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2.
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med ; 31(7): 881-887, 2018 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28320236

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of maternal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS), and early onset GBS disease (EOGBSD) after implementation of universal screening. METHODS: This was a three-year retrospective cohort study on universal antenatal rectovaginal culture-based screening and intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP) to colonized women in the public sector in Hong Kong. Routinely collected data including maternal colonization and EOGBSD were retrieved. RESULTS: Of 113,989 GBS screening performed, 21.8% were positive. The colonization rate was higher in the public hospitals (higher risk) than in the Maternal and Child Health Centers (lower risk) (23.7% vs 18.1%, p < .001), while their false negative rates were not greater than expected. Majority of eligible women opted for screening, and colonized women received IAP. There were 29 cases of EOGBSD with clinical signs and a positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture. Compared to clinical risk-based screening, EOGBSD incidence decreased after universal screening (1 vs 0.24 per 1000 births, p < .001). Although EOGBSD occurred at a higher rate in preterm than term infants, 86.7% occurred in the latter, and were associated with a false negative screening result (41.3%), lack of screening (20.7%) or unavailability of a colonization result at labour (13.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal GBS colonization rate was higher than previously reported, and varied with different risk populations. EOGBSD reduced after universal screening.


Subject(s)
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control , Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data , Streptococcal Infections/epidemiology , Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use , Antibiotic Prophylaxis , Female , Hong Kong/epidemiology , Hospitals, Public/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature , Longitudinal Studies , Mass Screening/methods , Maternal-Child Health Centers/statistics & numerical data , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/prevention & control , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Streptococcal Infections/drug therapy , Streptococcal Infections/prevention & control
3.
Hong Kong Med J ; 17(6): 434-40, 2011 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22147311

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare early and late presentations of fetal haemoglobin Bart's disease in the Kowloon West Cluster in Hong Kong, and to find reasons for the re-emergence of late presentations. DESIGN: Case series with internal comparisons. SETTING: Two tertiary obstetric units in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All cases with confirmed diagnosis of fetal haemoglobin Bart's disease from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009. PRIMARY OUTCOME: antenatal care in the current pregnancy. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: clinical presentations, ultrasound features, and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 59 cases (46 early presentations and 13 late presentations) of fetal haemoglobin Bart's disease were identified during the study period. All the late presentations were identified from year 2003 onwards. Late presentations were significantly associated with non-eligible obstetric patients (69% vs 11%; P<0.001), non-booked status at our antenatal service (62% vs 0%; P<0.001), and unavailability of partner's mean corpuscular volume status (23% vs 0%; P=0.009). Mothers presenting late were more likely to have symptoms or signs (85% vs 0%; P<0.001) and to suffer from gestational hypertensive disorder (54% vs 0%; P<0.001). Ultrasound features of these pregnancies included cardiomegaly (94%), placentomegaly (98%), and hydrops fetalis (77%). All pregnancies presenting early were either legally terminated or miscarried. The perinatal mortality in late presentations was 85%. CONCLUSION: The re-emergence of late presentations of fetal haemoglobin Bart's disease after 2003 was related to influx of non-eligible obstetric patients without proper antenatal screening and diagnosis of thalassaemia. Maternal low mean corpuscular volume and characteristic prenatal ultrasound features such as cardiomegaly, placentomegaly, and hydrops fetalis are useful for detecting affected pregnancies in this group of patients. Better education of both patients and doctors is necessary to explain the importance of early diagnosis of the disease and the seriousness of complications due to late presentations, so as to reduce undesirable maternal and perinatal outcomes.


Subject(s)
Delayed Diagnosis , Hemoglobins, Abnormal/metabolism , Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic/diagnosis , Prenatal Care/standards , alpha-Thalassemia/diagnosis , Adult , Early Diagnosis , Erythrocyte Indices , Female , Gestational Age , Hong Kong , Humans , Hydrops Fetalis/diagnosis , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Outcome , Socioeconomic Factors , Statistics, Nonparametric , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Young Adult , alpha-Thalassemia/blood
4.
Neuroscience ; 165(2): 535-41, 2010 Jan 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19837142

ABSTRACT

Synaptic plasticity in the striatum is a key mechanism that underlies processes such as reward related incentive learning and behavioral habit formation resulting from drugs of abuse. Key aspects of these functions are dependent on dopamine transmission as well as activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIalpha (CaMKIIalpha). In this study, we examined the ability of a recently identified heteromeric complex composed of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors coupled to Gq/11 to activate striatal CaMKIIalpha. Using the dopaminergic agonist SKF83959, which selectively activates the D1-D2 complex, we demonstrated phosphorylation of CaMKIIalpha at threonine 286, both in heterologous cells and in the murine striatum in vivo. Phosphorylation of CaMKIIalpha by activation of the receptor complex required concurrent agonism of both D1 and D2 receptors and was independent of receptor pathways that modulated adenylyl cyclase. The identification of this novel mechanism by which dopamine may modulate synaptic plasticity has implications for our understanding of striatal-mediated reward and motor function, as well as neuronal disorders in which striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission is involved.


Subject(s)
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/metabolism , Corpus Striatum/physiology , GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11/metabolism , Receptors, Dopamine D1/metabolism , Receptors, Dopamine D2/metabolism , Synaptic Transmission/physiology , Adenylyl Cyclases/metabolism , Animals , Cell Line , Corpus Striatum/drug effects , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Knockout , Phosphorylation , Receptors, Dopamine D1/agonists , Receptors, Dopamine D1/genetics , Receptors, Dopamine D2/agonists , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Synaptic Transmission/drug effects
6.
J Vet Med Sci ; 63(12): 1287-91, 2001 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11789605

ABSTRACT

Studies were conducted in Korean native cattle to determine the age and body weight at puberty, and to determine the postpartum anestrus intervals based on plasma progesterone profiles, rectal palpation, ultrasonography and estrus observation. Korean native cattle reached puberty at 344 days of age and at 188 kg body weight as determined by plasma progesterone profiles, but estrous behavior was not detected until 3 months later, at a body weight of 215 kg. Prolonged postpartum anestrus occurred in 40% of smallholders cows, where animals were tethered and fed hay and rice straw, whereas its incidence was only 6.8% in a well managed herd that was grazed and housed. Plasma progesterone profiles were used to monitor ovarian activity postpartum in standard fed cows (n=44) and restricted fed cows (n=20). In standard fed cows 81.8% showed luteal activity by 50 days postpartum, compared to 55% in restricted fed cows. Approximately 40% of cows in both groups had shown observable estrous behavior by this time. This study indicates that one or more ovulations had occurred before pubertal heifers and postpartum cows showed overt estrous behavior. It was concluded that improved management and feeding practices should result in improved reproductive performance.


Subject(s)
Anestrus/physiology , Cattle/physiology , Food Deprivation/physiology , Progesterone/blood , Reproduction/physiology , Sexual Maturation/physiology , Age Factors , Animals , Body Weight , Estrus Detection , Female , Korea , Ovary/diagnostic imaging , Postpartum Period/physiology , Ultrasonography
7.
Br J Sports Med ; 28(2): 112-6, 1994 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7921910

ABSTRACT

Ankle sprain is a common sports injury and is often regarded as trivial by athletes and coaches. This epidemiological study was conducted among three categories of Hong Kong Chinese athletes: national teams, competitive athletes and recreational athletes. This study shows that as much as 73% of all athletes had recurrent ankle sprain and 59% of these athletes had significant disability and residual symptoms which led to impairment of their athletic performance. This study indicates that a proper approach towards injury prevention and a comprehensive rehabilitation programme are required.


Subject(s)
Ankle Injuries/epidemiology , Athletic Injuries/epidemiology , Sprains and Strains/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Ankle Injuries/complications , Athletic Injuries/complications , Female , Hong Kong/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Recurrence , Sprains and Strains/complications
8.
Br J Sports Med ; 28(1): 25-30, 1994 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8044488

ABSTRACT

A comparative study was made of the isokinetic characteristics of the ankle (plantar-flexion and dorsiflexion) in young men. Six cyclists, seven gymnasts, 10 soccer players and 25 non-athletic young men were tested on the Cybex II+ dynamometer. Peak torque, torque acceleration energy (TAE), total work and average power were measured. Cyclists had slightly higher (5%) mean plantar flexion than the others, but this was not significant. The situation was reversed for dorsiflexion. Moreover, the average dorsiflexion per unit of plantar flexion was significantly higher in the gymnasts than it was in the cyclists for both torque and work. This suggests that at a specific level of plantar flexion, the gymnasts had stronger dorsiflexion compared with the cyclists and that in sports involving jumping and running, increased attention should be given to strengthening the antagonist muscle groups (dorsiflexors) in order to achieve greater agonist-to-antagonist muscle balance thus preventing injury. The non-athletic subjects had substantially lower endurance capability in both flexors as measured by the endurance ratio. This implies that identifiable specialization in particular muscles results from training or participating in specialized sports.


Subject(s)
Ankle/physiology , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Muscles/physiology , Sports/physiology , Acceleration , Adolescent , Adult , Bicycling/physiology , Exercise Test , Gymnastics/physiology , Humans , Kinetics , Male , Physical Endurance/physiology , Rotation , Soccer/physiology , Work/physiology
9.
Br J Sports Med ; 26(4): 262-6, 1992 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-1490221

ABSTRACT

Most physiological profiles of élite soccer players originate from Western Europe and North America. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of descriptive data on the physical characteristics of Asian soccer players. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological profiles of élite soccer players in Hong Kong. It was conducted in conjunction with the selection of the Hong Kong team before the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. In all, 24 professional soccer players were selected from a pool of 180 players as subjects for the study. The following means(s.d.) were observed: height 173.4(4.6) cm; weight 67.7(5.0) kg; body fat 7.3(3.0)%; forced vital capacity (FVC) 5.1(0.6) l; maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) 59.1(4.9) ml kg-1 min-1; anaerobic threshold (AT 80.0(7.2)% of VO2max; alactic power index 13.5(2.4) W kg-1; lactic work index 298(27) J kg-1; peak isokinetic dominant knee extensor and flexor strengths 2.72(0.36) Nm kg-1 and 1.65(0.20) Nm kg-1. On average the physique of Hong Kong soccer players appeared to be smaller and lighter than those found in Europe, which may be one of the key factors that contribute to the lack of success of Hong Kong soccer teams in international competition.


Subject(s)
Soccer/physiology , Adult , Anthropometry , Body Composition , Hong Kong , Humans , Male , Physical Endurance/physiology , Physical Fitness/physiology , Respiratory Mechanics
10.
Taehan Chikkwa Uisa Hyophoe Chi ; 8(12): 659-60, 1970 Dec.
Article in Korean | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-5284872
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