Search and Seizure of Journalistic Material: the Sing Tao Daily Case

AnalysisThe constitutional guarantee of a free press has been almost taken for granted by all in Hong Kong. In safeguarding press freedom, the protection of journalistic sources is of particular importance to ensure that the press can properly perform its role as society's watchdog. However, in So Wing Keung v Sing Tao Limited and Hsu Hiu Yee, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal has taken quite a different view on the matter. This could have a long-term impact on the development of press freedom and the use of journalistic material in Hong Kong. This article seeks to look at the subtle, but significant change in the landscape on press freedom resulting from the Court's decision.published_or_final_versio

The Doctrine of Substantive Legitimate Expectation: the Significance of Ng Siu Tung and Others v Director of Immigration

AnalysisIn Ng Siu Tung and Others v Director of Immigration, the Court of Final Appeal delivered a landmark judgment, holding that several representations made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the long-running right of abode saga had created substantive legitimate expectations in certain classes of claimants, and the failure of the Government to honour those representations amounted to an abuse of power. As a result, the removal orders were quashed and cases were directed to the Immigration Department for reconsideration. The decision stands as the first authority approving and applying the doctrine of substantive legitimate expectation at the final appellate court level in any common law jurisdiction. This article critically examines the reasoning of the judgment and the impact of the doctrine on the development of administrative law.published_or_final_versio

The role of c-Myc in phagocytosis of mycobacteria in human macrophages

Poster Presentation (Doctor’s Session)This journal issue contain proceedings of the CongressMycobacterium tuberculosis is an intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of the disease tuberculosis. Macrophages are the major immunocytes to initiate host immunity against mycobacteria. Among the multiple strategies employ by macrophages to defence against mycobacteria, phagocytosis is the first step. Throughphagocytosis, macrophages could not only clear the pathogens from infection sites, but also present antigens derived from the engulfed bacteria to lymphoid cells. c-Myc is a transcription factor that regulates a variety of target genes. It can form a complex with Max and bind to the enhancer box sequences of the promoter to mediate the transcription. Recently, our group revealed that c-Myc has a potential role in regulating the antimicrobial responses in macrophages. Here, we further revealed that c-Myc may play a positive role in phagocytosis and contribute to host defense to mycobacteria. Pretreatment of c-Myc inhibitor, 10058-F4, could significantly reduce the amount of mycobacteria internalised by macrophages. The acidification of phagolysosome in mycobacteria infected macrophages was also inhibited by 10058-F4. Further investigation showed that macrophages phagocytose mycobacteria in a PI3K/Akt independent pathway. And the action of c-Myc inhibitor does not affect the expression levels of Rho family GTPases. However, we found that 10058-F4 could significantly inhibit phorsphorylation of ERK1/2 kinase, which has been indicated to play a role in FcR mediated phagocytosis in macrophage. In conclusion, c-Myc may play a role in phagocytosis of mycobacteria through regulating phorsphorylation of ERK1/2.published_or_final_versio

HIV-1 Tat dysregulation of KSHV induced immune response through the production of IL-8

Poster PresentationHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and is a major health issue around the world. HIV is known to induce a number of pathological problems in AIDS patients via the transactivator (Tat) protein that is expressed and released by infected cells. One of the most important function of Tat is the dysregulation of the immune response. IL-8 is a chemokine known to be highly expressed in AIDS patients and Tat plays a major role in its production. IL-8 increases the HIV transmission and replication rate; and plays a role in Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection, which is a major opportunistic pathogen that AIDS patients are at risk to. KSHV is also known to induce the expression of IL-8 in patients, and IL-8 is known to assist tumour development by increasing angiogenesis. In our study, we investigated the role that Tat may have in manipulating the expression of IL-8 induced by KSHV in primary blood monocyte derived macrophages (PBMac). The results showed that pretreatment of PBMac with Tat inhibited the expression of IL-8 induced by KSHV by approximately 40%. We also found that Tat was able to inhibit the phosphorylation of STAT-1 induced by KSHV, and the inhibition of STAT-1 phosporylation was related to the expression of IL-8 induced by KSHV. In conclusion, we found that Tat was able to manipulate the expression of IL-8 induced by KSHV in macrophages, and this inhibition of IL-8 expression was regulated through the STAT-1 related pathways.published_or_final_versio

The role of oncogene in mycobacteria-induced antophagy in human macrophages

Poster PresentationMacrophages are the major immunocytes to initiate both innate and adaptive immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a causative agent of tuberculosis. Upon mycoabcteria infection, macrophages could eliminate the intracellular bacteria through different cell death pathways, including apoptosis and autophagy. c-Myc is a transcription factor that regulates a variety of target genes and control different cellular functions such as proliferation and immune resposnse. Recently, our group revealed that c-Myc has a potential role in regulating the antimicrobial responses in macrophages. Here we use BCG, a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, which is similar to Mtb in antigenic composition, as a model to study the role of c-Myc in regulating mycobacteria-induced autophagy. We first investigated the role of c-Myc in BCG-induced LC3BII levels. Knocking down c-Myc by siRNA could decrease BCG-induced LC3BII levels. We found that BCG-induced autophagy is dependent on JNK and p38 and independent on PI3K or ERK pathways. And knocking down of c-Myc could significantly inhibit phosphorylation of p38. In conclusion, c-Myc may play a positive role in mycobacteria-induced autophagy in human macrophages.published_or_final_versio

Dual-specificity protein phosphatase-1 positively regulates the anti-mycobacterial responses

Posters: abstract no. 214Tuberculosis is still prevalent around world. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This microbe stimulates monocytes/macrophages leading to the production of specific cytokines for initiating immune responses. Of these cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is crucial for inducing the granuloma formation for restricting Mtb dissemination. Using Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) as a model, we showed ...postprintThe 1st Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference, Lorne, Australia, February 2011. In Abstract Book of the 1st Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference, 2011, p. 111, abstract no. 21

Inhibitory effect of Panax Notoginseng (PNG) extracts on the TNF-α-induced MMP-9 activity in cardiomyoblasts

Poster Presentation 10Cardiac remodeling is a compensatory physiologic response to myocardial infarction. The progression of cardiac remodeling may lead to congestive heart failure which has high mortality rate. In this progression, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) plays an important role in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and subsequent ventricular dilation. Therefore, new treatments targeting MMPs are suggested to ...published_or_final_versio

Epidemiology of Acute Myocarditis/Pericarditis in Hong Kong Adolescents Following Comirnaty Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Age-specific incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis in adolescents following Comirnaty vaccination in Asia is lacking. This study aimed to study the clinical characteristics and incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis among Hong Kong adolescents following Comirnaty vaccination. METHODS: This is a population cohort study in Hong Kong that monitored adverse events following immunization through a pharmacovigilance system for COVID-19 vaccines. All adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years following Comirnaty vaccination were monitored under the COVID-19 vaccine Adverse Event Response and Evaluation Programme. The clinical characteristics and overall incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis in adolescents following Comirnaty vaccination were analysed. RESULTS: Between 14 June 2021 and 4 September 2021, 33 Chinese adolescents who developed acute myocarditis/pericarditis following Comirnaty vaccination were identified. 29 (87.88%) were males and 4 (12.12%) were females, with a median age of 15.25 years. 27 (81.82%) and 6 (18.18%) cases developed acute myocarditis/pericarditis after receiving the second and first dose, respectively. All cases are mild and required only conservative management.The overall incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis was 18.52 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 11.67-29.01) per 100,000 persons vaccinated. The incidence after the first and second doses were 3.37 (95%CI 1.12-9.51) and 21.22 (95%CI 13.78-32.28 per 100,000 persons vaccinated, respectively. Among male adolescents, the incidence after the first and second doses were 5.57 (95% CI 2.38-12.53) and 37.32 (95% CI 26.98-51.25) per 100,000 persons vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant increase in the risk of acute myocarditis/pericarditis following Comirnaty vaccination among Chinese male adolescents, especially after the second dose

Common variants in SOX-2 and congenital cataract genes contribute to age-related nuclear cataract

Nuclear cataract is the most common type of age-related cataract and a leading cause ofblindness worldwide. Age-related nuclear cataract is heritable (h2 = 0.48), but little isknown about specific genetic factors underlying this condition. Here we report findingsfrom the largest to date multi-ethnic meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies(discovery cohort N = 14,151 and replication N = 5299) of the International CataractGenetics Consortium. We confirmed the known genetic association of CRYAA (rs7278468,P = 2.8 × 10−16) with nuclear cataract and identified five new loci associated with this disease: SOX2-OT (rs9842371, P = 1.7 × 10−19), TMPRSS5 (rs4936279, P = 2.5 × 10−10),LINC01412 (rs16823886, P = 1.3 × 10−9), GLTSCR1 (rs1005911, P = 9.8 × 10−9), and COMMD1(rs62149908, P = 1.2 × 10−8). The results suggest a strong link of age-related nuclear cataract with congenital cataract and eye development genes, and the importance of commongenetic variants in maintaining crystalline lens integrity in the aging eye