Enhancement of photocatalytic oxidation of humic acid in Tio?suspensions by increasing cation strength

Author name used in this publication: X. Z. Li2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

The changing epidemiology of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis

Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis is prevalent in Hong Kong and East Asia. While the recent influx of Asian immigrants has resulted in more cases appearing in the West, over the past three decades, the overall incidence in East Asia has been in decline. The experience of the Queen Mary Hospital and other hospitals in the region has been confirmed by comprehensive surveys. The decline in incidence has been attributed to the improved economic situation and living standards with the associated westernisation of diet.published_or_final_versio

Infectious complications of liver transplantation

Sixteen (50%) of the 32 patients who received liver transplantations from October 1991 to March 1993 at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, developed viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. The viral infections were largely a result of immunosuppression while accidental bowel perforation, bile leak at the anastomosis, and delayed onset of stricture of the bile duct anastomosis were responsible for the intra-abdominal bacterial or fungal infections. Although the incidence of infectious complications was high, all patients were managed effectively and only one patient with lymphoproliferative disorder died. Infectious complications can lead to a prolonged hospital stay and a substantially increased hospital cost. The adoption of new immunosuppressive regimes that can better prevent acute graft rejection and adherence to meticulous surgical technique will help to reduce the infectious complications of liver transplantation in the future.published_or_final_versio

Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of humic acid in aqueous solution using a Ti/TiO?mesh photoelectrode

Author name used in this publication: X. Z. LiAuthor name used in this publication: F. B. Li2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver in association with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A case report

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver is a rare benign lesion that can mimic a malignant liver neoplasm. A case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver found in association with a malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the small bowel was reported. The inflammatory pseudotumor was misdiagnosed as a metastasis from the GIST by frozen section. A correct diagnosis was made only after histopathological examination of the paraffin section of the resected specimen. This case is particularly interesting because of the association of the two rare pathological entities and the diagnostic dilemma that arose 6from the similarity of their histological appearances. To our knowledge, this association has not been reported in the literature. Copyright © 2004 by The WJG Press.published_or_final_versio

Living donor liver transplantation in adults

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Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third commonest cancer in Hong Kong. Up to 80% of patients have inoperable tumour at presentation, either because of underlying cirrhosis or advanced stage of the disease. The present report described a case of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for HCC. Prognostic factors for survival and selection criteria for liver transplantation are discussed. Early referral of selected patients with HCC to a transplant centre can offer a hope of cure. The best candidate for OLT is a young patient with an asymptomatic small HCC in a cirrhotic liver.published_or_final_versio

Intravenous bolus somatostatin after diagnostic cholangiopancreatography reduces the incidence of pancreatitis associated with therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures: A randomised controlled trial

Background: Previous studies suggested that somatostatin given before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis. However, the routine use of somatostatin in all patients undergoing ERCP is not likely to be cost effective. This study evaluated whether intravenous bolus somatostatin given after diagnostic cholangiopancreatography could reduce the incidence of pancreatitis in a group of patients undergoing therapeutic ERCP procedures. Methods: In a randomised, double blind, controlled trial, the effect of intravenous bolus somatostatin 250 μg given immediately after diagnostic cholangiopancreatography was compared with that of placebo in patients who required endoscopic sphincterotomy or other therapeutic procedures. The primary end point was the incidence of post-ERCP clinical pancreatitis, and a secondary end point was the incidence of hyperamylasemia. Results: A total of 270 patients were randomised. The somatostatin group (n = 135) and the placebo group (n = 135) were comparable in age, sex, indications for treatment, and types of procedure. The frequencies of clinical pancreatitis (4.4% v 13.3%; p = 0.010) and hyperamylasemia (26.0% v 38.5%; p = 0.036) were both significantly lower in the somatostatin group compared with the placebo group. Conclusions: A single dose of intravenous bolus somatostatin, given immediately after diagnostic cholangiopancreatography, is effective in reducing the incidence of pancreatitis after therapeutic ERCP. This novel approach of administering prophylactic somatostatin may offer a cost effective prophylaxis for post-ERCP pancreatitis.published_or_final_versio

Wilson's disease: A patient undiagnosed for 18 years

Wilson's disease, an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism, is the most common inherited hepatic disease in Hong Kong. Diagnosis is based on the presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings, typical neurological symptoms, and/or a low serum ceruloplasmin concentration (<0.20 g/L). Early detection and treatment protect patients and their presymptomatic siblings from devastating organ damage. The diagnosis of Wilson's disease may nonetheless be overlooked if only established clinical and laboratory tests are used as diagnostic criteria. We report diagnosis of the disorder using genetic analysis of ATP7B in a presymptomatic sibling who escaped diagnosis during family screening 18 years previously. The patient was 11 months old when family screening was performed following diagnosis of Wilson's disease in an elder sister. The boy was considered to be unaffected on the basis of laboratory results in the expected range: serum copper level, 4.6 μmol/L; serum ceruloplasmin level, 0.16 g/L; and 24-hour urinary copper excretion, 0.14 μmol/day. Molecular analysis of ATP7B was performed; it revealed that the two siblings shared the same compound heterozygous mutations (G943D and 2299delC). We recommend that molecular diagnosis is the only definitive means of diagnosing Wilson's disease in children younger than 1 year.published_or_final_versio

Efficacy of a pre-S containing vaccine in patients receiving lamivudine prophylaxis after liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B

Lamivudine monoprophylaxis against hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection after liver transplantation is associated with recurrence due to escape mutants and second generation recombinant HBV vaccine is not effective. We studied the efficacy of two courses each of three double-doses (20 ug) of third-generation recombinant pre-S containing vaccine (Sci-B-Vac™) in 20 patients on lamivudine prophylaxis at a median of 637 days (range, 390-2666 days) after transplantation. At enrollment, all patients were seronegative for HBsAg, anti-HBs and HBVDNA (by qPCR). Lamivudine (100 mg/day) was continued throughout the study. Five patients (25%) responded to the first course and five additional patients responded after the second course (overall response rate 50%). The response rate was 88% in patients younger than 50 years old and 25% in older patients (p = 0.02). The median peak anti-HBs titer was 153 mIU/mL with six responders having a titer >100 mIU/mL and seven sustained >6 months. Among seven previous nonresponders to second generation recombinant vaccine, three (44%) responded. At the end of the study, all patients remained seronegative for HBsAg. In conclusion, Sci-B-Vac™ is effective in about 50% of patients receiving lamividine prophylaxis and may prevent recurrence due to escape mutants. © 2006 The Authors.postprin