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Affiliation(s)
- C L Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - A Y K Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong
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Ho HL, Wang FY, Lee HR, Huang YL, Lai CL, Jen WC, Hsieh SL, Chou TY. Seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Taiwan revealed by testing anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological antibodies on 14,765 hospital patients. Lancet Reg Health West Pac 2020; 3:100041. [PMID: 34173603 PMCID: PMC7546957 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a worldwide pandemic and affected more than 227 countries or territories, resulting in more than 25 million cases with over 0•85 million deaths, as of September 2, 2020. Taiwan has been successful in countering the COVID-19 outbreak, however, the potential risk for asymptomatic infections and the prevalence rates remain unknown. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Taiwan via serologically testing hospital patients with neither symptoms indicative of nor positive nucleic acid test for SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS Residual specimens from laboratory blood tests for outpatient and emergency department patients visiting a medical centre in Taipei, Taiwan, within one week in May and another in July, 2020, were collected. We used Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Assay to screen and further validated cases with high cutoff index by a confirmatory ELISA assay. We also analysed antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 along disease progression in four nucleic acid test confirmed COVID-19 patients. FINDINGS Blood samples from a total of 14,765 patients were tested. The unweighted seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 0•07% [95% CI, 0•04%-0•13%]; after weighting with the population demographics of Taiwan, the estimated overall seroprevalence was 0•05% [95% CI, 0•02%-0•10%]. Furthermore, based on data of the four COVID-19 cases, the seroconversion dates for IgM were as early as 9 days and that for IgG 11 days after symptoms onset. INTERPRETATION We screened the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a small-scale population-based study and observed an approximately 0•05% seroprevalence of COVID-19, indicating that the current containment protocols emphasising mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing and mandatory quarantine for all incomers are effective in Taiwan. FUNDING Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Ling Ho
- The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- The Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Yu Wang
- The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Ru Lee
- The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Lan Huang
- The Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Liang Lai
- The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chin Jen
- The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Shie-Liang Hsieh
- The Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- The Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Teh-Ying Chou
- The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- The Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- The Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- The Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Hui PW, Ng C, Cheung KW, Lai CL. Acceptance of antiviral treatment and enhanced service model for pregnant patients carrying hepatitis B. Hong Kong Med J 2020; 26:318-322. [PMID: 32801216 DOI: 10.12809/hkmj208451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A service model was established for pregnant women with positive screening results for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong. All women were offered a blood test for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level during the first antenatal visit. Women with HBV DNA levels of ≥200 000 IU/mL received counselling from hepatologists regarding treatment with antenatal tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) 300 mg daily. METHODS This retrospective review included women attending our antenatal clinic who exhibited positive HBsAg screening results from 15 May 2017 to 31 December 2019. The proportions of women with positive HBsAg, DNA test acceptance, hepatological review, and TDF acceptance during pregnancy were reviewed. RESULTS In total, 375 (2.9%) of 13 082 pregnant women had positive HBsAg screening results. Blood tests for HBV DNA and hepatological reviews were offered to 273 women who had not undergone hepatological review prior to pregnancy; the acceptance rate was 97.8%. Sixty (22.6%) pregnant women were hepatitis B carriers with high viral loads of ≥200 000 IU/mL. Among 58 women with high viral loads, 57 received antenatal counselling regarding TDF and 56 (96.6%) agreed to take the drug; 92.9% of these 56 women had commenced TDF at or before 32 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated broad acceptance of HBV DNA tests by pregnant women. Triage allowed early review and commencement of antiviral medication. This service model serves as a framework for enhanced antenatal service to prevent mother-to-child-transmission in public maternity units.
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Affiliation(s)
- P W Hui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - C Ng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - K W Cheung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - C L Lai
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Chadi SA, Malcomson L, Ensor J, Riley RD, Vaccaro CA, Rossi GL, Daniels IR, Smart NJ, Osborne ME, Beets GL, Maas M, Bitterman DS, Du K, Gollins S, Sun Myint A, Smith FM, Saunders MP, Scott N, O'Dwyer ST, de Castro Araujo RO, Valadao M, Lopes A, Hsiao CW, Lai CL, Smith RK, Paulson EC, Appelt A, Jakobsen A, Wexner SD, Habr-Gama A, Sao Julião G, Perez R, Renehan AG. Factors affecting local regrowth after watch and wait for patients with a clinical complete response following chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer (InterCoRe consortium): an individual participant data meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 3:825-836. [PMID: 30318451 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(18)30301-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In patients with rectal cancer who achieve clinical complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, watch and wait is a novel management strategy with potential to avoid major surgery. Study-level meta-analyses have reported wide variation in the proportion of patients with local regrowth. We did an individual participant data meta-analysis to investigate factors affecting occurrence of local regrowth. METHODS We updated search results of a recent systematic review by searching MEDLINE and Embase from Jan 1, 2016, to May 5, 2017, and used expert knowledge to identify published studies reporting on local regrowth in patients with rectal cancer managed by watch and wait after clinical complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. We restricted studies to those that defined clinical complete response using criteria equivalent to São Paulo benchmarks (ie, absence of residual ulceration, stenosis, or mass within the rectum on clinical and endoscopic examination). The primary outcome was 2-year cumulative incidence of local regrowth, estimated with a two-stage random-effects individual participant data meta-analysis. We assessed the effects of clinical and treatment factors using Cox frailty models, expressed as hazard ratios (HRs). From these models, we derived percentage differences in mean θ as an approximation of the effect of measured covariates on between-centre heterogeneity. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42017070934. FINDINGS We obtained individual participant data from 11 studies, including 602 patients enrolled between March 11, 1990, and Feb 13, 2017, with a median follow-up of 37·6 months (IQR 25·0-58·7). Ten of the 11 datasets were judged to be at low risk of bias. 2-year cumulative incidence of local regrowth was 21·4% (random-effects 95% CI 15·3-27·6), with high levels of between-study heterogeneity (I2=61%). We noted wide between-centre variation in patient, tumour, and treatment characteristics. We found some evidence that increasing cT stage was associated with increased risk of local regrowth (random-effects HR per cT stage 1·40, 95% CI 1·00-1·94; ptrend=0·048). In a subgroup of 459 patients managed after 2008 (when pretreatment staging by MRI became standard), 2-year cumulative incidence of local regrowth was 19% (95% CI 13-28) for stage cT1 and cT2 tumours, 31% (26-37) for cT3, and 37% (21-60) for cT4 (random-effects HR per cT stage 1·50, random-effects 95% CI 1·03-2·17; ptrend=0·0330). We estimated that measured factors contributed 4·8-45·3% of observed between-centre heterogeneity. INTERPRETATION In patients with rectal cancer and clinical complete response after chemoradiotherapy managed by watch and wait, we found some evidence that increasing cT stage predicts for local regrowth. These data will inform clinician-patient decision making in this setting. Research is needed to determine other predictors of a sustained clinical complete response. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami A Chadi
- Division of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital and University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lee Malcomson
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Colorectal and Peritoneal Oncology Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Joie Ensor
- Centre for Prognosis Research, Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Richard D Riley
- Centre for Prognosis Research, Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Carlos A Vaccaro
- Servicio Cirugia General, Sector de Coloproctologia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo L Rossi
- Servicio Cirugia General, Sector de Coloproctologia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ian R Daniels
- Exeter Colorectal Unit, and Exeter Surgical Health Sciences Research Unit (HESRU), Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Neil J Smart
- Exeter Colorectal Unit, and Exeter Surgical Health Sciences Research Unit (HESRU), Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Melanie E Osborne
- Exeter Colorectal Unit, and Exeter Surgical Health Sciences Research Unit (HESRU), Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Geerard L Beets
- Department of Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands; GROW, School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Monique Maas
- Department of Radiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Kevin Du
- Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Fraser M Smith
- Royal Liverpool Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mark P Saunders
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Nigel Scott
- Royal Preston NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK
| | - Sarah T O'Dwyer
- Colorectal and Peritoneal Oncology Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Rodrigo Otavio de Castro Araujo
- Department of Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcus Valadao
- Department of Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alberto Lopes
- Department of Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cheng-Wen Hsiao
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China
| | - Chien-Liang Lai
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China
| | - Radhika K Smith
- Department of Surgery, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, and Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily Carter Paulson
- Department of Surgery, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, and Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ane Appelt
- Danish Colorectal Cancer Center South, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark; Leeds Cancer Centre, St James's University Hospital, and Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Anders Jakobsen
- Danish Colorectal Cancer Center South, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Steven D Wexner
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA
| | | | - Guilherme Sao Julião
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Molecular Biology and Genomics Lab, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodiguo Perez
- Instituto Angelita e Joaquim Gama, São Paulo, Brazil; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Molecular Biology and Genomics Lab, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andrew G Renehan
- Colorectal and Peritoneal Oncology Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK; Centre for Prognosis Research, Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.
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Lin YC, Lai CL, Chan HY. The association between rehabilitation programs and metabolic syndrome in chronic inpatients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2018; 260:227-232. [PMID: 29216485 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.11.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The correlation between different rehabilitation programs and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in people with schizophrenia is unclear. We tested the association in chronic inpatients with schizophrenia of a psychiatric hospital in Taiwan. Patients with schizophrenia and age from 20 to 65 years old were included. The criteria of metabolic syndrome were according to the adapted Adult Treatment Protocol for Asians. According to different types of rehabilitations, patients were divided into work group, occupational therapy group and daily activities group. A total of 359 chronic inpatients with schizophrenia were recruited. Participants had a mean age of 45.9 years and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 37.3%. There was a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the work group than in the daily activity group (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.019-3.564, p < 0.05) after adjusted related confounders. Other factors associated with higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome included old age, female gender, low psychotic symptoms severity and clozapine user. This study identified a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in chronic inpatients with schizophrenia especially in patients with good occupational function. Further investigation of the relationship between the occupational function and metabolic syndrome is necessary for chronic inpatients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chun Lin
- Department of General Psychiatry, Taoyuan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Liang Lai
- Department of General Psychiatry, Taoyuan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yu Chan
- Department of General Psychiatry, Taoyuan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Fielding R, Lam WW, Liao QY, Lai CL, Tsang JW, Ip D, Yuen MF. Perceptions of cancer risk and self-care practices: comparison of groups at different risk for cancers. Hong Kong Med J 2016; 22 Suppl 6:8-12. [PMID: 27807310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R Fielding
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
| | - W Wt Lam
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
| | - Q Y Liao
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
| | - C L Lai
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital
| | - J Wh Tsang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital
| | - D Ip
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
| | - M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital
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Affiliation(s)
- M Y Cheung
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - C L Lai
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - Wilson H Y Lam
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - James S K Lau
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - Aaron K H Lee
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - G G Yuen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - Y K Chan
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - W L Tsang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
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Lai MJ, Lai CL, Huang IH, Yu JC, Lee HS, Dai MS. Synchronous endometrial and gastric metastases of invasive lobular breast carcinomas. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 55:131-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2014.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Lai CL, Lai MJ, Wu CC, Jao SW, Hsiao CW. Rectal cancer with complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, surgery, or "watch and wait". Int J Colorectal Dis 2016; 31:413-9. [PMID: 26607907 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-015-2460-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients treated with chemoradiotherapy with a complete clinical response followed by either a "watch and wait" strategy or a total mesorectal excision. METHODS This was an observational retrospective study from a single institute. Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer following chemoradiotherapy with a complete clinical response from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2014 were included. RESULTS The study population consisted of 18 patients who opted for a "watch and wait" policy and 26 patients who underwent radical surgery after achieving a complete clinical response. Patients had no documented treatment complications under the watch and wait policy, while 13 patients who underwent radical surgery experienced significant morbidity. There were two local recurrences in the watch and wait group; both were treated with salvage resection and had no associated mortality. In the radical surgery group, 1 patient showed an incomplete pathologic response (ypT0N1), and the remaining 25 patients showed complete pathologic responses; 1 had a distant recurrence, which was managed non-operatively, and 2 patients died of unrelated causes. The 5-year overall survival rate and median disease-free survival time were 100% and 69.78 months in the watch and wait group and 92.30% and 89.04 months in the radical surgery group. CONCLUSIONS A watch and wait policy avoids the morbidity associated with radical surgery and preserves oncologic outcomes in our retrospective study from a single institute. It could be considered a therapeutic option in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer following chemoradiotherapy with a complete clinical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Liang Lai
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Cheng-Kung Rd, Sec 2, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Mei-Ju Lai
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chang-Chieh Wu
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Cheng-Kung Rd, Sec 2, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shu-Wen Jao
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Cheng-Kung Rd, Sec 2, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Wen Hsiao
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Cheng-Kung Rd, Sec 2, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Lai CL, Wong VWS, Yuen MF, Yang JC, Knox SJ, Mo H, Han LL, Brainard DM, Chan HLY. Sofosbuvir plus ribavirin for the treatment of patients with chronic genotype 1 or 6 hepatitis C virus infection in Hong Kong. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2016; 43:96-101. [PMID: 26503414 DOI: 10.1111/apt.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Hong Kong, most patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have either genotype 6a or 1b infection. AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir with ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients in Hong Kong with HCV genotype 1 or 6. METHODS In an open-label study, patients were randomised to sofosbuvir 400 mg once daily plus ribavirin 1000-1200 divided twice daily for 12 (n = 10), 16 (n = 11) or 24 (n = 10) weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with HCV RNA < LLOQ (lower limit of quantification, 25 IU/mL) 12 weeks after cessation of therapy (SVR12). RESULTS All 31 patients (20 HCV genotype 1 and 11 genotype 6) had HCV RNA < LLOQ by Week 4 of treatment and at their last on-treatment visit. SVR12 rates were high in all treatment groups: 100% (10/10) for 12 weeks, 100% (11/11) for 16 weeks and 90% (9/10) for 24 weeks of therapy. The only patient who did not reach SVR12 had genotype 1 HCV and relapsed at post-treatment Week 4. Sofosbuvir with ribavirin was generally well tolerated. The most common adverse events were malaise (13%) and upper respiratory tract infection (13%), followed by anaemia (10%). No patients experienced serious adverse events. One patient discontinued treatment at Week 16 because of an adverse event. The event, upper respiratory tract infection, was not considered treatment related by the investigator. This subject achieved SVR12. CONCLUSIONS The all-oral regimen sofosbuvir plus ribavirin is effective in treatment-naïve patients in Hong Kong with genotype 1 or 6 HCV. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02021643.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Lai
- Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - V W-S Wong
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - M F Yuen
- Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - J C Yang
- Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, CA, USA
| | - S J Knox
- Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, CA, USA
| | - H Mo
- Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, CA, USA
| | - L L Han
- Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, CA, USA
| | | | - H L Y Chan
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Hsu KF, Ho MH, Lai CL, Wu SY, Chu DM, Hsieh CB, Chan DC. Successful laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy for a huge lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas tail in a young man: A case report and literature review. J Med Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.4103/1011-4564.185219] [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: 11/04/2022] Open
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Sarin SK, Kumar M, Lau GK, Abbas Z, Chan HLY, Chen CJ, Chen DS, Chen HL, Chen PJ, Chien RN, Dokmeci AK, Gane E, Hou JL, Jafri W, Jia J, Kim JH, Lai CL, Lee HC, Lim SG, Liu CJ, Locarnini S, Al Mahtab M, Mohamed R, Omata M, Park J, Piratvisuth T, Sharma BC, Sollano J, Wang FS, Wei L, Yuen MF, Zheng SS, Kao JH. Asian-Pacific clinical practice guidelines on the management of hepatitis B: a 2015 update. Hepatol Int 2016; 10:1-98. [PMID: 26563120 PMCID: PMC4722087 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-015-9675-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1661] [Impact Index Per Article: 207.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, some 240 million people have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), with the highest rates of infection in Africa and Asia. Our understanding of the natural history of HBV infection and the potential for therapy of the resultant disease is continuously improving. New data have become available since the previous APASL guidelines for management of HBV infection were published in 2012. The objective of this manuscript is to update the recommendations for the optimal management of chronic HBV infection. The 2015 guidelines were developed by a panel of Asian experts chosen by the APASL. The clinical practice guidelines are based on evidence from existing publications or, if evidence was unavailable, on the experts' personal experience and opinion after deliberations. Manuscripts and abstracts of important meetings published through January 2015 have been evaluated. This guideline covers the full spectrum of care of patients infected with hepatitis B, including new terminology, natural history, screening, vaccination, counseling, diagnosis, assessment of the stage of liver disease, the indications, timing, choice and duration of single or combination of antiviral drugs, screening for HCC, management in special situations like childhood, pregnancy, coinfections, renal impairment and pre- and post-liver transplant, and policy guidelines. However, areas of uncertainty still exist, and clinicians, patients, and public health authorities must therefore continue to make choices on the basis of the evolving evidence. The final clinical practice guidelines and recommendations are presented here, along with the relevant background information.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Sarin
- Department of Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India.
| | - M Kumar
- Department of Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - G K Lau
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Humanity and Health Medical Centre, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Institute of Translational Hepatology, Beijing, China
| | - Z Abbas
- Department of Hepatogastroenterlogy, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - H L Y Chan
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - C J Chen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - D S Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - H L Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - P J Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - R N Chien
- Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and University, Chilung, Taiwan
| | - A K Dokmeci
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ed Gane
- New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - J L Hou
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - W Jafri
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - J Jia
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | | | - C L Lai
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - H C Lee
- Internal Medicine Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - S G Lim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - C J Liu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - S Locarnini
- Research and Molecular Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, Australia
| | - M Al Mahtab
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - R Mohamed
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - M Omata
- Yamanashi Hospitals (Central and Kita) Organization, 1-1-1 Fujimi, Kofu-shi, Yamanashi, 400-8506, Japan
| | - J Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - T Piratvisuth
- NKC Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - B C Sharma
- Department of Gastroenterology, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - J Sollano
- Department of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - F S Wang
- Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - L Wei
- Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing, China
| | - M F Yuen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pofulam, Hong Kong
| | - S S Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - J H Kao
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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13
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Wong DKH, Fung J, Lai CL, Yuen MF. COLD-PCR for early detection of hepatitis B virus antiviral drug resistance mutations. Hong Kong Med J 2015; 21 Suppl 7:S8-S10. [PMID: 26908265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D K H Wong
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
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Wong DKH, Fung J, Lai CL, Yuen MF. Identification of hepatitis B virus DNA reverse transcriptase variants associated with partial response to entecavir. Hong Kong Med J 2015; 21 Suppl 4:35-38. [PMID: 26157102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D K H Wong
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
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15
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Chan V, Lai CL, Chan KM, Yuen MF. Hepatitis B virus array for genotyping and mutation detection. Hong Kong Med J 2014; 20 Suppl 6:25-27. [PMID: 25482967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- V Chan
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital
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16
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Lai CL, Lai MS. The Impact Of Drug Price Control Policy For Diabetes Medication: A Longitudinal Analysis In Taiwan. Value Health 2014; 17:A747-A748. [PMID: 27202702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2014.08.178] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C L Lai
- Kainan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - M S Lai
- National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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17
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Lai CL, Hsu KF, Yu JC, Chen CJ, Hsieh CB, Chan DC, Li HS, Hsu HM. Malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the mesentery: a case report and literature review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 35:114-7. [PMID: 22414975 DOI: 10.1159/000336826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are very rare mesenchymal neoplasms, and have been found in various organs such as the liver, kidney, falciform ligament, uterus, uterine cervix, and both the small and large bowel. However, only 3 cases of mesenteric PEComa have been described in the literature so far. The treatment and prognosis of malignant mesenteric PEComas are discussed. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 59-year-old man diagnosed with PEComa. He underwent segmental resection of the jejunum and tumor resection. Malignant mesenteric PEComa was confirmed on the basis of clinicopathological features. Tumor resection was followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. CONCLUSION Besides surgery, no effective treatment for malignant PEComa has been established thus far because of the rarity of this tumor. Here, we report our experience of treating a malignant mesenteric PEComa using surgery and subsequent adjuvant therapy, which effectively controlled disease progression and prevented local recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Liang Lai
- Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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18
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Huang JQ, Zheng GF, Lai CL, Yuen MF, Wong BCY. Risk of liver cancer in patients with hepatitis B or C. Hong Kong Med J 2011; 17 Suppl 6:41-43. [PMID: 22147359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J Q Huang
- Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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19
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Lai CL, Ou KW, Chiu WK, Chen SG, Chen TM, Li HP, Chang SC. Reconstruction of the complete loss of upper and lower lips with a chimeric anterolateral thigh flap: A case report. Microsurgery 2011; 32:60-3. [DOI: 10.1002/micr.20943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 06/18/2011] [Accepted: 06/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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20
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Fung J, Lai CL, Wong DKH, Seto WK, Hung I, Yuen MF. Significant changes in liver stiffness measurements in patients with chronic hepatitis B: 3-year follow-up study. J Viral Hepat 2011; 18:e200-5. [PMID: 21692933 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2010.01428.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
For patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, changes in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) over time are not known. We examined changes longitudinally in a cohort of patients. Four hundred and twenty-six patients with CHB underwent transient elastography. Patients were followed regularly, and repeat elastography was performed at 3 years. Hepatitis serology, viral load and routine liver biochemistry were monitored. Of the 426 patients, 38 (9%) were hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive, 293 (69%) were HBeAg-negative and 95 (22%) were patients with prior hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance. A total of 110 patients received oral antiviral therapy. There was a significant decline of LSMs at the follow-up measurement compared to baseline (6.1 vs 7.8 kPa respectively, P = 0.002) in treated patients who had elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at baseline and subsequent normalization after 3 years (normal ALT limit being 30 U/L for males and 19 U/L for females). In nontreated patients, only the patients with persistently normal ALT at both time points had significantly lower LSMs at the follow-up measurement compared to baseline: 4.9 vs 5.3 kPa, respectively, in patients who remained positive for HBsAg (P = 0.005) and 5.1 vs. 5.4 kPa, respectively, in patients who had HBsAg seroclearance (P = 0.026). In patients who remained positive for HBsAg, independent factors associated with a significant decline in LSM of ≥1 kPa included antiviral therapy (P = 0.011) and the ALT levels at the follow-up time point (P = 0.024). Thus, in patients with CHB, a significant decline in LSM after 3 years was observed in treated patients with ALT normalization and in untreated patients who had persistently normal ALT. Antiviral therapy and follow-up ALT levels were independent significant factors associated with a decline in LSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Fung
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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21
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Lam ETP, Lam CLK, Lai CL, Yuen MF, Fong DYT, So TMK. Health-related quality of life of Southern Chinese with chronic hepatitis B infection. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2009; 7:52. [PMID: 19500349 PMCID: PMC2701941 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-7-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2008] [Accepted: 06/05/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Southern Chinese with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. AIM To evaluate the HRQOL of Chinese patients at different stages of CHB infection and to find out factors associated with HRQOL. METHODS 520 Chinese adult CHB patients of whom 156 were uncomplicated, 102 had impaired liver function, 139 had cirrhosis and 123 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, the SF-36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ). The differences in SF-6D health preference values and SF-36v2 scores between each CHB group and Hong Kong population norms were assessed by t-test. ANOVA was used to compare the mean SF-6D health preference, SF-36v2 scores, and CLDQ scores among CHB groups. Multiple linear regressions were performed to identify determinants of HRQOL. RESULTS CHB patients had significantly lower SF-36v2 scores than the population norm. The SF-6D values of CHB patients with uncomplicated disease, impaired liver function, HCC and cirrhosis were 0.755, 0.745, 0.720 and 0.701, respectively, all significantly lower than the population norm of 0.787. Advanced stage of CHB illness, anti-viral treatment, bilirubin level, psychological co-morbidity, younger age and female were associated with poorer HRQOL. CONCLUSION CHB infection had a negative impact on HRQOL. There was a progressive decrease in health preference values with CHB disease progression. The results can be used for the estimation of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for CHB patients in cost effectiveness or cost utility studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION http://www.hkclinicaltrials.com; HKCTR-151.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elegance TP Lam
- Department of Medicine (Family Medicine Unit), The University of Hong Kong, 3/F, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau Clinic, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
| | - Cindy LK Lam
- Department of Medicine (Family Medicine Unit), The University of Hong Kong, 3/F, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau Clinic, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
| | - CL Lai
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - MF Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel YT Fong
- Department of Nursing Studies, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas MK So
- Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong
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22
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Chang PC, Chou SH, Kao EL, Cheng YJ, Chuang HY, Liu CK, Lai CL, Huang MF. Bilateral Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Thymectomy vs. Extended Transsternal Thymectomy in Myasthenia Gravis: A Prospective Study. Eur Surg Res 2008; 37:199-203. [PMID: 16260868 DOI: 10.1159/000087863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The optimal approach to thymectomy remains controversial. This study is designed to prospectively compare the results between bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy (BVTx) and extended transsternal thymectomy (ETTx) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) without thymoma. Fifteen patients who had undergone BVTx and 16 patients who had undergone ETTx were compared for age, gender, severity of disease, preoperative duration of disease, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, hospital stay, duration of chest tube drainage, thymic histopathology, pain perception by visual analog scale (VAS), remission and improvement rate, period of follow-up, and activities of daily living (ADL). Fisher's exact test, t test and paired t test were used for statistical analysis. BVTx had longer operative time and less intraoperative blood loss than that of the ETTx. Their remission rates and their degree of postoperative ADL improvement were not significantly different. However, the lowering of VAS was significantly greater in the sternotomy group at 3 months. All other parameters were not significantly different. No mortality was noted in the series. We consider BVTx as an effective alternative procedure to the transsternal approach for patients with nonthymomatous MG. As more and more people care about cosmetics, BVTx could become the future trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Chang
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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23
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Bourne EJ, Dienstag JL, Lopez VA, Sander TJ, Longlet JM, Hall JG, Kwiatkowski RW, Wright T, Lai CL, Condreay LD. Quantitative analysis of HBV cccDNA from clinical specimens: correlation with clinical and virological response during antiviral therapy. J Viral Hepat 2007; 14:55-63. [PMID: 17212645 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00775.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Attempts to investigate changes in various forms of intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA during antiviral therapy have been hampered by limitations in technologies and scarcity of adequate tissue for analysis. We used a sensitive, specific assay to detect and quantitate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) from total intrahepatic HBV DNA in clinical liver specimens. Total HBV DNA and cccDNA from 21 needle-biopsy specimens were quantified, with levels ranging from 0.1 to 9.8 copies/cell and 0.3 to 491.0 copies/cell, respectively. Then, we performed the same determinations on baseline and week-52 liver needle-biopsy specimens from eight patients enrolled in a clinical trial and evaluated the association between intrahepatic HBV DNA levels and serological and virological endpoints. In most patients, levels of intrahepatic HBV DNA, including cccDNA, decreased over the 52-week study, regardless of therapy or serological outcome. Higher ratios of cccDNA to total HBV DNA were detected at week 52 than at baseline indicating a shift in predominance of nonreplicating virus in posttreatment specimens. In patients who achieved treatment-related or spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) responses, including those harbouring tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate-mutant HBV, levels of intrahepatic and serum HBV DNA suppression were greater than those in patients without HBeAg responses. In conclusion, this pilot study of intrahepatic HBV replicative forms in patients with chronic hepatitis B indicated that total intrahepatic and, specifically, cccDNA levels are not static but change as a reflection of serological and virological events.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Bourne
- Discovery Virology Department, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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24
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Hui CK, Lai KC, Yuen MF, Wong WM, Chan AOO, Ng M, Chan CK, Cheung WW, Lam SK, Lai CL, Wong BC. The role of cholecystectomy in reducing recurrent gallstone pancreatitis. Endoscopy 2004; 36:206-11. [PMID: 14986217 DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-814249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) or cholecystectomy can prevent recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) in patients with gallstone-related pancreatitis. However, it is unknown whether cholecystectomy after ES offers additional benefit in preventing RAP in these patients. This is a retrospective study to assess whether cholecystectomy can decrease the incidence of RAP in patients with gallstone-related pancreatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Records from 139 patients with gallstone-related pancreatitis were analyzed. Of these, 58 patients had gallbladder stones with concomitant common bile duct (CBD) stones and 81 patients had gallbladder stones without CBD stones. Of the 58 patients who had both gallbladder and CBD stones, 37 (63.8 %) did not undergo cholecystectomy after ES (group 1) and 21 patients (36.2 %) did undergo cholecystectomy after ES (group 2). Of the 81 patients who had gallbladder stones but who did not have CBD stones, 54 (66.7 %) did not undergo cholecystectomy (group 3) and 27 (33.3 %) did undergo cholecystectomy (group 4). RESULTS At the time of analysis, three patients (8.1 %) in group 1 and three patients (14.3 %) in group 2 developed RAP. There was no significant difference in the estimated probability of occurrence of RAP over time between group 1 and group 2 ( P = 0.41). However, there was a significantly higher probability of patients developing RAP over time in group 3 compared with group 4 (6/54 vs. 0/27 respectively, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION In patients with gallbladder stones without CBD stones, cholecystectomy can decrease the incidence of RAP. In patients with both gallbladder and CBD stones, however, the risk of RAP was not further reduced by cholecystectomy after ES and complete removal of CBD stones.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K Hui
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
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Chan AOO, Yuen MF, Lam CM, Fong CY, Wong BCY, Lai CL. Prevalence and characteristics of familial hepatocellular carcinoma caused by chronic hepatitis B infection in Hong Kong. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2004; 19:401-6. [PMID: 14871279 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2004.01855.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus infection is an important aetiological factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. Clusters of hepatocellular carcinoma have been observed in families infected with hepatitis B virus. AIM To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with familial hepatitis B virus in Hong Kong. METHODS Hepatitis B virus patients were screened for familial hepatocellular carcinoma using a standardized questionnaire. The clinical features of patients with familial hepatocellular carcinoma were compared with those of 118 patients with sporadic hepatocellular carcinoma attending the clinic during the same period. RESULTS A total of 5080 patients were interviewed. Validation of the questionnaire indicated that the reliability was high. There were 22 families with familial hepatocellular carcinoma, giving a prevalence of 4.3 families/1000 hepatitis B virus carriers. The mean age of onset was 48.5 +/- 13 years in familial hepatocellular carcinoma and 62 +/- 11 years in sporadic hepatocellular carcinoma (P = 0.005). The ages of onset were 59 +/- 11, 40 +/- 10 and 18 +/- 4 years in the first, second and third generations, respectively (P < 0.0001), suggesting an anticipation phenomenon. Familial hepatocellular carcinoma patients were more likely to present with pain (70% vs. 10%, P < 0.0001), but not on routine screening (14% vs. 52%, P < 0.0001), than sporadic hepatocellular carcinoma patients. CONCLUSION The prevalence of familial hepatocellular carcinoma is significant in Hong Kong. These patients show specific clinical features when compared with patients with sporadic hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- A O O Chan
- Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
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Abstract
To clarify whether Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) share the same risk factors in Taiwan Chinese patients. Using the criteria of the NINCDS- ADRDA and NINDS-AIREN, 154 AD patients, 30 VaD patients, and 112 controls were enrolled. Their apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genes, extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, were analyzed. The epsilon4 allele frequency was significantly higher in AD patients than in the control group. The odds ratio of carrying at least one copy of the epsilon4 allele in AD patients is 2.7 compared with control subjects. There was no significant difference between the VaD patients and the control subjects in their ApoE epsilon4 or epsilon2 allele frequency. The present study demonstrates a strong association between the ApoE epsilon4 allele and AD, but not between the ApoE epsilon4 allele and VaD. This suggests that AD and VaD do not share the same pathogenesis and deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Lai
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Chan AOO, Ng IOL, Lam CM, Shek TWH, Lai CL. Cholestatic jaundice caused by sequential carbimazole and propylthiouracil treatment for thyrotoxicosis. Hong Kong Med J 2003; 9:377-80. [PMID: 14530534] [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: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A 36-year-old Chinese man presented to the Queen Mary Hospital in August 1999 with a 2-week history of jaundice due to propylthiouracil treatment for thyrotoxicosis. He had previously received carbimazole but had developed an urticarial skin rash after 2 weeks of treatment. The patient developed liver failure and fulminant pneumonitis shortly after hospital admission. Despite receiving treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin, he died 11 days after the onset of the respiratory symptoms. Postmortem examination using electron microscopy showed typical glycogen bodies within the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, which corresponded to eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies visible under light microscopy. Immunohistochemical studies of the inclusion bodies were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen and albumin, and negative for fibrinogen, complement protein C3, immunoglobulins G, M, and A, alpha-fetoprotein, and alpha-1-antitrypsin. This is the first report of a patient who received two sequential antithyroid drugs and developed predominate cholestasis with unique histological features. Extreme caution should be taken when a patient develops allergy to one type of antithyroid drug, because cross-reactivity may develop to the other type.
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Affiliation(s)
- A O O Chan
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, ROC.
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Lo CM, Fan ST, Liu CL, Yong BH, Lai CL, Lau GKK, Wei WI, Tam PKH, Tsoi NS, Ng IOL, Young K, Chan JKF, Tso WK, Yuen KY, Wong J. Ten-year experience with liver transplantation at Queen Mary Hospital: retrospective study. Hong Kong Med J 2002; 8:240-4. [PMID: 12167726] [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: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report the experience with liver transplantation at the Queen Mary Hospital from 1991 to 2000. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Liver transplant centre of a University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS One hundred and forty-eight patients (127 adults and 21 children) who underwent a total of 155 liver transplants using 75 cadaver grafts (full-size, 67; reduced-size, 5; split, 3) and 80 living donor grafts (left lateral segment, 15; left lobe, 6; right lobe, 59) from October 1991 to December 2000 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Graft and patient survival rate. RESULTS The most common disease indications for liver transplantation were chronic hepatitis B-related liver disease (n=74) in adults and biliary atresia (n=14) in children. Eighteen patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. Forty-eight (31%) liver transplants (three ABO-incompatible) were performed in high-urgency situations for patients requiring intensive care. The proportion of living donor liver transplants was 47.7% in adults and 73.9% in children. The overall 1-year and 5-year patient survival rates were 82% and 77%, respectively. The survival of high-risk recipients, such as those with fulminant hepatic failure (80%), chronic hepatitis B (81%), or hepatocellular carcinoma (94%), was not inferior to that of other patients. CONCLUSION Over the last decade, the promotion of (cadaver) organ donation through public education coupled with innovative techniques in living donor liver transplantation have enabled a liver transplantation programme to be established in Hong Kong with gratifying results.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Lo
- Liver Transplant Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
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Ng FH, Wong WM, Wong BCY, Kng C, Wong SY, Lai KC, Cheng CS, Yuen WC, Lam SK, Lai CL. Sequential intravenous/oral antibiotic vs. continuous intravenous antibiotic in the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002; 16:1083-90. [PMID: 12030949 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2002.01266.x] [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: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AIM Pyogenic liver abscesses result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial regimens using sequential intravenous/oral therapy may reduce the length of hospital stay. In this retrospective analysis, the efficacy of continuous intravenous antibiotic therapy (group I) vs. sequential intravenous/oral antibiotic therapy (group II) was studied in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. METHODS One hundred and twelve consecutive patients (55 in group I and 57 in group II) with pyogenic liver abscess were analysed. Clinical response, length of hospital stay and relapse rates were examined. RESULTS Group II had a significantly shorter duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment (3.2 weeks vs. 5.9 weeks, P < 0.01) and a shorter length of hospital stay (28 days vs. 42 days, P < 0.01) when compared to group I. Oral antibiotics were prescribed for a median duration of 2.9 weeks in group II after discharge. No relapse occurred within 6 weeks after the completion of treatment in both groups. The cost of therapy was significantly lower in group II than in group I by 33%. CONCLUSIONS A sequential intravenous/oral antibiotic regime is a safe and effective treatment for pyogenic liver abscess. This reduces the cost of therapy and the length of hospital stay.
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Affiliation(s)
- F H Ng
- Department of Medicine, Ruttonjee Hospital, Hong Kong, ROC
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Liu CL, Fan ST, Lo CM, Wei WI, Yong BH, Lai CL, Wong J. Living donor liver transplantation without the use of blood products. Hong Kong Med J 2002; 8:192-5. [PMID: 12055365] [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: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We report on two patients who presented with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma complicating hepatitis B liver cirrhosis. After evaluation, both patients were accepted for liver transplantation. Being aware of the scarce availability of cadaveric liver grafts and the long waiting time, family members volunteered to be donors for the two patients. Living donor liver transplantation using right lobe liver grafts, including the middle hepatic vein, was subsequently performed without the use of blood products in both the donors and recipients. All involved recovered uneventfully from their respective operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Liu
- Centre for the Study of Liver Disease and Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc is a common phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun are involved in cell cycle progression and cellular proliferation. METHODS The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis with regard to the expressions of c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun. One hundred fifty biopsied HCC specimens were stained immunohistochemically for the above phenotypic markers both in tumor tissue and in adjacent nontumor tissue. RESULTS Although the expression of c-myc was high (74%) in tumor tissue, it was significantly less compared with the expression in nontumor tissue (100%; P = 0.0002). The expression of c-myc was inversely proportional to the grade of differentiation in tumor tissue (P = 0.0108; correlation coefficient [r] = -0.244); that is, tissue with poorer histologic differentiation had a lower level of c-myc expression. There were inverse associations between the expression of c-myc and the expression of mutated p53 (P = 0.0017; r = -0.285) as well as the expression of Ki67 (P = 0.057; r = -0.147). There was significantly high expression of c-fos in tumor tissue compared with the expression in nontumor tissue (91% vs. 0%; P < 0.0001). Both the tumor tissue and the nontumor tissue had high levels of expression of c-jun (96.53% and 100%, respectively). There was a trend toward a positive association between the expression of c-fos and the expression of c-jun in tumor tissue (P = 0.07; r = 0.162). CONCLUSIONS Because c-myc is a known inducer of wild type p53, decreased c-myc expression may lead to uncontrolled cell growth because of the lack of p53 expression that normally induces apoptosis. The coordinated expression of c-fos and c-jun in HCC may reflect the coordinated tumor cell cycle of progression and proliferation; however, future studies are required to elucidate this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc is a common phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun are involved in cell cycle progression and cellular proliferation. METHODS The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis with regard to the expressions of c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun. One hundred fifty biopsied HCC specimens were stained immunohistochemically for the above phenotypic markers both in tumor tissue and in adjacent nontumor tissue. RESULTS Although the expression of c-myc was high (74%) in tumor tissue, it was significantly less compared with the expression in nontumor tissue (100%; P = 0.0002). The expression of c-myc was inversely proportional to the grade of differentiation in tumor tissue (P = 0.0108; correlation coefficient [r] = -0.244); that is, tissue with poorer histologic differentiation had a lower level of c-myc expression. There were inverse associations between the expression of c-myc and the expression of mutated p53 (P = 0.0017; r = -0.285) as well as the expression of Ki67 (P = 0.057; r = -0.147). There was significantly high expression of c-fos in tumor tissue compared with the expression in nontumor tissue (91% vs. 0%; P < 0.0001). Both the tumor tissue and the nontumor tissue had high levels of expression of c-jun (96.53% and 100%, respectively). There was a trend toward a positive association between the expression of c-fos and the expression of c-jun in tumor tissue (P = 0.07; r = 0.162). CONCLUSIONS Because c-myc is a known inducer of wild type p53, decreased c-myc expression may lead to uncontrolled cell growth because of the lack of p53 expression that normally induces apoptosis. The coordinated expression of c-fos and c-jun in HCC may reflect the coordinated tumor cell cycle of progression and proliferation; however, future studies are required to elucidate this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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Peng YH, Shyur SD, Chang CL, Lai CL, Chu SH, Wu WC, Wu CY. Fish allergy in atopic children. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2001; 34:301-4. [PMID: 11825013] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of fish allergy among 11 atopic children with elevated levels of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E for cod was determined. None of the children had a history of fish allergy. All of the children had asthma and allergic rhinitis and 5 of them had also atopic dermatitis. The children underwent allergy skin tests (codfish, tuna, catfish, salmon, flounder, and bass), specific IgE tests (salmon, trout, tuna, eel, and mackerel), and food challenge tests. Skin tests in cod-specific IgE-positive children were positive for codfish in 4 children, tuna in 2, catfish in 2, salmon in 6, flounder in one, and bass in 2. Three children had elevated specific IgE for salmon, 5 for trout, 8 for tuna, 4 for eel, and 4 for mackerel. Oral fish challenge with 10 g of fish did not result in positive reaction in any of the children. In conclusion, a positive food challenge test provided the only definitive confirmation of fish allergy, whereas positive allergy skin tests or positive specific IgE tests were less reliable. Skin tests and in vitro specific IgE assays were not correlated with clinical symptoms of fish allergy, and the results of these 2 tests did not correlate with each other in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y H Peng
- Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Abstract
The clinical outcome of acute pancreatitis complicating acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis virus B (HBV) infection has never been studied. Ninety patients with acute pancreatitis were recruited. Five patients (5.6%) (Group 1) had acute pancreatitis superimposed on acute exacerbation of chronic HBV infection with no other causes of acute pancreatitis being identified. The clinical outcome of these five patients was compared to the 85 non-HBV infected patients (Group 2) with acute pancreatitis. A third group (Group 3) of patients (n=406) with acute exacerbation of chronic HBV infections without acute pancreatitis was also recruited for comparison. Group 1 had a significantly higher mortality rate (4 out of 5, 80%) compared to those of Group 2 (13 out of 85, 15.3%, P=0.0041) and Group 3 (9 out of 406, 2.2%, P < 0.0001). In Group 1 patients, the acute pancreatitis occurred during the initial rise of HBV DNA with relatively low or normal level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in two patients, during the rise of ALT with declining level of HBV DNA in one patient, and during the cholestatic phase of the acute exacerbation in one patient. The acute pancreatitis was clinically silent and only diagnosed by computerized tomography in the remaining patient. Direct viral damage and/or immunological attack to the pancreatic tissue were probably the underlying pathogenesis of the acute pancreatitis in these patients. In conclusion, acute pancreatitis complicating acute exacerbation of chronic HBV infection carried an extremely poor prognosis with high mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
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Abstract
This review updates the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection. Complete eradication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is not possible, so the efficacy of treatment has to be assessed by whether it can limit long-term cirrhosis-related complications. We discuss two major groups of treatments--immunomodulators (interferon alfa, thymosin alpha1, therapeutic vaccines) and nucleoside analogues (lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, emtricitabine, beta-L-2'-deoxythymidine). To date, interferon alfa and lamivudine are the only two agents approved for chronic hepatitis B. Interferon alfa achieves a short-term outcome of around 20-30% loss of HBeAg. The efficacy is lower in Chinese patients, who are immunotolerant to HBV because of acquisition of the disease during early childhood, than in white patients. This difference is further confirmed on long-term follow-up. Interferon alfa does not affect the development of cirrhosis-related complications in Chinese patients, whereas in white patients, the frequency of long-term complications is reduced if interferon alfa is successful in inducing loss of HBeAg. Lamivudine profoundly suppresses viral replication and achieves an HBeAg seroconversion rate similar to that of interferon alfa. It is equally effective in Chinese and white patients because the main antiviral mechanism is through inhibition of reverse transcription of HBV during viral replication. However, long-term lamivudine therapy is associated with emergence of HBV variants, YMDD variants. Newer nucleoside analogues are being extensively investigated by studies in vivo and in vitro. Combination therapy with two or three nucleoside analogues or immunomodulators plus nucleoside analogues will be the future direction of treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Yuen MF, Sablon E, Hui CK, Yuan HJ, Decraemer H, Lai CL. Factors associated with hepatitis B virus DNA breakthrough in patients receiving prolonged lamivudine therapy. Hepatology 2001; 34:785-91. [PMID: 11584376 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2001.27563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [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: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Factors associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA breakthrough and the significance of YMDD variants without the presence of wild-type YMDD during prolonged lamivudine treatment are unknown. We studied the amino acid sequence of codon 552 (YMDD motif) and codon 528 by means of a line probe assay in 159 chronic HBV patients (median follow-up 29.6 months). Pretreatment HBV DNA levels and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels correlated inversely with the time to HBV DNA breakthrough with YMDD variants (r = -0.46, P =.001; r = -0.45, P =.001 respectively). Patients harboring YMDD variants 3 months before HBV DNA breakthroughs had higher HBV DNA breakthrough levels compared with those without YMDD variants 3 months before HBV DNA breakthroughs (18.9 x 10(6) vs. 5.4 x 10(6) copies/mL, P =.007). Patients with HBV DNA breakthroughs had higher percentages of YMDD variants without the presence of wild-type YMDD compared with patients without HBV DNA breakthrough (25.6% vs. 9%, P =.007 for single M552I variant; 20.9% vs. 8.1%, P =.026 for single M552V variant; 30.2% vs. 9.9%, P =.004 for M552I/M552V variants). Patients with HBV DNA levels of more than 10(3) copies/mL after 6 months of lamivudine therapy had a 63.2% chance of subsequently developing YMDD variants. HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 2 patients after the emergence of YMDD variants. Only one patient developed YMDD variant after HBeAg seroconversion. There was no increase in the rate of development of YMDD variants or L528M mutation in patients receiving lamivudine 25 mg daily or famciclovir 500 mg 3 times a day before being given lamivudine 100 mg daily.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute cholangitis varies in severity from a mild form to severe cases which require urgent biliary decompression. AIM This study was undertaken in order to develop a prognostic scoring system that can be used to predict which patients are likely to require emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) upon admission. METHODS This is a prospective study of 142 consecutive patients with acute cholangitis. Emergency ERCP was performed in patients who did not respond to medical therapy. RESULTS Thirty-one patients (21.8%) required emergency ERCP. A maximum heart rate of more than 100/min, albumin of less than 30 g/L, bilirubin of more than 50 micromol/L and prothrombin time of more than 14 s on admission were associated with failure of medical treatment and the need for emergency ERCP (P=0.001, < 0.001, 0.006 and 0.004, respectively). By using these four factors in a scoring system, 50.7% of those with a score of one or more required emergency ERCP compared with 1.5% of those with none of the four risk factors (P < 0.001). This scoring system has a sensitivity of 96.8% and a specificity of 59.6%. CONCLUSIONS As patients with severe acute cholangitis show a higher mortality, we recommend that emergency ERCP be performed in patients with one or more of the four prognostic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K Hui
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
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de Man RA, Wolters LM, Nevens F, Chua D, Sherman M, Lai CL, Gadano A, Lee Y, Mazzotta F, Thomas N, DeHertogh D. Safety and efficacy of oral entecavir given for 28 days in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatology 2001; 34:578-82. [PMID: 11526545 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2001.26815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Entecavir is an oral antiviral drug with selective activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating study in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection in which we evaluated the efficacy and safety of entecavir given for 28 days. Follow-up was 24 weeks. All doses of entecavir (0.05 mg, 0.1 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1.0 mg) showed a pronounced suppression of replication of the HBV with a 2.21, 2.29, 2.81, and 2.55 mean log(10) reduction of viral load, respectively. Approximately 25% of patients on entecavir showed a decline of HBV DNA below the limit of detection of the Chiron HBV-DNA assay (<0.7 MEq/mL). In the postdosing follow-up period patients who were treated with 0.5 and 1.0 mg of entecavir showed a considerably slower return in their HBV DNA levels to baseline compared with those patients treated with lower dosages (P <.05). All doses of entecavir were well tolerated with no significant difference between treated patients and those receiving placebo. No significant changes in alanine transaminase (ALT) levels within the dose groups and the placebo group between baseline and the end of treatment were observed. Three patients (9%) (1 each in the 0.05-, 0.1-, and 0.5-mg groups) experienced asymptomatic hepatitis flares 16 weeks (2 patients) and 24 weeks (1 patient) after withdrawal of entecavir. In conclusion, in this 28-day study of entecavir a pronounced decrease of HBV DNA was observed and there were no significant side effects in entecavir patients in comparison with placebo-treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A de Man
- Erasmus University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Huang CH, Chen WJ, Ma MH, Lai CL, Lin FY, Lee YT. Ambulance utilization in metropolitan and rural areas in Taiwan. J Formos Med Assoc 2001; 100:581-6. [PMID: 11695271] [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: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Emergency medical services (EMS) have expanded rapidly in the Asian developing countries recently. However, the patterns of ambulance utilization in the rural and urban areas of these countries have not been thoroughly described. This study investigated the patterns of ambulance utilization in two urban areas and the larger rural area of Taiwan formerly designated Taiwan Province. METHODS We studied a total of 304,368 ambulance missions during 1997 in Taiwan. We analyzed the differences in the characteristics of emergency calls and the interventions performed on the scene in two urban areas, Taipei City and Kaohsiung City, and in the rural area formerly designated Taiwan Province. RESULTS The call volume and percentage of non-transport calls were higher in the more developed of the two urban areas, Taipei City, than in Kaohsiung (p < 0.01). The incidence of calls with trauma-related causes was higher in both urban areas. However, the percentage of calls placed for trauma-related reasons was higher in the rural area (p < 0.01). More calls for acute medical illness were placed in Taipei City (p < 0.01) than in the rural area. The number of interventions performed by ambulance staff was higher in Taipei City and Kaohsiung City than in the rural area (p < 0.01). The availability of acute illness management was generally lower than needed in all areas. CONCLUSIONS Call volume and the number of interventions performed were higher in the urban area, whereas the percentage of trauma-related calls was higher in the rural area. These findings suggest that EMS use patterns in Taiwan are transitioning towards a pattern characteristic of a more developed country. The differences in ambulance utilization patterns must be considered in plans to further develop EMS services in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Huang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan
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Yuen MF, Hui CK, Cheng CC, Wu CH, Lai YP, Lai CL. Long-term follow-up of interferon alfa treatment in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: The effect on hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and the development of cirrhosis-related complications. Hepatology 2001; 34:139-45. [PMID: 11431745 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2001.25273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [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: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The long-term effect of interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B infection is unknown. A total of 411 chronic hepatitis B patients (208 treated with IFN-alpha and 203 as control) were followed up for hepatitis B serology and the development of hepatoma and other cirrhosis-related complications. The hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion rate in the IFN-alpha-treated group, though significantly greater at 6 and 24 months, was comparable with the control group on subsequent follow-up, irrespective of pretreatment alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. HBeAg seroreversion rate was higher in the IFN-alpha group compared with the control group (21.1% vs. 2.2%; P =.001). Loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) occurred in 2.4% of the IFN-alpha-treated patients and 0.49% of the control patients (P = NS). Around 90% of the anti-HBe-positive patients in both groups were still hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA-positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Two patients suffered from hepatic reactivation during the course of treatment. Nine (4.3%) patients in the IFN-alpha group and 2 (1.0%) in the control group developed complications of cirrhosis and hepatoma (P =.062). In Chinese HBsAg carriers, IFN-alpha was of no long-term benefit in inducing HBeAg seroconversion or in the prevention of hepatoma and other cirrhosis-related complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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Abstract
The authors report two cases of hepatotoxicity induced by low molecular weight heparin. A 26-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were treated with low molecular weight heparin for pulmonary embolism and cerebral infarction, respectively. They both developed derangement in liver function tests a few days after commencement of the low molecular weight heparin. The derangement in liver function tests was associated with a decreased serum complement 3 activity. Their liver functions recovered over a period of 2 to 3 months after low molecular weight heparin was stopped. Liver biopsy in the woman demonstrated balloon degeneration with scattered foci of hepatocytic necrosis, suggesting a complement-mediated hepatocellular damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K Hui
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
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Leung NW, Lai CL, Chang TT, Guan R, Lee CM, Ng KY, Lim SG, Wu PC, Dent JC, Edmundson S, Condreay LD, Chien RN. Extended lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B enhances hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion rates: results after 3 years of therapy. Hepatology 2001; 33:1527-32. [PMID: 11391543 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2001.25084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 511] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [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: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A study in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B showed that treatment with lamivudine for 1 year significantly improves liver histology and enhances hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion compared with placebo. Fifty-eight patients from this 1-year study have received long-term treatment with lamivudine 100 mg; the outcome of 3 years of lamivudine is reported here. Before treatment, all patients had detectable HBeAg. HBeAg seroconversion (HBeAg-negative, anti-HBe-positive), hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA suppression, alanine transaminase (ALT) normalization, emergence of YMDD variant HBV, liver histology, and long-term safety were assessed. After 3 years of continuous treatment with lamivudine 100 mg daily, 40% (23 of 58) of patients achieved HBeAg seroconversion. In patients with baseline serum ALT >2 x upper limit of normal (ULN), the rate of HBeAg seroconversion was 65% (17 of 26). Median serum HBV-DNA concentrations were below the level of detection, and median ALT concentrations were within the normal range throughout 3 years of treatment. YMDD variant HBV emerged in 33 of 58 (57%) patients during the 3 years, of whom 9 (27%) achieved HBeAg seroconversion (6 after emergence of YMDD variant HBV). ALT levels and histologic scores after emergence of YMDD variant HBV did not show major deterioration. Lamivudine was well tolerated during 3 years of therapy. In conclusion, these data in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B show enhanced seroconversion rates with extended lamivudine treatment. Up to two thirds of patients with moderately elevated pretreatment ALT achieved HBeAg seroconversion after 3 years of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- N W Leung
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
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Chan AO, Lam SK, Chu KM, Lam CM, Kwok E, Leung SY, Yuen ST, Law SY, Hui WM, Lai KC, Wong CY, Hu HC, Lai CL, Wong J. Soluble E-cadherin is a valid prognostic marker in gastric carcinoma. Gut 2001; 48:808-11. [PMID: 11358900 PMCID: PMC1728335 DOI: 10.1136/gut.48.6.808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer remains a major cause of cancer mortality globally but no good prognostic tumour marker is available. Soluble fragment of E-cadherin protein has been reported to increase in the sera of patients with cancer and recently was found to be elevated in 67% of patients with gastric cancer. AIMS To investigate if serum soluble E-cadherin is a valid prognostic marker in gastric cancer. METHODS Concentrations of soluble E-cadherin from 116 patients with histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma and 40 healthy subjects were measured using an immunoenzymometric method with a commercially available sandwich ELISA kit based on monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS The logarithm of the means of soluble E-cadherin concentration was significantly higher in patients with gastric cancers (mean 3.85 (SD 0.28)) than in healthy subjects (3.71 (0.18)) (p=0.001), and in palliative/conservatively treated cancers (3.91 (0.35)) than in operable cancers (3.78 (0.19)) (p=0.015). The logarithm of the concentrations correlated with tumour size (p=0.032) and carcinoembryonic antigen concentrations (p=0.001). The cut off value calculated from discriminant analysis on operability and inoperability/palliative treatment was 7025 ng/ml. Soluble E-cadherin concentrations higher than this cut off value predicted tumour (T4) depth invasion (p=0.020, confidence interval (CI) 1.008-1.668) and palliative/conservative treatment (p=0.023, CI 1.038-2.514). In contrast, the relative risks for lymph node (N2) metastasis, distant metastasis, and stage III/IV disease were 1.41, 1.33, and 1.55 respectively, despite not reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSION Serum soluble E-cadherin is a potential valid prognostic marker for gastric cancer. A high concentration predicts palliative/conservative treatment and T4 invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- A O Chan
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
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Lai CL, Chao YC, Chen YC, Liao CS, Chen MC, Liu YC, Yin SJ. No sex and age influence on the expression pattern and activities of human gastric alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2001. [PMID: 11104109 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2000.tb01963.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are the principal enzymes responsible for ethanol metabolism in humans. The stomach is involved in the metabolism of alcohol during absorption. Conflicting reports exist with regard to the influence of sex and age on the activity of ADH in the human gastric mucosa. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of age and sex on the expression pattern and activities of stomach ADH and ALDH. METHODS A total of 115 endoscopic gastric biopsy specimens were investigated from Han Chinese men (n = 70) and women (n = 45) aged 20-79 years with approximately even distribution among 10-year age intervals. The expression patterns of ADH and ALDH were identified by isoelectric focusing, and the activities were assayed spectrophotometrically. RESULTS The expression patterns of gastric ADH and ALDH remained unchanged with respect to sex and age. At 33 mM or 500 mM ethanol, pH 7.5, the ADH activities did not differ significantly among the various age groups or between men and women. At 200 microM or 20 mM acetaldehyde, the ALDH activities did not differ significantly in relation to sex and age. No correlations were found between the ADH or ALDH activities at both the high and low substrate concentrations and the ages in men and women. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that there is no significant effect of either sex or age on the expression pattern and activity of ADH and ALDH in the human gastric mucosa. The stomach ADH seems unlikely to account for possible variations in the first-pass metabolism of alcohol with regard to sex and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Lai
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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45
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Abstract
A 23-year-old woman with craniofacial hyperhidrosis underwent bilateral thoracoscopic T2-sympathectomy. Marked sinus bradycardia with a mean heart rate of 49 beats/min by Holter ECG monitoring occurred after the procedure and persisted for > 2 years. Normal sinus node function was found by an invasive electrophysiological study and unopposed vagotonia after sympathectomy was diagnosed. A permanent pacemaker was implanted. Although reduced heart rate is a common phenomenon after bilateral dorsal sympathectomy, intractable bradycardia with permanent pacing is rare. This patient demonstrates one of the potential cardiac complications of bilateral sympathectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Lai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University, 7 Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei 10016 Taiwan
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46
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Conventional tests for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) require considerable time before results are available. The aim of this study is to examine the accuracy of a new quick test (SM-HCV Rapid Test) for the detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus with reference to the well-established third generation enzyme immunoblot assay (EIA-3; Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL). METHODS A total of 290 subjects (100 patients with chronic hepatitis C infections, 95 patients with other chronic liver diseases, 95 healthy subjects) were recruited. Thirty microliters of serum was tested for anti-HCV by SM-HCV Rapid Test according to the manufacturer's instruction. Liver function tests and serum HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were measured. RESULTS In the 100 patients positive for anti-HCV by EIA-3, 98 of these patients were also positive for anti-HCV by SM-HCV Rapid Test. In the 95 patients with other chronic liver diseases, 94 samples were negative for anti-HCV by both EIA-3 and SM-HCV Rapid Test. The remaining one patient was positive for anti-HCV by the EIA-3 but negative by the SM-HCV Rapid Test. In the 95 controls, which were negative for anti-HCV by EIA-3, all were also negative for anti-HCV by SM-HCV Rapid Test and HCV RNA by PCR. Using EIA-3 as the gold standard screening test for anti-HCV, the sensitivity and the specificity of SM-HCV Rapid Test were 98% and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of SM-HCV Rapid Test were 100% and 97.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS SM-HCV Rapid Test is a reliable test with high sensitivity and specificity. The anti-HCV result can be available within a very short period of time. It is a useful screening test for anti-HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, China
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Shih LY, Lin TL, Dunn P, Wu JH, Tseng CP, Lai CL, Wang PN, Kuo MC. Clonality analysis using X-chromosome inactivation patterns by HUMARA-PCR assay in female controls and patients with idiopathic thrombocytosis in Taiwan. Exp Hematol 2001; 29:202-8. [PMID: 11166459 DOI: 10.1016/s0301-472x(00)00649-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Analysis of X-chromosome inactivation patterns (XCIPs) is a useful tool in the diagnosis of clonal disorders. The human androgen receptor (HUMARA) locus is especially useful for clonality study. The present study was conducted 1) to determine the heterozygosity rate for HUMARA locus in Taiwanese women, 2) to determine the frequency of excessive skewing in different cell types, and 3) to determine the utility of XCIPs in the differential diagnosis of thrombocytosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS XCIPs by HUMARA-PCR assay were performed on purified granulocytes and T cells from 73 female patients presenting with idiopathic persistent thrombocytosis (IT), 10 patients with reactive thrombocytosis (RT), and 46 bone marrow samples from female controls. XCIPs of buccal mucosa cells were also compared with those of T cells in 57 patients with IT. The percentage of clonal granulocytes was calculated after correcting for the degree of Lyonization in T cells. RESULTS The heterozygosity rate for the HUMARA gene was 89.1% in Taiwanese females. The median age of informative IT patients and controls was 59 (18-92) and 58 (19-89), respectively. Excessive skewing (allele ratio <0.33) was more frequent in granulocytes than in T cells in both controls (12/43 vs 9/43, p = 0.080) and IT patients (56/64 vs 25/64, p < 0.001). XCIPs were the same for both buccal mucosa and T cells in 43 patients but were different in 14 patients. Of the 43 informative controls, 31 had a polyclonal pattern; an ambiguous pattern was found in nine; and the remaining three, aged 71, 73, and 80, respectively, had a clonal pattern. A clonal pattern was found in 42 IT patients, a polyclonal pattern in 12, and an ambiguous pattern in 10 of the 64 IT patients. The frequency of clonal, polyclonal, and ambiguous patterns in the 40 IT patients with age < or = 65 was 55.0%, 30.0%, and 15.0%, respectively. None of the IT patients aged >65 had a polyclonal disease. IT patients aged >65 had a significantly higher frequency of clonal pattern (p = 0.030) and a significantly lower frequency of polyclonal pattern (p = 0.002) than those with age <65. Of the eight heterozygous patients with RT, one aged 80 exhibited a clonal pattern, and the remaining seven had a polyclonal pattern. CONCLUSIONS The present study on Taiwanese females showed a heterozygosity rate of 89.1% for the HUMARA gene. Our results confirmed that IT is a heterogeneous disorder in terms of clonality. Twenty-three percent of IT patients exhibited a greater than 20% difference in allele expression for buccal mucosa and T cells. Presence of a clonal XCIP in young patients with IT can serve as a positive marker for the diagnosis of clonal thrombocytosis, and elderly patients with polyclonal XCIPs are unlikely to have essential thrombocythemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Y Shih
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report the results of liver transplantation in 31 Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B using lamivudine prophylaxis in an open-label study. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Chronic hepatitis B is a prevalent cause of end-stage liver disease in Asia, but the results of liver transplantation in these patients are poor. METHODS Thirty-one Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B underwent liver transplantation using lamivudine prophylaxis (100 mg daily). Twenty-three (74%) patients had detectable serum hepatitis B envelope antigen (n = 18) or hepatitis B virus DNA (n = 11) before treatment, and seven had associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Lamivudine was continued indefinitely after transplantation, and hepatitis B immune globulin was not used. RESULTS The actuarial patient and graft survival rates were 84% and 81%, respectively. Five patients died of causes unrelated to hepatitis B, and 26 patients were alive at a median follow-up of 16 months (range 6-47) after transplantation. One (3.8%) patient developed recurrent hepatitis B resulting from viral breakthrough at week 53 and survived after retransplantation using adefovir and hepatitis B immune globulin treatment. The remaining 25 surviving patients had no biochemical or histologic evidence of recurrent hepatitis, and serum hepatitis B virus DNA remained negative by polymerase chain reaction. In six patients, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) persisted or reappeared in serum. Among 19 patients who became negative for HBsAg from 5 to 431 days after transplantation, 13 developed anti-HBsAb that lasted a median of 6 months (range 1-21). None of the seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma developed recurrent tumor. CONCLUSIONS Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B may achieve a good outcome after liver transplantation using lamivudine prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Lo
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc is a common phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun are involved in cell cycle progression and cellular proliferation. METHODS The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis with regard to the expressions of c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun. One hundred fifty biopsied HCC specimens were stained immunohistochemically for the above phenotypic markers both in tumor tissue and in adjacent nontumor tissue. RESULTS Although the expression of c-myc was high (74%) in tumor tissue, it was significantly less compared with the expression in nontumor tissue (100%; P = 0.0002). The expression of c-myc was inversely proportional to the grade of differentiation in tumor tissue (P = 0.0108; correlation coefficient [r] = -0.244); that is, tissue with poorer histologic differentiation had a lower level of c-myc expression. There were inverse associations between the expression of c-myc and the expression of mutated p53 (P = 0.0017; r = -0.285) as well as the expression of Ki67 (P = 0.057; r = -0.147). There was significantly high expression of c-fos in tumor tissue compared with the expression in nontumor tissue (91% vs. 0%; P < 0.0001). Both the tumor tissue and the nontumor tissue had high levels of expression of c-jun (96.53% and 100%, respectively). There was a trend toward a positive association between the expression of c-fos and the expression of c-jun in tumor tissue (P = 0.07; r = 0.162). CONCLUSIONS Because c-myc is a known inducer of wild type p53, decreased c-myc expression may lead to uncontrolled cell growth because of the lack of p53 expression that normally induces apoptosis. The coordinated expression of c-fos and c-jun in HCC may reflect the coordinated tumor cell cycle of progression and proliferation; however, future studies are required to elucidate this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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Yuen MF, Lai CL. Prevention and management of hepatitis B: global scenario. Indian J Gastroenterol 2000; 19 Suppl 3:C3-5. [PMID: 11446332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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