A cross-sectional comparative study on chronic ocular manifestations of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in Chinese eyes: a 15-year case series.

PURPOSE: To compare the chronic ocular manifestations in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis patients from a 15-year cohort. METHODS: All SJS and TEN patients admitted to our burn intensive care unit between 1999 and 2014 were invited for assessment. Slit-lamp examination was performed, and ocular condition was graded according to the Sotozono scoring System, which depended on the extent of cornea, conjunctiva and lid involvement. Tear osmolarity was also measured. RESULTS: A total of 18 SJS and 4 TEN cases with an average of 92 and 135 months from disease onset were included. The average age of onset was 46.4 ± 16.6 in SJS and 43.5 ± 19.3 in TEN patients. The LogMAR visual acuity was 0.209 ± 0.591 in SJS and 0.489 ± 0.688 in TEN patients (p = 0.048). The average total Sotozono score was 3.75 ± 7.32 in SJS and 6.88 ± 9.49 in TEN (p = 0.358). Neither the age of onset (p = 0.787), length of follow-up (p = 0.256) nor disease type (SJS vs TEN, p = 0.188) predicted the Sotozono score. There was a statistically significant correlation between Sotozono score and LogMAR VA (r s = 0.437, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The average total Sotozono score was higher in the TEN group than in the SJS group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the score correlated with the visual acuity which was statistically worse in the TEN group.

Incidence and risk estimate of drug-induced agranulocytosis in Hong Kong Chinese. A population-based case-control study.

PURPOSE: Drug-induced agranulocytosis is a rare but life-threatening adverse drug reaction. Its epidemiology in Chinese is largely unknown. This study aimed to estimate the incidence, mortality, and risk of the drugs associated with agranulocytosis in Hong Kong Chinese. METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted using the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System, a database managed by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. Patients with drug-induced agranulocytosis from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2013 were identified. World Health Organization causality assessment was used to evaluate the possible drug aetiology of each case. Odd ratios (ORs) of the drug exposure were calculated using exact conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 155 cases of drug-induced agranulocytosis were identified. Mean age was 51.4 years, and 95 cases were female. Incidence rate was estimated to be 2.2 cases per million person-years, and the all-cause mortality of patients with drug-induced agranulocytosis was 3.9%. Among the cases, the most common associated drug groups were antithyroid drugs (41.9%), antimicrobials (20%), anticonvulsants (10.3%), and antipsychotics (6.5%). Carbimazole had the highest risk of agranulocytosis (adjusted OR 416.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 51.5-3372.9) with an incidence of 9.2 (95%CI 6.9-12.1) per 10 000 users and 3.6 (95%CI 2.7-4.8) per 10 000 user-years. Other drugs with significant risk included cephalosporins, clozapine, penicillins, phenytoin, and propyl thiouracil. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and mortality in Hong Kong Chinese were relatively low compared to Caucasians. Antithyroid drugs were the most common implicated drug class, and carbimazole had the highest risk of agranulocytosis. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparison of the acute ocular manifestations of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in Chinese eyes: a 15-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare but life-threatening conditions that initially affect the skin and mucous membranes. The aim of this study was to compare the acute ocular manifestations between SJS and TEN. METHODS: The initial presenting ophthalmic records of patients with either SJS (<30% body surface area involvement) or TEN (> = 30% involvement), who were treated at one tertiary burn center in Hong Kong between 1999 and 2014, were retrospectively analyzed and compared. RESULTS: A total of 20 SJS and 12 TEN cases were included. All were drug-induced. The patient demographics and treatment received were comparable. Overall, 40% of SJS and 75% of TEN patients had acute ocular surface inflammation. When comparing the two groups, there was a significant difference in the number of cases with mild involvement (5% in SJS, 42% in TEN, p = 0.01), while no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05) comparing between the moderate (15% in SJS, 0% in TEN) and severe groups (20% in SJS, 33% in TEN). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular surface inflammation was common during the acute phase in both SJS and TEN. TEN had a significantly higher number of cases with mild ocular involvement when compared with SJS, but no significant difference between the number of moderate and severe cases between the two groups.

The efficacy of a combination non-thermal focused ultrasound and radiofrequency device for noninvasive body contouring in Asians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Several studies have been published on the first generation non-thermal focused ultrasound with an average improvement of 0-3.95 cm reported. We aim to investigate the efficacy of the second-generation non-thermal focused ultrasound device with a combined radiofrequency hand piece. With the addition of radiofrequency energy, the temperature of the adipose tissue is raised before focused ultrasound is applied. This facilitates the mechanical disruption of fat cells by focused ultrasound. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty subjects were recruited and underwent three treatments biweekly. Caliper reading, abdominal circumference, and standardized photographs were taken with the Vectra(®) system at all visits. We aim to have the subjects stand and hold the same position and the photograph taken after exhalation. Caliper and circumference measurements carry uncertainty. It is impossible to eliminate all uncertainties but can be improved by having the same trained physician assistant perform the measurement at the same site and taking an average of three readings. Pain score and satisfaction were recorded by means of the visual analogue scale. The efficacy is defined by a statistically significant improvement in circumferential improvement based on intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Seventeen subjects completed the treatment schedule. Abdominal circumference showed statistically significant improvement at 2 weeks post-second treatment (P = 0.023) and almost all subsequent follow-ups. Caliper readings were statistically significant at 2 weeks post-second treatment (P = 0.013) and almost all follow-ups. The mean pain score reported was 2.3 on the visual analog scale and 6% were unsatisfied with the overall treatments. Six incidents of wheal formation appeared immediately after treatment all of which subsided spontaneously within several hours. CONCLUSION: The combination non-thermal focused ultrasound and radiofrequency device is effective for improving body contour in Asians.

Efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasonography for noninvasive body sculpting in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive technology for body contouring. HIFU is focused within the subcutaneous adipose tissue, causing coagulative necrosis and cell death. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a HIFU device for sculpting of the abdomen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The system has a set focal depth of 1.3 cm. Twelve subjects with adipose thickness no less than 2.5 cm who met the screening criteria were recruited. Each subject received one treatment to the abdomen. The total fluence used per site was 150-165 J/cm(2) with a mean of 161 J/cm(2) . The waist circumference at iliac crest and the point of maximum circumference were recorded at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-treatment, as well as their weight and BMI. Subjects' rating on comfort level and satisfaction were collected via questionnaires at every follow-up. Standardized photographs were also taken with the Canfield System® at each visit. RESULTS: Seven out of 12 subjects were satisfied with the outcome and 9 out of 12 would recommend this treatment to their friends and family. There was statistically significant improvement in the waist circumference measured at both the iliac crest (P-value 0.013, 0.002, 0.005) and maximum waistline (P-value 0.003, 0.034, 0.023) at 4, 8, 12 weeks post-treatment. Spearman's rho for correlation of energy level versus improvement showed that at 12 weeks post-treatment follow-up, the improvement significantly correlated with the total fluence per treatment (P-value 0.041). The higher the total fluence delivered, the larger the decrease in waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity focused ultrasound effectively decreases waist circumference in Chinese. The higher the total fluence delivered, the larger the decrease in waist circumference was observed.