Typical collapse modes of confined masonry buildings under strong earthquake loads

Confined masonry structures are a widely applied structural system in many developing countries. During the past Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008, numerous confined masonry buildings collapsed, while many others suffered damage. This study reviews the construction practices of confined masonry buildings in China. Simple models and hand calculation methods are proposed for quantifying the tearing failure of diaphragms, the tensile failure of tie-columns and the sway-mode strength of masonry buildings. The results indicate very good agreement with field observations. The seismic measures that are stipulated in the seismic design codes are very effective for increasing the strength and integrity, but not the ductility of masonry buildings. For those buildings that survived the earthquake, strength rather than ductility protected the confined masonry from collapse or serious damage. Design recommendations are suggested for preventing various types of premature failures and enhancing the lateral strength of masonry buildings. © Su et al.published_or_final_versio

Return to work after cardiac rehabilitation

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E2F1 Downregulation by Arsenic Trioxide in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Nonetheless preliminary data have suggested potential activity of ATO in solid tumors including lung cancer. This study aimed to examine the underlying mechanisms of ATO in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. Using a panel of 7 lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, the effects of ATO treatment on cell viability, expression of E2F1 and its downstream targets, phosphatidylserine externalization, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and alteration of apoptotic/anti-apoptotic factors were studied. Tumor growth inhibition in vivo was investigated using a nude mouse xenograft model. ATO decreased cell viability with clinically achievable concentrations (8 uM) in all cell lines investigated. This was accompanied by reduced expression of E2F1, cyclin A2, skp2, c-myc, thymidine kinase and ribonucleotide reductase M1, while p-c-Jun was upregulated. Cell viability was significantly decreased with E2F1 knockdown. Treatment with ATO resulted in phosphatidylserine externalization in H23 cells and mitochondrial membrane depolarization in all cell lines, associated with truncation of Bid, downregulation of Bcl-2, upregulation of Bax and Bak, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Using a H358 xenograft model, the tumor growth was suppressed in the ATO treatment group during 8 days of treatment, associated with downregulation of E2F1 and upregulation of truncated Bid and cleaved caspase-3. In conclusion, ATO has potent in vitro and in vivo activity in lung adenocarcinoma, partially mediated through E2F1 downregulation and apoptosis.published_or_final_versio

Successful control of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium outbreak in a neurosurgical unit at non-endemic region

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged in many parts of the world, but have only been reported sporadically in Hong Kong. We report an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) in a neurosurgical unit at a tertiary teaching hospital between 3 March and 3 April 2009 in Hong Kong. During the outbreak investigation, clinical samples from 193 (91.5%) of 211 patients who had stayed in the neurosurgical unit and 506 environmental samples were screened for VREfm. Besides the index case, another 3 (1.6%) out of 192 patients were found to be positive for VREfm. Two (0.4%) out of 506 environmental samples were positive for VREfm. All four clinical and two environmental isolates were found to be clonally related by pulse-field gel electrophoresis. The risk factors for nosocomial acquisition of VREfm included advanced age (P¼0.047), presence of nasogastric tubing (P¼0.002) and tracheostomy (Po0.001), and the use of b-lactam antibiotics (Po0.001) and vancomycin (P¼0.001). Contrary to other VRE outbreaks in which the spread was rapid, the neurosurgical patients’ immobilization because of coma and mechanical ventilation dependency, and the vigilant practice of hand hygiene by health-care workers successfully limited the number of secondary cases despite the delayed recognition of the index case. All patients with VREfm were labeled in the hospital network information system so that stringent infection control measures with contact precautions would be carried out once these patients were readmitted to prevent its spread in our locality.published_or_final_versio

An analysis on reasons of non-compliant to cardiac rehabilitation programme

Abstract no. 09published_or_final_versio

Benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with left ventricular systolic heart failure

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Active cardiac rehabilitation program is able to improve risk factors profile

Abstract no. 08published_or_final_versio

Immunoglobulin G testing in the diagnosis of food allergy and intolerance

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Combination of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and irbesartan for the treatment of heart failure

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Cardiac rehabilitation improves functional and clinical status of patients after AMI or PTCA - a randomised controlled study

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