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1.
Hong Kong Med J ; 28(6): 475-481, 2022 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35815480

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Kidney cancer, primarily renal cell carcinoma (RCC), ranks among the top 10 most common malignancies in the male population of Hong Kong. In 2019, members of two medical societies in Hong Kong formed an expert panel to establish a set of consensus statements for the management of metastatic RCC. On 22 June 2021, the same panel met to review recent evidence and reassess their positions regarding the management of advanced and metastatic RCC, with the aim of providing recommendations for physicians in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: The panel included 12 experts (6 clinical oncologists and 6 urologists) who had extensive experience managing patients with RCC in Hong Kong. EVIDENCE: The panel reviewed randomised controlled trials, observational studies, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and international clinical guidelines to address key clinical questions that were identified before the meeting. CONSENSUS PROCESS: In total, 15 key clinical questions were identified before the meeting, covering the surgical and systemic treatment of advanced or metastatic clear cell, sarcomatoid, and non-clear cell RCCs. At the meeting, the panellists voted on these questions, then discussed relevant evidence and practical considerations. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment landscape for advanced and metastatic RCC continues to evolve. More immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based combination regimens will be indicated for the treatment of metastatic clear cell RCC. There is increasing evidence concerning the benefit of adjuvant ICI treatment for resected advanced RCC. This article summarises recent evidence and expert insights regarding a series of key clinical questions about the management of advanced and metastatic RCC.


Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Renais , Neoplasias Renais , Humanos , Masculino , Carcinoma de Células Renais/terapia , Neoplasias Renais/terapia , Hong Kong/epidemiologia , Consenso , Sociedades Médicas
2.
Int J Stroke ; 17(4): 444-454, 2022 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33724087

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Depicting the time trends of ischemic stroke subtypes may inform healthcare resource allocation on etiology-based stroke prevention and treatment. AIM: To reveal the evolving ischemic stroke subtypes from 2004 to 2018. METHODS: We determined the stroke etiologies of consecutive first-ever transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke patients admitted to a regional hospital in Hong Kong from 2004 to 2018. We analyzed the age-standardized incidences and the two-year recurrence rate of major ischemic stroke subtypes. RESULTS: Among 6940 patients admitted from 2004 to 2018, age-standardized incidence of ischemic stroke declined from 187.0 to 127.4 per 100,000 population (p < 0.001), driven by the decrease in large artery disease (43.0-9.67 per 100,000 population (p < 0.001)), and small vessel disease (71.9-45.7 per 100,000 population (p < 0.001)). Age-standardized incidence of cardioembolic stroke did not change significantly (p = 0.2). Proportion of cardioembolic stroke increased from 20.4% in 2004-2006 to 29.3% in 2016-2018 (p < 0.001). Two-year recurrence rate of intracranial atherothrombotic stroke reduced from 19.3% to 5.1% (p < 0.001) with increased prescriptions of statin (p < 0.001) and dual antiplatelet therapy (p < 0.001). In parallel with increased anticoagulation use across the study period (p < 0.001), the two-year recurrence of AF-related stroke reduced from 18.9% to 6% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Etiology-based risk factor control might have led to the diminishing stroke incidences related to atherosclerosis. To tackle the surge of AF-related strokes, arrhythmia screening, anticoagulation usage, and mechanical thrombectomy service should be reinforced. Comparable preventive strategies might alleviate the enormous stroke burden in mainland China.


Assuntos
Fibrilação Atrial , AVC Embólico , AVC Isquêmico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Anticoagulantes , Fibrilação Atrial/epidemiologia , Hospitais , Humanos , Fatores de Risco , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/diagnóstico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/terapia
3.
Int J Stroke ; 17(5): 517-525, 2022 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34109903

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Stroke not only substantially increases the risk of incident dementia early after stroke but also the risk remains elevated years after. AIM: We aimed to determine the risk factors of dementia onset more than three to six months after stroke or transient ischemic attack. METHODS: This is a single-center prospective cohort study. We recruited consecutive subjects with stroke/transient ischemic attack without early-onset dementia. We conducted an annual neuropsychological assessment for five years. We investigated the association between baseline demographic, clinical, genetic (APOEɛ4 allele), and radiological factors as well as incident recurrent stroke with delayed-onset dementia using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: In total, 1007 patients were recruited, of which 88 with early-onset dementia and 162 who lost to follow-ups were excluded. Forty-nine (6.5%) out of 757 patients have incident delayed-onset dementia. The presence of ≥3 lacunes, history of ischemic heart disease, history of ischemic stroke, and a lower baseline Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score were significantly associated with delayed-onset dementia. APOEɛ4 allele, medial temporal lobe atrophy, and recurrent stroke were not predictive. CONCLUSION: The presence of ≥3 lacunes, history of ischemic heart disease, history of ischemic stroke, and a lower baseline MoCA score are associated with delayed-onset dementia after stroke/transient ischemic attack.


Assuntos
Demência , Ataque Isquêmico Transitório , AVC Isquêmico , Isquemia Miocárdica , Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Estudos de Coortes , Demência/etiologia , Demência/genética , Humanos , Ataque Isquêmico Transitório/complicações , Ataque Isquêmico Transitório/epidemiologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/complicações , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/psicologia
4.
J Clin Med ; 10(16)2021 Aug 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34441748

RESUMO

Telehealth has become a viable option for glaucoma screening and glaucoma monitoring due to advances in technology. The ability to measure intraocular pressure without an anesthetic and to take optic nerve photographs without pharmacologic pupillary dilation using portable equipment have allowed glaucoma screening programs to generate enough data for assessment. At home, patients can perform visual acuity testing, web-based visual field testing, rebound tonometry, and video visits with the physician to monitor for glaucomatous progression. Artificial intelligence will enhance the accuracy of data interpretation and inspire confidence in popularizing telehealth for glaucoma.

5.
Ophthalmol Glaucoma ; 4(4): 350-357, 2021.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33242681

RESUMO

PURPOSE: To study the effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) control in patients with preexisting glaucoma drainage implants (GDIs). DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 45 patients (51 eyes) with previously placed GDIs who underwent phacoemulsification between January 2013 and March 2018. METHODS: The list of patients was obtained from billing records. Clinical data were retrieved from the corresponding electronic medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressure, number of glaucoma medications before and after phacoemulsification (postoperative day 1, week 1, months 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24), rate of failure (failure defined as IOP >18 mmHg and IOP increase >20% at 2 consecutive visits after month 1, need for additional glaucoma surgery, or loss of light perception vision), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 23.0 ± 11.1 months. The average interval between GDI surgery and phacoemulsification was 9.4 ± 6.7 months. An Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV; New World Medical) was implanted in 12 eyes, a Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI; Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision) was implanted in 36 eyes, and a Molteno (Molteno Ophthalmic Limited) glaucoma implant was implanted in 3 eyes. Before phacoemulsification, the mean IOP was 14.4 ± 4.4 mmHg on 2.1 ± 1.3 glaucoma medications. At postoperative month 24, the mean IOP was 12.6 ± 4.4 mmHg (n = 29, P = 0.519) on 2.0 ± 1.6 (P = 0.457) glaucoma medications. The reduction in IOP was significant only at postoperative week 1 (P = 0.031). The cumulative failure rate was 3.9% at 1 year and 11.8% at 2 years. The AGV group had a significantly higher mean IOP before phacoemulsification than the BGI group (P = 0.016). Analysis of covariance, taking the baseline IOP as a covariate, revealed no differences in postoperative IOP and number of glaucoma medications between groups, except for month 18 (1 patient in the BGI group had uncontrolled IOP requiring surgery). Postoperative complications included cystoid macular edema (10%), corneal decompensation (6%), and choroidal effusion (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification after GDI surgery resulted in a transient reduction in IOP at postoperative week 1. Patients with previously placed AGVs had similar postoperative outcomes compared with those with BGIs.


Assuntos
Implantes para Drenagem de Glaucoma , Facoemulsificação , Implantes para Drenagem de Glaucoma/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Pressão Intraocular , Facoemulsificação/efeitos adversos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento , Acuidade Visual
6.
PeerJ ; 8: e10033, 2020.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33062440

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Human population growth has led to biodiversity declines in tropical cities. While habitat loss and fragmentation have been the main drivers of urban biodiversity loss, man-made interventions to reduce health risks have also emerged as an unintentional threat. For instance, insecticide fogging to control mosquito populations has become the most common method of preventing the expansion of mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue. However, the effectiveness of fogging in killing mosquitoes has been called into question. One concern is the unintended effect of insecticide fogging on non-target invertebrates that are crucial for the maintenance of urban ecosystems. Here, we investigate the impacts of fogging on: (1) target invertebrate taxon (Diptera, including mosquitoes); (2) non-target invertebrate taxa; and (3) the foraging behavior of an invertebrate pollinator taxon (Lepidoptera) within an urban tropical forest. METHODS: We carried out fogging with Pyrethroid insecticide (Detral 2.5 EC) at 10 different sites in a forest situated in the state of Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Across the sites, we counted the numbers of knocked-down invertebrates and identified them based on morphology to different taxa. We constructed Bayesian hierarchical Poisson regression models to investigate the effects of fogging on: (1) a target invertebrate taxon (Diptera) 3-h post-fogging; (2) selected non-target invertebrate taxa 3-h post-fogging; and (3) an invertebrate pollinator taxon (Lepidoptera) 24-h post-fogging. RESULTS: A total of 1,874 invertebrates from 19 invertebrate orders were knocked down by the fogging treatment across the 10 sites. Furthermore, 72.7% of the invertebrates counted 3-h post-fogging was considered dead. Our regression models showed that given the data and prior information, the probability that fogging had a negative effect on invertebrate taxa 3-h post-fogging was 100%, with reductions to 11% of the pre-fogging count of live individuals for the target invertebrate taxon (Diptera), and between 5% and 58% of the pre-fogging count of live individuals for non-target invertebrate taxa. For the invertebrate pollinator, the probability that fogging had a negative effect 24-h post-fogging was also 100%, with reductions to 53% of the pre-fogging count of live individuals. DISCUSSION: Our Bayesian models unequivocally demonstrate that fogging has detrimental effects on one pollinator order and non-target invertebrate orders, especially taxa that have comparatively lower levels of chitinisation. While fogging is effective in killing the target order (Diptera), no mosquitos were found dead in our experiment. In order to maintain urban biodiversity, we recommend that health authorities and the private sector move away from persistent insecticide fogging and to explore alternative measures to control adult mosquito populations.

8.
J Glaucoma ; 26(8): 749-751, 2017 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28598962

RESUMO

PURPOSE: To introduce a technique using the Kahook Dual Blade for treatment of childhood glaucoma. PATIENT AND METHOD: An infant developed glaucoma after cataract extraction and anterior vitrectomy. Ab interno trabeculectomy was performed in both eyes using a dual-blade device. RESULTS: Description of technique to treat childhood glaucoma. Intraocular pressure reduced from 35 to 17 mm Hg in the right eye and from 52 to 18 mm Hg in the left eye after 7 to 10 weeks. There were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: This was a successful, minimally invasive procedure for treatment of childhood glaucoma.


Assuntos
Glaucoma de Ângulo Aberto/cirurgia , Trabeculectomia/métodos , Extração de Catarata/efeitos adversos , Seguimentos , Glaucoma de Ângulo Aberto/etiologia , Glaucoma de Ângulo Aberto/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Lactente , Pressão Intraocular/fisiologia , Masculino , Tonometria Ocular , Trabeculectomia/instrumentação , Vitrectomia/efeitos adversos
9.
Digit J Ophthalmol ; 23(4): 13-14, 2017.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29403335

RESUMO

We report the case of a 66-year-old man with Takayasu arteritis who developed photic and postprandial amaurosis occurring at a corticosteroid dose <40 mg per day, despite concurrent methotrexate. The amaurosis resolved with correction of anemia by packed red blood cell transfusion. Marginal retinal perfusion in Takayasu arteritis may precipitate symptomatic hypoxia as a result of eating a meal or exposing the eye to bright lights. Correction of anemia improves oxygen delivery to the hypoxic retina and relieves recurrent amaurosis.


Assuntos
Cegueira/etiologia , Período Pós-Prandial , Arterite de Takayasu/complicações , Idoso , Artéria Axilar/diagnóstico por imagem , Cegueira/diagnóstico , Cegueira/fisiopatologia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Angiofluoresceinografia/métodos , Fundo de Olho , Humanos , Angiografia por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Vasos Retinianos/diagnóstico por imagem , Artéria Subclávia/diagnóstico por imagem , Arterite de Takayasu/diagnóstico , Acuidade Visual
10.
Surv Ophthalmol ; 62(3): 357-365, 2017.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27717892

RESUMO

Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation is laser treatment of the ciliary processes with direct visualization using a small video camera for the purpose of lowering intraocular pressure. It was traditionally reserved for management of refractory glaucoma, but is now increasingly used as an adjunct to cataract surgery in less-advanced glaucoma. Here we present a review of the literature evaluating endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation's safety and efficacy in different forms of glaucoma with different degrees of progression.


Assuntos
Corpo Ciliar/cirurgia , Endoscopia/métodos , Cirurgia Filtrante/métodos , Glaucoma/cirurgia , Pressão Intraocular , Fotocoagulação a Laser/métodos , Glaucoma/fisiopatologia , Humanos
11.
Alzheimers Dement ; 12(11): 1167-1176, 2016 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27327542

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Patients surviving stroke without immediate dementia are at high risk of delayed-onset dementia. Mechanisms underlying delayed-onset dementia are complex and may involve vascular and/or neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS: Dementia-free patients with stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (TIA; n = 919) were studied for 3 years prospectively, excluding those who developed dementia 3 to 6 months after stroke and/or TIA. RESULTS: Forty subjects (4.4%) developed dementia during the study period. Imaging markers of severe small vessel disease (SVD), namely presence of ≥3 lacunes and confluent white matter changes; history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus independently predicted delayed-onset dementia after adjustment for age, gender, and education. Only 6 of 31 (19.4%) subjects with delayed cognitive decline harbored Alzheimer's disease-like Pittsburg compound B (PiB) retention. Most PiB cases (16/25, 64%) had evidence of severe SVD. DISCUSSION: Severe SVD contributes importantly to delayed-onset dementia after stroke and/or TIA. Future clinical trials aiming to prevent delayed-onset dementia after stroke and/or TIA should target this high-risk group.


Assuntos
Demência/etiologia , Ataque Isquêmico Transitório/complicações , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/complicações , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Compostos de Anilina , Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Demência/diagnóstico por imagem , Feminino , Fluordesoxiglucose F18 , Seguimentos , Humanos , Ataque Isquêmico Transitório/diagnóstico por imagem , Ataque Isquêmico Transitório/psicologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fenantrolinas , Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons , Estudos Prospectivos , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/diagnóstico por imagem , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/psicologia , Tiazóis , Fatores de Tempo , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Adulto Jovem
12.
Mol Ecol ; 22(8): 2173-87, 2013 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23480581

RESUMO

Social insects in general and leaf-cutting ants in particular have increased selection pressures on their innate immune system due to their social lifestyle and monoclonality of the symbiotic fungal cultivar. As this symbiosis is obligate for both parties, prophylactic behavioural defences against infections are expected to increase either ant survival or fungus-garden survival, but also to possibly trade off when specific infections differ in potential danger. We examined the effectiveness of prophylactic behaviours and modulations of innate immune defences by a combination of inoculation bioassays and genome-wide transcriptomic studies (RNA-Seq), using an ant pathogen (Metarhizium brunneum) and a fungus-garden pathogen (Escovopsis weberi) and administering inoculations both directly and indirectly (via the symbiotic partner). Upon detection of pathogen conidia, ant workers responded by increasing both general activity and the frequency of specific defence behaviours (self-grooming, allo-grooming, garden-grooming) independent of the pathogen encountered. This trend was also evident in the patterns of gene expression change. Both direct and indirect (via fungus garden) inoculations with Metarhizium induced a general up-regulation of gene expression, including a number of well-known immune-related genes. In contrast, direct inoculation of the fungus garden by Escovopsis induced an overall down-regulation of ant gene expression, whereas indirect inoculation (via the ants) did not, suggesting that increased activity of ants to remove this fungus-garden pathogen is costly and involves trade-offs with the activation of other physiological pathways.


Assuntos
Formigas/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/genética , Genoma de Inseto , Animais , Formigas/microbiologia , Regulação para Baixo , Hypocreales/patogenicidade , Metarhizium/patogenicidade , Simbiose , Regulação para Cima
13.
Pediatr Rep ; 4(1): e5, 2012 Jan 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22690311

RESUMO

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has become a well-established pathogen with alarming rates during the last decade. The current situation of this bacteria in pediatric infections is very limited and motivated us to conduct this study. This is a retrospective and analytical study including patients less than 18 years of age with the diagnosis of skin or soft tissue infections in 2008 and 2009 meeting the criteria of Community-acquired infection. A prevalence of 41.9% among skin and soft tissue infections was found. Inducible resistance to clindamycin was detected in 1.3% of the strains and the infection shows a seasonal predilection for summer (P=0.003); 57.8% of the cases required hospitalization with a mean stay of 3.3±2.5 days. The susceptibility to clindamycin and co-trimoxazole is 88 and 97% respectively. The resistance to erythromycin has reached 92%. The main diagnoses at presentation was gluteal abscess plus cellulitis (34.2%).The prevalence of CA-MRSA is trending up and seems to become a large burden for the health system in our community. Clindamycin is still an excellent option in the community setting since inducible clindamycin resistance is extremely low in this community. Co-trimoxazole should be kept as a reserved drug to avoid the rapid resurgence resistance in the community.

14.
Pediatr Emerg Care ; 28(6): 493-7, 2012 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22653461

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the value of performing laboratory tests, taking cultures, and imaging, a diagnostic approach for febrile seizures (FSs) still routinely performed despite the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations not to. Another aim of this study was to identify the most common sources of fever in patients with FSs and to determine whether the occurrence of FSs correlates with the seasons of the year. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included all patients diagnosed with simple or complex FSs who were seen in the emergency room or inpatient unit from January 2004 to December 2009. RESULTS: Of the 219 patients included in the study, 135 (61.4%) cases had the etiology of the FS diagnosed. Upper respiratory tract infection, otitis media, urinary infection, and pneumonia were the most common diagnoses attributed to the fever. Leukocytosis was present in 48 (24%) of 219, and neutrophilia in 199 (91%) of 219 cases. Low bicarbonate levels were common among every age group. Only 1 blood culture was positive for Salmonella. The incidence of FS was higher during the winter (49.3% of the cases), and it closely paralleled the seasonal variation of viral infections. CONCLUSIONS: Even though laboratory tests, taking cultures, and imaging are performed in daily practice when approaching FSs, the association of FSs with serious infectious disease is rare and usually overestimated. The diagnostic approach should be individualized to each case and correlated with available data like that shown in this study. Parents should be educated with the knowledge that the occurrence of FSs tends to be higher in winter.


Assuntos
Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico/estatística & dados numéricos , Diagnóstico por Imagem/estatística & dados numéricos , Fidelidade a Diretrizes , Padrões de Prática Médica , Convulsões Febris/diagnóstico , Distribuição por Idade , Pré-Escolar , Medicina Defensiva , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estações do Ano , Convulsões Febris/epidemiologia , Convulsões Febris/etiologia
15.
Clin Ophthalmol ; 5: 1451-7, 2011.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22034570

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of bromfenac sodium ophthalmic solution 0.09% compared with ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution 0.5% in laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) or epithelial keratomileusis (epi-LASEK), sometimes referred to as epi-LASIK. METHODS: Eighty eyes (from 40 patients, 18 men and 22 women) undergoing bilateral simultaneous LASEK or epi-LASEK were randomized to receive ketorolac in one eye and bromfenac in the other. Mean age was 33.13 ± 9.34 years. One drop of bromfenac or ketorolac was instilled in each eye 15 minutes and one minute prior to surgery, and two and four hours following surgery. Patients were instructed to instill the medications on-label each day through postoperative day 4. The subjects completed pain and visual blurriness assessments from day of surgery to postoperative day 4. Uncorrected visual acuity was tested on postoperative days 1 and 6. RESULTS: For each of the five days, pain scores for bromfenac-treated eyes were significantly less than that for ketorolac-treated eyes (P < 0.01). Of the 40 patients, 32 (80%) said bromfenac provided better postoperative analgesia than ketorolac. There was no statistically significant difference in visual blurriness scores between the two groups (P > 0.1). Uncorrected visual acuity did not vary significantly between the treatment groups (P > 0.1). No serious adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION: Bromfenac is subjectively superior to ketorolac in reducing postoperative pain following LASEK or epi-LASEK. The subjects tolerated the drugs well with no serious adverse outcomes and no difference in uncorrected visual acuity.

16.
Epidemiology ; 20(1): 36-43, 2009 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18813024

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Although serum measures of micronutrients are more specific than questionnaires in quantifying nutritional status, the reliability of serum measures depends on between- and within-person variability of circulating micronutrient levels. The extent to which multiple samples per person might improve reliability is useful information for planning studies and interpreting results. METHODS: We analyzed levels of 25 micronutrients in serum samples taken from 381 Hawaii women at 4-month intervals. For all subjects and for subjects at the low and high end of the micronutrient distributions, we calculated inter- and intraindividual variability, reliability coefficients, and the number of measurements required to limit attenuation in estimated parameters (ie, to keep estimates close to their true values). RESULTS: For 18 of the 25 micronutrients, a single measurement provided an estimate within 20% of the true value. For regression coefficients, 2 measurements were needed to limit attenuation to no more than 20% for nearly half of the micronutrients. To achieve no more than 10% attenuation, the number of measurements required ranged from 2 to 10 for correlation and from 3 to 20 for regression coefficients. To achieve no more than 5% attenuation, the corresponding ranges were 3 to 21 for correlation and 6 to 42 regression coefficients. In general, more measurements were required for adequate characterization of subjects with relatively high levels of micronutrients than for subjects with lower levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that 2 or 3 blood measurements are enough to limit attenuation of regression coefficients within 20% of the true value for most carotenoids and tocopherols. For 10% attenuation or less, 4 or more micronutrient measurements may be needed.


Assuntos
Micronutrientes/sangue , Estado Nutricional , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Havaí , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos Estatísticos , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Adulto Jovem
17.
Hong Kong Med J ; 14(2): 130-5, 2008 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18382020

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene overexpression in breast cancer patients encountered in Hong Kong and the concordance of HER2 findings from primary immunohistochemistry assays and confirmatory in-situ hybridisation assays. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Clinical Oncology in a public hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All patient referrals between July 2006 and June 2007 with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer (for prevalence evaluation), and all patients treated at our unit with confirmatory in-situ hybridisation tests performed within the study period (for concordance evaluation). RESULTS: There were 272 consecutive breast cancer patients eligible for prevalence evaluation. The distribution for immunohistochemistry staining in 249 cases for scores 0, 1+, 2+, and 3+ were 99 (40%), 40 (16%), 58 (23%), and 52 (21%) respectively. In the remaining 23 patients, four and 19 breast cancers were unscored and reported by immunohistochemistry to be HER2-positive and -negative, respectively. The overall HER2 overexpression rate (3+ or reported as positive) was 21%. HER2 overexpression was associated with grade 3 histology (P<0.001) and negative hormonal receptor status (P<0.001). However, it was not associated with age (P=0.525), T-classification (P=0.740), N-classification (P=0.691), nor group stages (P=0.433). Of the 37 patients with confirmatory in-situ hybridisation tests performed, 10 (71%) of 14 with immunohistochemistry staining of 3+ and 1 (4%) of 23 with immunohistochemistry staining of 2+ were found to have HER2 gene amplification. CONCLUSIONS: More than 25% of HER2 overexpression identified by immunohistochemistry assays in this Hong Kong cohort could not be verified by confirmatory in-situ hybridisation assays. Compliance with the latest guidelines for HER2 testing should improve the future accuracy and concordance.


Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Carcinoma Ductal/genética , Carcinoma Lobular/genética , Imuno-Histoquímica , Hibridização in Situ Fluorescente , Hibridização In Situ/métodos , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Adulto , Neoplasias da Mama/epidemiologia , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Carcinoma Ductal/epidemiologia , Carcinoma Ductal/patologia , Carcinoma Lobular/epidemiologia , Carcinoma Lobular/patologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Amplificação de Genes/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/genética , Hong Kong , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Estudos Retrospectivos
18.
Breast ; 17(1): 58-63, 2008 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17804235

RESUMO

Incorporating various new and conventional risk factors, the 2005 St Gallen risk categorization is a potentially useful prognostic tool for breast cancers. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate its application in Hong Kong. Of the 902 included female breast cancers with median follow-up of 5.4 years, 7%, 63% and 30% patients were classified as low-, intermediate- and high-risk categories, respectively. Their corresponding 5-year distant disease-free survivals (DDFS) were 100%, 92% and 72%, respectively (p<0.00005). In the intermediate-risk category, node-positive patients had marginally inferior 5-year DDFS than node-negative patients (89% vs. 93%, p=0.0551). In the high-risk category, patients having HER2 overexpressed tumors and 1-3 positive nodes had significantly better DDFS than other patients with > or = 4 positive nodes (89% vs. 65%, p=0.0001). Overall, the 2005 St Gallen risk categorization had high prognostic value. However, the impact of HER2 overexpression might be affected by reproducibility of HER2 tests.


Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/epidemiologia , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Carcinoma/epidemiologia , Carcinoma/cirurgia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Carcinoma/genética , Carcinoma/patologia , Carcinoma/secundário , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Feminino , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Genes erbB-2 , Hong Kong/epidemiologia , Humanos , Metástase Linfática , Mastectomia/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias/métodos , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Medição de Risco , Taxa de Sobrevida , Resultado do Tratamento
19.
Breast ; 17(2): 132-7, 2008 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17905584

RESUMO

Annual surveillance mammography is commonly recommended after breast conservation therapy (BCT). We retrospectively reviewed its effectiveness on 511 invasive and non-invasive breast cancers treated with BCT between 1994 and 2003. The median follow-up was 5.9 years. The 5-year actuarial ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) rate was 4.5% and contralateral breast cancer (CBC) rate was 2.0% (representing eight times increase in risk). IBTR of 43% and 62% CBC were first detected by surveillance mammography. The IBTR detection rates per 1000 mammograms were 5.2 for patients (n=349) with one or more IBTR risk factors (age 45, positive/close margins or histological grade 3) and 0.6 for patients (n=162) without. No survival difference was observed between different modes of IBTR detection (p=0.342). In conclusion, a risk-adapted approach of limiting ipsilateral surveillance to patients with IBTR risk is possible but its implementation will be complicated by the continued need of contralateral surveillance.


Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Mamografia/economia , Mastectomia Segmentar , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Análise Custo-Benefício , Estudos de Viabilidade , Feminino , Hong Kong , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Medição de Risco , Fatores de Risco , Análise de Sobrevida , Taxa de Sobrevida , Resultado do Tratamento
20.
Phys Rev Lett ; 95(10): 105001, 2005 Sep 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16196936

RESUMO

We have proposed and demonstrated successfully a new approach for generating high-yield K-shell radiation with large-diameter gas-puff Z pinches. The novel load design consists of an outer region plasma that carries the current and couples energy from the driver, an inner region plasma that stabilizes the implosion, and a high-density center jet plasma that radiates. It increased the Ar K-shell yield at 3.46 MA in 200 ns implosions from 12 cm initial diameter by a factor of 2, to 21 kJ, matching the yields obtained earlier on the same accelerator with 100 ns implosions. A new "pusher-stabilizer-radiator" physical model is advanced to explain this result.

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