopectoral flap for head and neck reconstruction

Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

The efficacy of surgery for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Modeling Fibrillogenesis of Collagen-Mimetic Molecules

One of the most robust examples of self-assembly in living organisms is the formation of collagen architectures. Collagen type I molecules are a crucial component of the extracellular matrix, where they self-assemble into fibrils of well-defined axial striped patterns. This striped fibrillar pattern is preserved across the animal kingdom and is important for the determination of cell phenotype, cell adhesion, and tissue regulation and signaling. The understanding of the physical processes that determine such a robust morphology of self-assembled collagen fibrils is currently almost completely missing. Here, we develop a minimal coarse-grained computational model to identify the physical principles of the assembly of collagen-mimetic molecules. We find that screened electrostatic interactions can drive the formation of collagen-like filaments of well-defined striped morphologies. The fibril axial pattern is determined solely by the distribution of charges on the molecule and is robust to the changes in protein concentration, monomer rigidity, and environmental conditions. We show that the striped fibrillar pattern cannot be easily predicted from the interactions between two monomers but is an emergent result of multibody interactions. Our results can help address collagen remodeling in diseases and aging and guide the design of collagen scaffolds for biotechnological applications

Effect of location of opening incision on astigmatic correction after small-incision lenticule extraction

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Early outcomes after small incision lenticule extraction and photorefractive keratectomy for correction of high myopia

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