A 2-year prospective evaluation of the Prostate Health Index in guiding biopsy decisions in a large cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate how the Prostate Health Index (PHI) impacts on clinical decision in a real-life setting for men with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level between 4 and 10 ng/mL and normal digital rectal examination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 2016, the PHI has been available at no cost to eligible men in all Hong Kong public hospitals. All eligible patients who received PHI testing in all public Urology units (n = 16) in Hong Kong between May 2016 and August 2017 were prospectively included and followed up. All included men had a PHI test, with its result and implications explained; the subsequent follow-up plan was then decided via shared decision-making with urologists. Patients were followed up for 2 years, with outcomes including prostate biopsy rates and biopsy findings analysed in relation to the initial PHI measurements. RESULTS: A total of 2828 patients were followed up for 2 years. The majority (82%) had PHI results in the lower risk range (score <35). Knowing the PHI findings, 83% of the patients with elevated PSA decided not to undergo biopsy. In all, 11% and 45% opted for biopsy in the PHI score <35 and ≥35 groups, respectively. The initial detection rate of International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group (GG) ≥2 cancer was higher in the PHI score ≥35 group (23%) than in the PHI score <35 group (7.9%). Amongst patients with no initial positive biopsy findings, the subsequent positive biopsy rate for ISUP GG ≥2 cancer was higher in the PHI score ≥35 group (34%) than the PHI score <35 group (13%) with a median follow-up of 2.4 years. CONCLUSION: In a real-life setting, with the PHI incorporated into the routine clinical pathway, 83% of the patients with elevated PSA level decided not to undergo prostate biopsy. The PHI pathway also improved the high-grade prostate cancer detection rate when compared to PSA-driven strategies. Higher baseline PHI predicted subsequent biopsy outcome at 2 years. The PHI can serve as a tool to individualise biopsy decisions and frequency of follow-up visits.

Molecular Identification of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei Tapeworm in Cases of Human Sparganosis, Hong Kong.

Human sparganosis is a foodborne zoonosis endemic in Asia. We report a series of 9 histologically confirmed human sparganosis cases in Hong Kong, China. All parasites were retrospectively identified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. Skin and soft tissue swelling was the most common symptom, followed by central nervous system lesions.

Authentication of Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae by RAPD-derived DNA markers.

Bulbus Fritillariae is the most commonly used antitussive herb in China. Eleven species of Fritillaria are recorded as Bulbus Fritillariae in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae is a group of six Fritillaria species with higher efficiency and lower toxicity derived mainly from wild sources. Because of their higher market price, five other Fritillaria species are often sold deceptively as Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae in the herbal market. To ensure the efficacy and safety of medicinal herbs, the authentication of botanical resources is the first step in quality control. Here, a DNA based identification method was developed to authenticate the commercial sources of Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae. A putative DNA marker (0.65 kb) specific for Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae was identified using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. A DNA marker representing a Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) was developed from a RAPD amplicon. The SCAR marker was successfully applied to differentiate Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae from different species of Fritillaria. Additionally, the SCAR marker was also useful in identifying the commercial samples of Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae. Our results indicated that the RAPD-SCAR method was rapid, accurate and applicable in identifying Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae at the DNA level.

Unveiling the therapeutic potential of Lobaria extract and its depsides/depsidones in combatting Aß42 peptides aggregation and neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: The development of effective inhibitors that can inhibit amyloid ß (Aß) peptides aggregation and promote neurite outgrowth is crucial for the possible treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lobaria (Schreb.) Hoffm., a traditional Chinese medicine used in Himalaya region for inflammatory diseases, contains depsides/depsidones (DEPs) such as gyrophoric acid, norstictic acid, and stictic acid known for their anti-cancer and anti-inflammation properties. Methods: Lobaria extracts were analyzed using HPLC to identify DEPs and establish standards. The inhibitory effects of Lobaria on Aß42 fibrillization and depolymerization were assessed using various approaches with biophysical and cellular methods. The neuroprotective activity of Lobaria extracts and its DEPs aganist Aß-mediated cytotoxicity was also evaluated. Results: Norstictic and stictic acid were found in the water extract, while norstictic, stictic, and gyrophoric acid were detected in the ethanol extract of Lobaria. Both extracts, and their DEPs effectively inhibited Aß42 fibrillation and disaggregate mature Aß42 fibrils. Notably, the ethanol extract showed superior inhibitory effect compared to the water extract, with gyrophoric acid being the most effective DEPs. Additionally, herbal extract-treated Aß42 aggregation species significantly protected neuronal cells from Aß42-induced cell damage and promoted neurite outgrowth. Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate the effect of Lobaria on Aß42 and neuronal cell in AD. Given that Lobaria is commonly used in ethnic medicine and food with good safety records, our findings propose that Lobaria extracts and DEPs have potential as neuroprotective and therapeutic agents for AD patients.

An interesting two-phase solvent system and its use in preparative isolation of aconitines from aconite roots by counter-current chromatography.

Two-phase solvent system plays crucial role in successful separation of organic compounds using counter-current chromatography (CCC). An interesting two-phase solvent system, composed of chloroform/ethyl acetate/methanol/water, is reported here, in which both phases contain sufficient organic solvents to balance their dissolving capacities. Adjusting the solvent system to get satisfactory partition coefficients (K values) for target compounds becomes relatively simple. This solvent system succeeded in sample preparation of aconitine (8.07 mg, 93.69%), hypaconitine (7.74 mg, 93.17%), mesaconitine (1.95 mg, 94.52%) from raw aconite roots (102.24 mg, crude extract), benzoylmesaconine (34.79 mg, 98.67%) from processed aconite roots (400.01 mg, crude extract), and yunaconitine (253.59 mg, 98.65%) from a crude extract of Aconitum forrestii (326.69 mg, crude extract).

A prospective evaluation of the effect of finasteride on prostate health index (phi).

PURPOSE: 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) reduces prostate-specific antigen (PSA) by half but its effect on prostate health index (phi) is unknown. This study aims to investigate this effect and to enable accurate interpretation of phi in men with elevated PSA and on 5ARI. METHODS: This is a prospective study evaluating the effect of finasteride on PSA, free PSA (fPSA), [ - 2]proPSA (p2PSA) and phi at 6 and 12 moths in men with PSA 4-20 ng/mL, no prior 5ARI use, and one negative prostate biopsy within 6 months before recruitment. The 5ARI Finasteride (5 mg/day) for 1 year was offered if International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) was ≥ 8 at baseline. 5ARI group included patients taking finasteride, while control group included patients not on finasteride. The blood results were compared with t-test between baseline and different time points in each group and between groups at 1 year. RESULTS: 164 men fit the inclusion criteria and 150 were analyzed. In 5ARI group (n = 100) at 1 year, mean PSA reduced by 51.4% from 8.9(± SD 3.7) to 4.4(± SD 2.8)ng/mL (paired t-test, p < 0.001), fPSA reduced by 52.4% from 1.6(± 0.6) to 0.8(± 0.4)ng/mL (p < 0.001), p2PSA reduced by 55.3% from 18.4(± 8.8) to 8.3(± 5.6)pg/mL (p < 0.001), and phi reduced by 34.2% from 33.7(± 11.9) to 22.4(± 12.5) (p < 0.001). PSA and phi values in the control group remained static over 1 year and significantly higher than those in 5ARI group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated p2PSA and phi are reduced by about 55% and 34% in men on 5ARI. A conversion factor of division by 0.66 is needed for phi in men on finasteride to allow the interpretation and use of phi in men on 5ARI.

Laparoscopy-assisted surgical management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to Meckel's diverticulum in a pediatric patient: case report and review of literature.

Despite advances in endoscopy and imaging, acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding of obscure origin in children presents a challenge to pediatric gastroenterologist. Bleeding Meckel's diverticulum (MD) commonly presents with acute episode of lower GI bleeding. A conventional diagnostic algorithm includes endoscopy, technetium 99m pertechnetate scintigraphy, angiography, and exploratory laparotomy. The advent of minimal access surgery prompts the use of laparoscopy for children with obscure GI bleeding. Laparoscopy assists in the diagnosis and can offer definitive treatment of patients with MD. Herein, we report a case of pediatric GI bleeding of obscure origin associated with MD that was successfully diagnosed and managed via laparoscopy. This article updates the current management for pediatric patients with obscure GI bleeding and the role of laparoscopy in the management of MD.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic versus open right colectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic colectomy has been proved to be both technically and oncologically feasible. However, the approach has been criticized for its procedural complexity and long operative time as a result of the loss of tactile feedback and absence of depth perception. The advent of hand-access devices offered a potential solution to these problems. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy (HALC) with open colectomy (OC) in the management of right-sided colonic cancer. METHODS: Adult patients with nonmetastatic carcinoma of cancer or ascending colon were recruited. Patients were excluded if they presented with surgical emergencies, had synchronous tumors on work-up, or when the tumor was larger than 6.5 cm in any dimension or preoperative imaging. Recruited patients were randomized to undergo either HALC or OC by the same surgical team. Outcome measures included operative time, blood loss, postoperative pain score and analgesic requirement, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, as well as disease recurrence and patient survival. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients (HALC = 41, OC = 40) were successfully recruited. The 2 groups were matched for age, gender distribution, body mass index, and comorbidities. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in the distribution of tumors and the final histopathological staging. HALC took significantly longer than OC (110 min vs. 97.5 minutes, P = 0.003) but resulted in significantly less blood loss (35 mL vs. 50 mL, P = 0.005). Patients after HALC experienced significantly less pain, required significantly less parenteral and enteral analgesia, recovered faster, and was associated with a shorter length of stay (7 days vs. 9 days, P = 0.004). With median follow-up of 28 to 30 months, no difference was observed in terms of disease recurrence, and the 5-year survival rates remained similar (83% vs. 74%, P = 0.90). CONCLUSION: HALC retained the same short-term benefits of the pure laparoscopic approach. The technique is associated with a slightly increased but acceptable operative time. Aside as a useful adjunct in complex laparoscopic procedures, the hand-assisted laparoscopic technique is also a useful, if not more effective, alternative for patients with right-sided colonic cancer.