The AGH score is a predictor of disease-free survival and targeted therapy efficacy after liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Liver transplantation(LT) is the “cure” therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). However, some patients encounter HCC recurrence after LT. Unfortunately, there is no effective methods to identify the LT patients who have high risk of HCC recurrence and would benefit from adjuvant targeted therapy. The present study aimed to establish a scoring system to predict HCC recurrence of HCC patients after LT among the Chinese population, and to evaluate whether these patients...     

The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology consensus recommendations for the management of gout

Clinical Rheumatology - Gout is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases in Hong Kong. Although effective treatment options are readily available, the management of gout in Hong Kong remains...     

HIV-related oral disease epidemiology among women: year 2000 update

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this literature review were to (1) update a prior review [Shiboski CH (1997) The epidemiology of HIV-related oral manifestations in women: a review. Oral Dis 3: S18–S27] of studies on the epidemiology of HIV-related oral manifestations in women prior to the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); (2) explore the effect of HAART on HIV-related oral disease among women; and (3) explore future research directions with respect to HIV-related oral disease epidemiology among African women.
METHODS: A computer-assisted search was conducted to identify studies on the prevalence of oral conditions in HIV-infected women in relation to immunological markers and HAART [excluding studies reviewed in Shiboski CH (1997) The epidemiology of HIV-related oral manifestations in women: a review. Oral Dis 3: S18–S27]. Results were summarized and discussed for (1) studies conducted in the developed world prior to and during the era of HAART; and (2) studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa.
RESULTS: Candidiasis (OC) is the most common oral lesion among HIV-infected women, and has been found to be associated with a low CD4 count and a high plasma viral load. Preliminary findings suggest that HAART is associated with a decreasing OC incidence. The few studies identified on HIV-related oral disease in African women suggest that OC is also a common condition in this setting.
CONCLUSION: Future oral epidemiology research efforts in Africa should focus on the potential role of OC as sentinel marker of HIV infection and disease progression, to improve detection and prevention of selected opportunistic illnesses.     

丁基苯酞在大鼠中代谢产物的研究

用放射性同位素的方法研究了丁基苯肽（ＮＢＰ）在大鼠体内代谢，并对代谢产物进行了鉴定。结果表明，大鼠ｉｇ３ＨＮＢＰ后２４ｈ，从尿和粪中排出的放射性分别为ｉｇ剂量的５５２％和１８５％，排除了药物蓄积在体内的可能性；用高效液相色谱法分离、纯化了丁基苯酞的两个主要的体外代谢产物代Ｉ和代Ｉ，根据代Ｉ和代ＩＩ的波谱数据（ＵＶ，１ＨＮＭＲ，ＭＳ）确定了它们的化学结构；薄层色谱（ＴＬＣ）证明丁基苯酞的体内代谢产物同样有代Ｉ和代Ｉ，并且也是两个主要的代谢产物；大鼠ｉｇ３ＨＮＢＰ后１ｈ，脑中原型药与代谢物的比例为１∶１，而且只发现有代Ｉ，未发现有代Ｉ，推测代Ｉ很有可能是活性代谢产物。     

Opioids in the management of pain during delivery

Abstract: Labour and delivery involve severe pain for most women. The goal for pain treatment in obstetrics is to provide effective and safe analgesia during all phases of delivery. The ideal method for pain relief during delivery is not yet available. This thesis aims at studying some aspects of opioids in obstetric pain treatment with respect to analgesic efficacy and side-effects, and to analyse pain during delivery from a neurobiological perspective.     

Precision of bone densitometry measurements: When is change true change and does it vary across bone density values?

The precision error of the bone densitometer is used to interpret significant change in bone mineral density (BMD) in serial studies. The precision error can be expressed as standard deviation (SD) or coefficient of variation (CV). The aims of this study are to determine the precision error over a range of BMD values and to demonstrate the application of the precision error in clinical practice. A bone phantom was used consisting of a perspex block with eight compartments containing varying amounts of hydroxyapatite powder to simulate a range of bone densities. The block was scanned 21 times and manual regions placed over each compartment to measure the BMD in each compartment. There were no significant differences in the variances or SD for all eight compartments, that is, over the range of BMD normally encountered in clinical practice. However, the calculated CV show a progressive fall in values as the BMD rises. Therefore, the SD should be used to calculate significant BMD change. In a practise with quality control procedures in place to detect calibration drift and with appropriately trained personnel, a change of approximately 0.05 g/cm² is generally regarded as being a significant change at a 95% confidence level.     

Gemini表面活性剂在气/液界面上的微区形貌随表面压的变化

测定了Gemini表面活性剂在pH值为10．86，NaBr浓度为1．0mol／L的溶液气／液界面上的表面压一分子面积的等温线。用自制的Brewster角显微镜(BAM)观察了由Gemini表面活性剂在界面上所形成单分子膜的微区形貌随表面压的变化。结果表明：当pH值为10．86时，Gemini表面活性剂在1．0mol／L NaBr溶液的气／液界面上生成了凝聚态的单分子膜；当表面压较低时，观察到在界面上形成了同心圆结构；随着表面压的增加，这些同心圆可发生聚并而形成多中心结构。     

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour in an infertile patient after stimulated ovulation

A 36 year-old infertile female developed a stage IV (FIGO) ovarian carcinoma consisting of a poorly differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour after receiving one course of ovulation induction with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) followed by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). The patient died of liver metastasis and hepatic failure 4 1/2 months after first diagnosis, despite aggressive treatment consisting of debulking surgery and aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy.