Update on the Hong Kong Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for Adults in Primary Care Settings-review of evidence on the definition of high blood pressure and goal of therapy.

The Hong Kong Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for Adults in Primary Care Settings is updated regularly to ensure it reflects the latest medical development and best practice. In 2017, guidelines from the United States included a major change, adopting the lower blood pressure values of 130/80 mm Hg in defining hypertension, in contrast to the prevailing international consensus of 140/90 mm Hg. After thorough review of the literature and international guidelines, the Advisory Group on Hong Kong Reference Framework for Care of Diabetes and Hypertension in Primary Care Settings (Advisory Group) recommends that the definition of hypertension adopted in the Reference Framework should remain unchanged as a blood pressure of ≥140/90 mm Hg, as there is currently inadequate evidence and lack of general consensus to support such change in Hong Kong. The Advisory Group agrees on individualised treatment goals, and recommends that the initial blood pressure goal for individuals with uncomplicated hypertension should be <140/90 mm Hg; for those who can tolerate it, the goal should be ≤130/80 mm Hg. A lower blood pressure is advisable for young or overweight/obese patients, smokers, and patients with other cardiovascular risk factors.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of an antimicrobial protein from Pharbitis nil.

An antimicrobial protein from seeds of Pharbitis nil (Pn-AMP) which shows an antifungal activity towards several agriculturally important plant pathogens has been crystallized in the presence of equimolar N-acetylglucosamine with sodium citrate as precipitant. The crystal belongs to the hexagonal space group P6(1)22 (or P6(5)22), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 29.33 (5), c = 133.44 (12) A. Native data were collected using a crystal at 100 K to a resolution of 1.78 A.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of ribosome recycling factor from Escherichia coli.

Ribosome recycling factor (RRF) catalyzes the disassembly of a termination complex during the final stage of protein synthesis. RRF from Escherichia coli has been crystallized with PEG 400 as precipitant at 287 K. The crystal belongs to the trigonal space group P3(1)21 (or P3(2)21), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 48.08, c = 141.67 A. Native data were collected from a frozen crystal to a resolution of 3.0 A on a Cu Kalpha rotating-anode X-ray source.

Studies on the isotetracenone antibiotics. IV. Hatomarubigins A, B, C and D, new isotetracenone antibiotics effective against multidrug-resistant tumor cells.

A complex of new isotetracenone group antibiotics was isolated from the cultured broth of Streptomyces sp. 2238-SVT4. It consisted of four related compounds, designated hatomarubigins A, B, C and D, whose structures were elucidated by NMR spectral analysis including a variety of 2D techniques. They enhanced the cytotoxicity of colchicine against multidrug-resistant tumor cells.

Factors influencing collagen-induced autoimmune ear disease.

In 1981, the authors described a type II collagen-induced autoimmune ear disease (CIAED) model. The purpose of this study was to gather further evidence that this is a sound animal model to use in evaluating inner ear diseases. The temporal bone lesions of CIAED in Lewis and Wistar rats were characterized by the presence of sensorineural hearing loss with mild atrophy of the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion degeneration, vestibular dysfunction with vacuolar degeneration of the crista ampullaris, otospongiosis-like lesions in the tympanic annules, cochlear vasculitis, and eustachian tube disease. Both cellular and humoral immune responses to type II collagen were demonstrated. The induction of ear lesions depends on many factors. In general, animals immunized with antigens in complete Freund's adjuvant showed relatively more severe lesions than animals immunized with antigens in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, but the duration of the immunization seems to be a more important factor in reproducing severe lesions. The strain and the source of the animals are also important factors in autoimmune inner ear diseases, as is the condition of the host animals. Subclinical or clinical mycoplasma infection in the rat markedly reduced the incidence and severity of lesions in type II collagen-induced arthritis. Many researchers did not consider sialoductal adenovirus, widely present among laboratory rats, a lesion-producing factor in rats. Although many factors influence the induction and severity of CIAED, these animal models provide an excellent new avenue of inner ear research.