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Lee MC, Wong YK, Lee ACW, Fung HS, Chiang JB, Kwok CH, Chiu LF. Single-centre Initial Experience of Transradial Access for Abdominal Interventional Radiology. Hong Kong Journal of Radiology 2022. [DOI: 10.12809/hkjr2217400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- MC Lee
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - YK Wong
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - ACW Lee
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - HS Fung
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - JB Chiang
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - CH Kwok
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - LF Chiu
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
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Lee PMY, Kwok CH, Tsoi YK, Wu C, Law SH, Tsang KH, Yeung YC, Chan WC, Tse GM, Yuen KKW, Hung RKW, Wang F, Tse LA. Associations between Preserved foods and Breast Cancer Risk in Hong Kong Chinese Women. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2022; 15:497-507. [PMID: 35504011 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-21-0509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Preserved food such as cured foods may contain nitrate and nitrite that may contribute to the breast cancer development. Evidence on the associations between these preserved food intakes and risk of breast cancer is sparse. This study aimed to examine the associations between preserved foods (i.e. cured meat, pickled vegetables, canned meat, canned fruit/vegetables) and breast cancer risk in Hong Kong Chinese women. A total of 1307 breast cancer cases and 1050 age-matched controls were recruited from three hospitals during 11/2011-01/2018. We used a standardized questionnaire to collect information on dietary factors including preserved foods. Unconditional multiple logistic regression was performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratio(AOR) of breast cancer in relation to preserved food with adjustment of potential confounders. We further performed stratified analysis according to the breast cancer biology subtypes. We found that cured meat consumption was significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer [AOR=1.32, 95% confidence interval 95%CI)=1.06-1.64]. Compared to no cured meat consumption, cured meat intake {greater than or equal to} once per week was associated with an AOR of 2.66 (95%CI=1.38-5.35). Women with canned fruit/vegetable {greater than or equal to} consumption once per week had a higher risk of breast cancer (OR=1.19, 95%CI=1.00-1.41), particularly for the HER2-positive subtypes, but it became borderline after adjustment of confounders. Our study reveals a positive association between consumption of cured meat and breast cancer risk in Chinese population. Cured meat intake might be a potential novel risk factor for breast cancer but this would have to be confirmed by large prospective cohort studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chi-Hei Kwok
- Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yee-Kei Tsoi
- North District Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | | | | | - W C Chan
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Gary M Tse
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | | | | | - Feng Wang
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
| | - Lap Ah Tse
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Chan DCW, Lui CY, Yuen KT, Kwok CH, Chan KW, Cheng ACK. Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: A Cross-sectional Study of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients after Treatment with Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy. Hong Kong J Radiol 2018. [DOI: 10.12809/hkjr1816827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Li M, Tse LA, Chan WC, Kwok CH, Leung SL, Wu C, Yu WC, Lee PMY, Tsang KH, Law SH, Vermeulen R, Gu F, Caporaso NE, Yu ITS, Wang F, Yang XR. Nighttime eating and breast cancer among Chinese women in Hong Kong. Breast Cancer Res 2017; 19:31. [PMID: 28302140 PMCID: PMC5356318 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-017-0821-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A novel line of research suggests that eating at nighttime may have several metabolic consequences that are highly relevant to breast cancer. We investigated the association between nighttime eating habits after 10 p.m. and breast cancer in Hong Kong women. METHODS A hospital-based case-control study was conducted during 2012-2015. A total of 922 patients with incident breast cancer (cases) and 913 hospital controls were recruited and interviewed using a standard questionnaire including information on eating behavior during both daytime and nighttime. We collected the timing, duration, types and frequencies of food intake of eating at nighttime. Odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of breast cancer in relation to nighttime eating-related variables were calculated by unconditional multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Eating at night after 10 pm was significantly associated with breast cancer with an adjusted OR of 1.50 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.12, P = 0.02), and the associations were stronger in women who had the longest duration of nighttime eating (≥20 years) (adjusted OR = 2.28 (95% CI 1.13-4.61, P = 0.02) and who ate late (midnight to 2 a.m.) (adjusted OR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.01-6.99, P = 0.04). Interestingly, nighttime eating was only associated with breast cancer among women who consumed staple foods (OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.42-3.29, P < 0.001) but not those who ate vegetables or fruits as nighttime meals. The significant association between nighttime eating and breast cancer was observed among women with body mass index (BMI) <25 (OR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.48-3.52, P < 0.001) but not among women with BMI ≥25. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study suggest a possible association between nighttime eating behavior and breast cancer. These findings need to be confirmed by independent large studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Li
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lap Ah Tse
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Wing-Cheong Chan
- Department of Surgery, North District Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chi-Hei Kwok
- Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siu-Lan Leung
- Department of Surgery, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cherry Wu
- Department of Pathology, North District Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wai-Cho Yu
- Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Priscilla Ming-Yi Lee
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Koon-Ho Tsang
- Department of Pathology, Yan Chai Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sze-Hong Law
- Department of Surgery, Yan Chai Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Fangyi Gu
- Genetic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Neil E Caporaso
- Genetic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Ignatius Tak-Sun Yu
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Feng Wang
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaohong Rose Yang
- Genetic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
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Lai DMF, Kwok CH, Wong KKY. All-optical picoseconds logic gates based on a fiber optical parametric amplifier. Opt Express 2008; 16:18362-18370. [PMID: 18958114 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.018362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
All-optical XOR-, OR-, NOT-, and AND-gate were demonstrated for 10 Gb/s return-to-zero on-off keying (RZ-OOK) signals using a single experimental setup. This setup can be set to output different logic by altering input power, state-of-polarization, center frequencies of input optical signals, and/or input bitstreams. Full-width at half-maximum pulsewidth of the input and the output signals were less than 5.1 ps in all cases showing a possibility of higher data rate operation at 80Gb/s or beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ming Fai Lai
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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Kwok CH, Kuo BPP, Wong KK. Pulsed pump wavelength exchange for high speed signal de-multiplexing. Opt Express 2008; 16:10894-10899. [PMID: 18648402 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.010894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2008] [Accepted: 06/25/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We report the first experimental demonstration of pulsed pump wavelength exchange in a highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber for all-optical time de-multiplexing of 80 Gb/s return-to-zero (RZ) signals. Orthogonal pulsed pump and continuous wave (cw) pump are used in the fiber-based wavelength exchange for ultra-fast power switching. Error-free operation was achieved for the proposed all-optical 1:8 de-multiplexer over all time de-multiplexed 10 Gb/s RZ signals with <or=2.1 dB power penalty at 10(-9) bit-error rate. The experimental results show that a wide-band phase-matching is feasible for fiber-based nonlinear parametric processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Kwok
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Photonic Systems Research Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
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Dubey JP, Gennari SM, Sundar N, Vianna MCB, Bandini LM, Yai LEO, Kwok CH, Suf C. Diverse and atypical genotypes identified in Toxoplasma gondii from dogs in São Paulo, Brazil. J Parasitol 2007; 93:60-4. [PMID: 17436942 DOI: 10.1645/ge-972r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in 118 unwanted dogs from São Paulo City, São Paulo State, Brazil, was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test and found in 42 (35.8%) dogs, with titers of 1:20 in 10, 1:40 in 6, 1:80 in 5, 1:160 in 5, 1:320 in 6, 1:640 in 7, and 1:1,280 or higher in 3. Hearts and brains of 36 seropositive dogs were bioassayed in mice, or cats, or both. Tissues from 20 seropositive dogs were fed to 20 T. gondii-free cats. Feces of cats were examined for oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 15 dogs by a bioassay in mice, from the brain alone of 1, from the heart alone of 4, and from both brains and hearts of 10. All infected mice from 5 of 15 isolates died of toxoplasmosis during primary infection. Four additional isolates were obtained by bioassay in cats. Genotyping of these 19 T. gondii isolates using polymorphisms at 10 nuclear markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and a new SAG2 (an apicoplast marker Apico) revealed 12 genotypes. One isolate had Type III alleles at all 11 loci, and the remaining 18 isolates contained a combination of different alleles and were divided into 11 genotypes. The absence of Type II in Brazil was confirmed. The result supports previous findings that T. gondii population genetics is highly diverse in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350, USA.
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Chow CW, Kwok CH, Tsang HK, Lin C. Optical label switching of DRZ/DPSK orthogonal signal generated by photonic-crystal fiber. Opt Lett 2006; 31:2535-7. [PMID: 16902610 DOI: 10.1364/ol.31.002535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate orthogonal label switching by using a dark-return-to-zero (DRZ) payload and differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) label generated by a dispersion-flattened photonic-crystal fiber. The high extinction ratio of both the payload and label improves the receiver margin. The DRZ payload introduces little cross talk to the DPSK label due to the RZ-like output of the demodulated DPSK. Simulations are performed to study the eye-closure penalty of the payload and label at different DRZ pulse widths. We compare the DRZ/DPSK with the RZ and DPSK signals numerically at the same data rate and show that the DRZ/DPSK has a strong tolerance to the polarization-mode dispersion. The DRZ/DPSK has a more compact spectrum suitable for the strong filtering requirements in WDM systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C W Chow
- Department of Physics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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Kwok CH, Chow CW, Tsang HK, Lin C, Bjarklev A. Nonlinear polarization rotation in a dispersion-flattened photonic-crystal fiber for ultrawideband (>100 nm) all-optical wavelength conversion of 10 Gbit/s nonreturn-to-zero signals. Opt Lett 2006; 31:1782-4. [PMID: 16729069 DOI: 10.1364/ol.31.001782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
We study the conversion bandwidth of the cross-polarization-modulation (XPoIM)-based wavelength conversion scheme with a dispersion-flattened highly nonlinear photonic-crystal fiber for signals with a nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) modulation format. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the conversion bandwidth can be extended to cover a very wide band, including S-, C-, and L-bands for 10 Gbit/s NRZ signals (a total bandwidth of 120 nm is experimentally demonstrated). We also study the theoretical bandwidth limit for 40 Gbit/s NRZ signals. A significant extension of the conversion bandwidth using the XPoIM approach compared with the four-wave mixing approach previously reported is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Kwok
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Centre for Advanced Research in Photonics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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Ngan RKC, Yiu HHY, Lau WH, Yau S, Cheung FY, Chan TM, Kwok CH, Chiu CY, Au SK, Foo W, Law CK, Tse KC. Combination gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma: report of a phase II study. Ann Oncol 2002; 13:1252-8. [PMID: 12181249 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdf200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combination gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) chemotherapy in metastatic or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-four patients of Chinese ethnicity with metastatic or recurrent NPC received ambulatory GC chemotherapy every 28 days (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) days 1, 8 and 15; cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) days 1 and 8). There were 40 male and four female patients with a mean age of 47.4 years. More than half (54.5%) of the patients had received either prior platinum-based chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to target lesions. RESULTS There were nine complete responses and 23 partial responses in the 44 patients, achieving an overall response rate of 73% (78% for the 41 assessable patients). The mean duration of response was 5.3 months. Improved subjective symptom-control scores were found in 78% of patients with pre-existing symptoms, while 64% of patients experienced improved general well-being scores. Toxicity was mainly hematological: grade III/IV anemia, granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were found in 11, 37 and 16% of cycles, respectively. With a median follow-up of 17.2 months, 62% survived 1 year while 36% were alive and progression free. CONCLUSIONS Gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy offers a satisfactory overall response rate, subjective patient improvement and safety profile for metastatic and recurrent NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K C Ngan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.
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Chiu CY, Wong WK, Mak HL, Chan CS, Kwok CH, Chan CH, Chan MK. Uterine artery embolisation for treatment of fibroids: experience in Chinese women. Singapore Med J 2001; 42:148-54. [PMID: 11465313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Twelve women with symptomatic fibroids were treated with transcatheter uterine artery embolisation with the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles. For the nine women who were due for follow-up, reduction in uterine volume and dominant fibroid size were observed on magnetic resonance imaging. All the nine women had normal luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels before the procedure and during the follow-up. Seven of the nine women reported noticeable symptomatic improvement during the follow-up. Pain experienced was of variable level, but well controlled. Adequate analgesia is essential for the procedure. Longer follow-up and prospective fertility studies are required to evaluate the long-term effects before this procedure could be safely extended to younger age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Chiu
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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Carl P, Kwok CH, Manderson G, Speicher DW, Discher DE. Forced unfolding modulated by disulfide bonds in the Ig domains of a cell adhesion molecule. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98:1565-70. [PMID: 11171991 PMCID: PMC29297 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.98.4.1565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) mediate cell attachment and stress transfer through extracellular domains. Here we forcibly unfold the Ig domains of a prototypical Ig superfamily CAM that contains intradomain disulfide bonds. The Ig domains of all such CAMs have conformations homologous to cadherin extracellular domains, titin Ig-type domains, and fibronectin type-III (FNIII) domains. Atomic force microscopy has been used to extend the five Ig domains of Mel-CAM (melanoma CAM)--a protein that is overexpressed in metastatic melanomas--under conditions where the disulfide bonds were either left intact or disrupted through reduction. Under physiological conditions where intradomain disulfide bonds are intact, partial unfolding was observed at forces far smaller than those reported previously for either titin's Ig-type domains or tenascin's FNIII domains. This partial unfolding under low force may be an important mechanism for imparting elasticity to cell-cell contacts, as well as a regulatory mechanism for adhesive interactions. Under reducing conditions, Mel-CAM's Ig domains were found to fully unfold through a partially folded state and at slightly higher forces. The results suggest that, in divergent evolution of all such domains, stabilization imparted by disulfide bonds relaxes requirements for strong, noncovalent, folded-state interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Carl
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6315, USA
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Leung WY, Poon M, Fan TW, Siu KW, Chung KW, Kwok WK, Kwok CH. Testicular volume of boys after inguinal herniotomy: combined clinical and radiological follow-up. Pediatr Surg Int 1999; 15:40-1. [PMID: 9914353 DOI: 10.1007/s003830050508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
A total of 173 boys aged 10 to 179 months with previous unilateral inguinal herniotomy were called back for follow-up. Clinical and ultrasound examinations of the scrotum were performed. The interval between operation and follow-up was 6 to 123 months (mean 31.68 months). One boy (0.58%) had a more than 50% and 10 (5.8%) had a more than 25% decrease in testicular volume on the operated side when compared with the non-operated side.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Y Leung
- Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
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Abstract
The characteristics, perceptions and personalities of women who had sought a reversal of a tubal sterilization procedure and those who had not were studied. Women were more likely to request reversal of a tubal sterilization if they were less than 30 years old at the time of the operation or if they had changed their marital status since sterilization. Women who had undergone a tubal sterilization and later sought a reversal stated that at the time of the procedure they did not believe that their family was complete; they had not had sufficient time to consider the implications of undergoing a tubal sterilization; they felt that they had been "pressured" by their partner to be sterilized; and they perceived the potential to have a child as important, even if they did not wish for further children. Women who had had a tubal sterilization performed within a few days of childbirth for "health or medical reasons" and sought a reversal no longer believed that the reasons were valid. In spite of the inclusion of women who had changed their minds about tubal sterilization, no differences were detected in psychometric measures of personality and mental health between our groups. The findings of the survey confirm that a woman should make up her own mind whether or not to undergo a tubal sterilization, and the operation should not be available "on demand". Ways of overcoming the problem are suggested.
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