Phaeochromocytoma in children

Phaeochromocytoma is a rare disease in childhood with a subtle and wide range of clinical presentations. We report two confirmed cases and one potential case of phaeochromocytoma, each belonging to a different disease spectrum or syndromal disorder, namely sporadic phaeochromocytoma, von Hippel-Lindau disease, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a. Knowledge of the molecular basis of the condition helps to make the diagnosis. Affected individuals and their family members should be screened for any associated syndromal disorders that can carry a substantial degree of morbidity and mortality.published_or_final_versio

Supervision of Chinese social work students during field practice: Harmonising a student-focused, egalitarian approach with traditional teaching and learning

This article explores the extent to which approaches to supervision developed outside of China fit with Chinese cultural approaches to learning and teaching. Qualitative data were collected from students and supervisors from three different regions in China. The findings suggest that a student-focused, egalitarian approach is fundamental to promote students’ learning at the current developmental stage of the social work profession in China. This approach is in conflict to some degree with the deeply rooted traditional teacher-centred, authoritative teaching and learning style. This study illustrates how a student-focused, equalitarian approach could be applied to alleviate such a tension

The clinical significance of aldosterone synthase deficiency: report of a novel mutation in the CYP11B2 gene

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Lower leg length in early life in Chinese children

Aim Lower leg length (LLL) gives a more accurate estimate of short-term linear growth than total body length as it is less influenced by measuring error. The aim of this work was to construct reference values for LLL in healthy Chinese infants during the first year of life. Material and Methods Seventy-one Hong Kong born healthy full-term Chinese infants were studied every second month from birth to one year of age. LLL was measured by means of the hand-held knemometer (manufactured by the FORCE Institute, Denmark), LLL is was estimated by the means of a pair of electronic callipers which automatically recorded the measurement when the pressure applied on the heel reached a preset value. The measuring system is based on a magnetic encoder with a resolution of 0.01 mm. Five sequential measurements were performed and the result of the measurement sequence was expressed as the average of the last four measurements. Results The mean and SD of LLL were computed at the different ages between birth and one year of age (both sexes pooled); both estimates were fitted by a second degree polynomial function: mean=125.724+13 0291*t-1.05321*t2+0.041012*t3 SD=3.67018+0.85278*t-0.092090*t2+0.0038488*t3 where t is age in years The mean values were similar to the mean values of Danish infants being followed between birth and six months of age, but the SD values were higher in the Danish series. In our study the boys had on the average significantly higher LLL values than girls; 0.35 SDS in comparison with -0.35 SDS based on our gender combined reference standard (t test, p<0.05 for all ages). At this stage we present the pooled data results for comparison with the Danish study. Conclusion This is the first report on LLL reference values between birth and one year of age in normal infants. Our mean LLL values was similar to the values reported in Danish infants during the first 6 months of life implying no ethnic group differences for this body measurement. The reference values would be useful in metabolic and nutritional studies of different patient groups. This study was supported by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Konglink_to_OA_fulltex

A Pilot Study of the Use of Insulin Glargine in Combination with Short Acting Insulin Analogue in Adolescents with Type I Diabetes Mellitus in Hong Kong

This pilot study is a retrospective analysis of the frequency of nocturnal hypoglycaemia and glycaemic control in 7 adolescents with well-controlled type I diabetes 3 to 6 months before and 6 months after switching to a new long-acting insulin analog-insulin glargine in combination with short acting insulin analogues before meals. The patients were on short acting insulin before the three main meals and isophane insulin at bedtime and they had a mean annual HbA1c value of 7.6±0.4%. The patients were switched to a new regime of insulin lispro before the three main meals and insulin glargine at bedtime. The mean duration of glargine treatment was 0.8?.3 years. The mean average fasting blood glucose determined by glucometer was significantly improved from 9.9±1.4 mmol/L to 8.5±1.2 mmol/L (p<0.05) after switching to insulin glargine. The proportion of morning blood glucose between 4 to 10 mmol/L achieved by patients significantly increased from 42.7±11.2% to 52.2±15.2% (p<0.05) without nocturnal or morning hypoglycaemia. There was no significant change in the daily insulin dosage between the two treatment regimes. This combination has a high degree of acceptability to motivated adolescent patients. A larger prospective study on the beneficial effects of insulin analogues on poorly controlled diabetes is warranted