Intraoperative direct embolization with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for vascular tumours of the spinal cord: a technical report

Oral-Poster Presentation 1Meeting Theme: Degenerative Lumbar SpineINTRODUCTION: Intramedullary vascular tumors such as hemangioma or hemangioblastoma in the cervical cord are challenging lesions to remove surgically. The vascularity of the lesion can cause significant bleeding and difficulties during tumor debulking and dissection, and increase the risk of spinal cord damage. Pre-operative endovascular embolization is well described for intra-cranial lesions, but seldom used in intraspinal intramedullary tumors due to the technical difficulties and risk of spinal cord ischemia. We describe our experience of intra-operative direct embolization of difficult cervical cord vascular tumors with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue in achieving prompt hemostasis and facilitating tumor removal …published_or_final_versio

Antifungal profile of clones of C. albicans isolated in sequential visits in a HIV infected cohort

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Proceedings of The First Current Topic in Infectious Diseases: Consensus Meeting on Conjugate Vaccines of the Center of Infection

Titles include: 1. Invasive Haemophilus Influenzae b Disease: Overview and Disease Burden in Hong Kong (YL LAU) ; 2. Overview and Disease Burden of Haemophilus Influenzae Type b in China (YH YANG) ; 3. Factors to Consider in the Routine Use of Hib in Hong Kong (THF TSANG) ; 4. Burden of Pneumococcal Disease in Hong Kong (CB CHOW) ; 5. Overview and Disease Burden of Streptococcus Pneumoniae in China (YH YANG) ; 6. Resistance in Pediatric Isolates of Pneumococci. Results from a Territorywide Carriage Study (SSS CHIU) ; 7. Serotype Distribution of Invasive and Noninvasive Strains of Pneumococci in Hong Kong (PL HO) ; 8. Overview of Conjugate Pneumococcal Vaccine: Serotype Coverage, Efficacy and Status of Usage in other Countries (SSY WONG)Conference Theme: The First Current Topic in Infectious Diseasespublished_or_final_versio

An unusual S-adenosylmethionine synthetase gene from dinoflagellate is methylated

Background: S-Adenosylmethionine synthetase (AdoMetS) catalyzes the formation of S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), the major methyl group donor in cells. AdoMet-mediated methylation of DNA is known to have regulatory effects on DNA transcription and chromosome structure. Transcription of environmental-responsive genes was demonstrated to be mediated via DNA methylation in dinoflagellates. Results: A full-length cDNA encoding AdoMetS was cloned from the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the CcAdoMetS gene, is associated with the clade of higher plant orthrologues, and not to the clade of the animal orthrologues. Surprisingly, three extra stretches of residues ( 8 to 19 amino acids) were found on CcAdoMetS, when compared to other members of this usually conserved protein family. Modeled on the bacterial AdeMetS, two of the extra loops are located close to the methionine binding site. Despite this, the CcAdoMetS was able to rescue the corresponding mutant of budding yeast. Southern analysis, coupled with methylation-sensitive and insensitive enzyme digestion of C. cohnii genomic DNA, demonstrated that the AdoMetS gene is itself methylated. The increase in digestibility of methylation-sensitive enzymes on AdoMet synthetase gene observed following the addition of DNA methylation inhibitors L-ethionine and 5-azacytidine suggests the presence of cytosine methylation sites within CcAdoMetS gene. During the cell cycle, both the transcript and protein levels of CcAdoMetS peaked at the G1 phase. L- ethionine was able to delay the cell cycle at the entry of S phase. A cell cycle delay at the exit of G2/M phase was induced by 5-azacytidine. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a major role of AdoMet-mediated DNA methylation in the regulation of cell proliferation and that the CcAdoMetS gene is itself methylated

Differential regulation of cytokine-and phorbol ester-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin in human airway epithelial cells

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UV-curable liquid-core fiber lenses with controllable focal length

Author name used in this publication: Yuen H. TsangAuthor name used in this publication: Kwok Lung Jim2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

High power picosecond lasers mode locked with carbon based absorbers

2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Superbroadband near-IR photoluminescence from Pr³⁺-doped fluorotellurite glasses

Author name used in this publication: Yuen H. Tsang2011-2012 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Down-expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial (Enos) proteins and mRNA iNOS in bronchiectasis in vivo

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Superbroadband near-infrared emission and energy transfer in Pr³⁺-Er³⁺ codoped fluorotellurite glasses

Author name used in this publication: Yuen H. Tsang2011-2012 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe