Setting up a surveillance system for sexually transmitted diseases in the general population with prospective data collection from private-practice and public-practice doctors in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Existing surveillance systems for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and reproductive tract infections (RTI) are important but often ineffective, as they tend to omit cases diagnosed by private-practice doctors METHODS: During a 15-day study period, 277 private-practice doctors and all public-practice doctors of all the eight local Social Hygiene Clinics (SHC) in Hong Kong filled out daily a standard log-form, recording the number of patients diagnosed with particular types of STD/RTI. Projections for all local private-practice and public-practice doctors were made by the stratification method. RESULTS: Data showed that 0.75% of private patients and 40.92% of public patients presented the listed STD/RTI syndromes. It is projected that 12,504 adults were diagnosed with such syndromes by all local private-practice (10,204) or public-practice doctors (2,300); 0.22% (male: 0.26%; female: 0.18%) of the local adult population would fall into this category. The ratio of STD/RTI cases, diagnosed by private-practice versus public-practice doctors, was 4:1. Of the participating private-practice doctors, 96% found the process easy to administer and 75% believed that it was feasible for such a STD/RTI surveillance system to be implemented annually. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance of STD/RTI based only on data obtained from the public health system is inadequate. Data obtained from public-practice and private-practice doctors are very different and the majority of the patients presented their STD/RTI syndromes to private-practice doctors. The proposed, improved surveillance system is feasible and has the strengths of involving both private-practice and public-practice medical practitioners and being well accepted by private-practice doctors.

Incidence of genital warts among the Hong Kong general adult population.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to estimate the incidence of genital warts in Hong Kong and explore a way to establish a surveillance system for genital warts among the Hong Kong general population. METHODS: A total of 170 private doctors and all doctors working in the 5 local Social Hygiene Clinics (SHC) participated in this study. During the 14-day data collection period (January 5 through 18, 2009), the participating doctors filled out a log-form on a daily basis to record the number of patients with genital warts. The total number of new cases of genital warts presented to private and public doctors in Hong Kong was projected using the stratification sampling method. RESULTS: A total of 721 (0.94%) adults presented with genital warts to the participating doctors during the two-week study period, amongst them 73 (10.1%) were new cases. The projected number of new cases of genital warts among Hong Kong adults was 442 (297 male and 144 female) during the study period. The incidence of genital warts in Hong Kong was estimated to be 203.7 per 100,000 person-years (respectively 292.2 and 124.9 per 100,000 person-years for males and females). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of genital warts is high among adults in Hong Kong. The study demonstrates the importance of collecting surveillance data from both private and public sectors.

DNA-based diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum group C by Whole-genome scan using single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray.

In this study, we have established the molecular basis of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) in two unrelated Chinese families. In the first patient with consanguineous parents, we mapped the disease-causing locus XPC using single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray. Mutational analysis of the XPC gene showed that the patient is homozygous for a nonsense mutation, E149X. After developing DNA-based diagnosis of XPC, we screened another XP patient for XPC mutations. We found that the second patient is a compound heterozygote of 1209delG and Q554X in this gene. These are the first XPC-causing mutations identified in Chinese patients.

A behaviour sentinel surveillance for female sex workers in the Social Hygiene Service in Hong Kong (1999-2000).

Behavioural serial sentinel surveillance survey for female sex workers (FSWs) was carried out in the Government Social Hygiene Clinics in Hong Kong during 1999 and 2000. A total of 1366 and 1451 FSWs participated in the questionnaire survey respectively. The results showed that the majority of FSWs attending the clinics were of Chinese ethnicity (83.8%, 87.6%) while Thai (13.0%, 9.49%) and Filipino (2.1%, 2.7%) were the main foreign ethnic groups. The karaoke night club was the most frequent reported workplace (32.0%, 32.6%) followed by a club (8.9%, 11.7%) and free-lancing (8.6%, 9.0%). The proportion of FSWs who always used condoms in vaginal sex with commercial sex partners was 70.9% and 75.0% respectively (P=0.038). Compared with previous results, a rising trend of condom use by FSWs in commercial sex was observed. However, there was a relatively low condom use during commercial oral sexual intercourse (30.7%, 36.6%) and sex with their regular sex partners in all forms of sexual activities. Client dislike is the main attributed factor for not wearing condoms. The point prevalence of both infectious syphilis and HIV infection was 0.1% in both years. These data are useful for planning, resource allocation and evaluation of outreach activities and STI services targeting at FSWs and their clients. They provide a sampling framework for further surveillance.

Consensus guidelines for the management of atopic dermatitis: an Asia-Pacific perspective.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a relatively common disease in patients in the Asia-Pacific region. It presents a particular clinical challenge and requires careful clinical management. The chronic nature of AD characterized by flares, exacerbations and periods of quiescence requires a multipronged approach aimed at reducing itch, inflammation and the appearance of secondary lesions. In addition, varying levels of maintenance therapy may be required to avoid exacerbations. Survey data from the region indicate that there is significant variation across the Asia-Pacific with regard to current treatment practices. The management of AD may also be influenced by differing health-care systems, variable climate, access to medical care and cultural diversity. The current consensus guidelines have been developed to provide up-to-date and concise evidence- and experience-based recommendations directed towards general practitioners and general dermatologists in the Asia-Pacific region on the management of pediatric and adult AD.

Distribution of human papillomavirus types in anogenital warts of men.

BACKGROUND: A wide spectrum of human papillomavirus (HPV) types can infect the male genitalia. An HPV vaccine covering HPV6 and 11 is now available. Detailed data on the distribution of these two types in anogenital warts is needed to assess the potential benefits of the vaccine. STUDY DESIGN: Anogenital wart specimens collected from 130 Chinese men were examined for HPV-type distribution by a method that covers a broad spectrum of high- and low-risk HPVs, and able to reveal multiple types from a single specimen. RESULTS: Forty-four (33.8%) of the 130 specimens had a coinfection with multiple HPV types. In 63.1% of cases, only HPV6 and/or HPV11 were/was found. In 26.2% of cases, HPV6 and/or HPV11 were/was found together with one or more other HPV types. In 10.8% of specimens, only non-6/11 HPV types were found. HPV16 and/or 18 were/was found in 12 (9.2%) specimens, with majority (8/12, 66.7%) of which existed as coinfections with HPV6/11. Other HPV types found included HPV39, 51, 52, 55, 59, 61, 62, 68, 58, 72, 81, 83, 84 and CP6108. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of HPV6/11-positive male anogenital warts are coinfected with other HPV types. The efficacy of HPV6/11 vaccine for preventing these lesions needs to be defined before the benefits of vaccinating men can be precisely assessed.

Bullous lesions in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a small-vessel vasculitis characterized by purpura, arthritis, abdominal pain, and hematuria. It is the most common form of vasculitis affecting children. The skin manifestations typically present as palpable purpura over the buttock and the lower extremities, but bullous lesions are particularly rare in children. We report a case of HSP presented as painful bullae on both lower limbs.

Mycosis fungoides--a retrospective study of 40 cases in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides is rare in Hong Kong and oriental data on the disease are lacking. METHODS: This is a multiclinic, 13-year, retrospective study to determine the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and disease outcomes of 40 patients with mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome seen in the Social Hygiene Service, Hong Kong. RESULTS: There were 27 males and 13 females with a mean age at diagnosis of 56.4 years. Based on figures in the Social Hygiene Service alone, the incidence in Hong Kong was estimated to be 0.044 per 100,000. Eighty-five per cent of patients presented with skin-limited disease, and pruritus was absent in 40% of patients. A mean of 1.48 biopsies was needed to establish the diagnosis, and only 58% of the mycosis fungoides skin biopsies were reported to be histologically diagnostic of the disease. Atypical lymphocytes, epidermotropism, interface changes, and Pautrier's microabscesses were the four most frequently encountered features that attained statistical significance. Sixty-nine per cent of patients were treated with psoralen-UVA as their initial therapy, and the complete response and relapse rates were 78.3% and 66.6%, respectively. Disease progression to more advanced stages was only seen in 15% of patients. The 5-year survival rates for the whole group and for stage IA and IB patients were 88.8% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mycosis fungoides is rare amongst Hong Kong Chinese and the majority present with skin-limited nonprogressive disease.