Direct health-care cost utilization in Hong Kong inflammatory bowel disease patients in the initial 2 years following diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: There are scanty data on the health-care utilization from Asia where the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising rapidly. We aim to determine the direct health-care costs in the first 2 years of diagnosis in an IBD cohort from Hong Kong and the factors associated with high cost outliers. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study that included patients newly diagnosed with IBD in a territory-wide IBD registry. Patients' clinical information, hospitalization records, investigations, and IBD treatments were retrieved for up to 2 years following diagnosis of IBD. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-five newly diagnosed IBD patients were included: 198 with Crohn's disease and 237 with ulcerative colitis. Total direct medical expenditure for this cohort 2 years after the IBD diagnosis was $7 072 710: hospitalizations (33%), 5-aminosalicylic acid (23%), imaging and endoscopy (17%), outpatient visits (10%), surgery (8%), and biologics (6%). Mean direct medical costs per patient-year were significantly higher for Crohn's disease ($9918) than ulcerative colitis ($6634; P, 0.001). The total direct health-care cost decreased significantly after transition to the second year (P < 0.01). High cost (> 90th percentile) outliers were associated with surgery (OR 7.1, 95% CI 2.9-17.2) and low hemoglobin on presentation (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization and 5-aminosalicylic acid usage accounted for 56% of total direct medical costs in the first 2 years of our newly diagnosed IBD patients. Direct health-care costs were higher in the first year compared with the second year of diagnosis. Surgery and low hemoglobin on presentation were associated with high cost outliers.

Catheter-related right internal jugular vein thrombosis after chest surgery.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are frequently used for monitoring haemodynamic status and rapidly delivering fluid therapy during the peri- and postoperative periods. Indwelling CVCs are typically used 7-14 days postoperatively for additional monitoring and treatment, but patients may develop asymptomatic catheter-related thrombosis, leading to life-threatening pulmonary embolism and death. Early detection helps to avoid such complications. METHODS: This prospective observational study investigated the risk factors associated with catheter-related right internal jugular vein thrombosis in patients undergoing chest surgery. The study enrolled 24 patients who were scheduled to receive chest surgeries during which catheters were needed. To detect thrombus formation, Doppler ultrasound examinations from the thyroid cartilage level to the supraclavicular region were used after CVC placement and on each of the following days until the catheter was removed. RESULTS: No thrombosis was found in patients before surgery, but it appeared in 75% (18/24) after surgery. The risks of thrombosis increased with a longer duration of anaesthesia, greater amounts of bleeding, and use of postoperative ventilator support. CONCLUSIONS: Earlier catheter removal may reduce the risk of catheter-related thrombosis and avoid possibly fatal complications after catheter-related thrombosis.

A randomised trial comparing real-time double-lumen endobronchial tube placement with the Disposcope® with conventional blind placement.

Double-lumen endobronchial tube placement is challenging. This study compared double-lumen tube placement with the Disposcope® , a wireless videostylet allowing real-time visualisation, with conventional blind placement. Patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery with normal airways requiring one-lung ventilation were randomly allocated into two groups (27 patients in each group). The Disposcope was used to assist left-sided double-lumen tube placement in one group, and conventional blind placement was performed in the control group. Placement in both groups was checked with fibreoptic bronchoscopy. The Disposcope-assisted group had a shorter total mean (SD) placement time (18.6 (2.5) s vs. 21.4 (2.9) s, p < 0.001), laryngoscopy to end of auscultation time (83.4 (3.0) s vs. 93.9 (5.7) s, p < 0.001) and total operation time (130.7 (6.1) s vs. 154.5 (6.3) s, p < 0.001). In the Disposcope-assisted group, the double-lumen tube was inserted in the correct side in all patients (100.0%), whereas in the conventional group, the double-lumen tube was placed in the correct side in 25 (92.6%) patients and in the wrong side in 2 (7.4%) patients; the difference was not significant (p = 0.150). In the Disposcope-assisted group, the double-lumen tube was inserted to the optimal depth in 24 (88.9%) patients, whereas in the conventional group it was inserted to the optimal depth in one (4.0%) patient. The Disposcope increased the success rate of double-lumen tube placement, and shortened the total operation time when compared with standard placement with confirmation using fibreoptic bronchoscopy, and may replace the conventional method.

Neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis: Seeing differences through optical coherence tomography.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that preferentially targets the optic nerves and spinal cord. The clinical presentation may suggest multiple sclerosis (MS), but a highly specific serum autoantibody against the astrocytic water channel aquaporin-4 present in up to 80% of NMO patients enables distinction from MS. Optic neuritis may occur in either condition resulting in neuro-anatomical retinal changes. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become a useful tool for analyzing retinal damage both in MS and NMO. Numerous studies showed that optic neuritis in NMO typically results in more severe retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer thinning and more frequent development of microcystic macular edema than in MS. Furthermore, while patients' RNFL thinning also occurs in the absence of optic neuritis in MS, subclinical damage seems to be rare in NMO. Thus, OCT might be useful in differentiating NMO from MS and serve as an outcome parameter in clinical studies.

Feline morbillivirus, a previously undescribed paramyxovirus associated with tubulointerstitial nephritis in domestic cats.

We describe the discovery and isolation of a paramyxovirus, feline morbillivirus (FmoPV), from domestic cat (Felis catus). FmoPV RNA was detected in 56 (12.3%) of 457 stray cats (53 urine, four rectal swabs, and one blood sample) by RT-PCR. Complete genome sequencing of three FmoPV strains showed genome sizes of 16,050 bases, the largest among morbilliviruses, because of unusually long 5' trailer sequences of 400 nt. FmoPV possesses identical gene contents (3'-N-P/V/C-M-F-H-L-5') and is phylogenetically clustered with other morbilliviruses. IgG against FmoPV N protein was positive in 49 sera (76.7%) of 56 RT-PCR-positive cats, but 78 (19.4%) of 401 RT-PCR-negative cats (P < 0.0001) by Western blot. FmoPV was isolated from CRFK feline kidney cells, causing cytopathic effects with cell rounding, detachment, lysis, and syncytia formation. FmoPV could also replicate in subsequent passages in primate Vero E6 cells. Infected cell lines exhibited finely granular and diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence on immunostaining for FmoPV N protein. Electron microscopy showed enveloped virus with typical "herringbone" appearance of helical N in paramyxoviruses. Histological examination of necropsy tissues in two FmoPV-positive cats revealed interstitial inflammatory infiltrate and tubular degeneration/necrosis in kidneys, with decreased cauxin expression in degenerated tubular epithelial cells, compatible with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). Immunohistochemical staining revealed FmoPV N protein-positive renal tubular cells and mononuclear cells in lymph nodes. A case-control study showed the presence of TIN in seven of 12 cats with FmoPV infection, but only two of 15 cats without FmoPV infection (P < 0.05), suggesting an association between FmoPV and TIN.

Visit-to-visit systolic blood pressure variability predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after lacunar infarct.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Both blood pressure (BP) and its variability (BPV) are established risk factors for development of atherosclerotic disease and are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The prognostic implications of outpatient clinic visit-to-visit BPV amongst patients with lacunar infarction are nevertheless unknown. METHODS: The clinical outcome of 281 patients with lacunar infarction was prospectively followed up. The average BP and BPV, as determined by the standard deviation of the systolic and diastolic BP, were recorded during a mean 13 ± 6 outpatient clinic visits. RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 70 ± 10 years. After a mean 78 ± 18 months follow-up, 65 patients died (23%), 31% (20/65) due to cardiovascular causes; 14% and 7% developed recurrent stroke and acute coronary syndrome. After adjusting for age, sex, mean systolic and diastolic BP, cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities, patients with a systolic BPV of the third tertile had significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-3.80, P = 0.04) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 7.64, 95% CI 1.65-35.41, P < 0.01) than those with systolic BPV of the first tertile. Nevertheless, systolic BPV did not predict recurrent stroke or acute coronary syndrome. Diastolic BPV did not predict various adverse clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Visit-to-visit systolic BPV predicts long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after lacunar infarct, independent of conventional risk factors including average BP control.

Type 2 diabetes management in Hong Kong ethnic minorities: what primary care physicians need to know.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the demographics and compare diabetes control in ethnic minority group diabetes patients with Chinese diabetes patients who are managed in primary care settings and to explore strategies to improve their care. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: General Outpatient Clinic of a Hong Kong Hospital Authority hospital. PATIENTS: Chinese type 2 diabetes patients and ethnic minority groups who had been regularly followed up with annual assessments carried out between 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2013 were recruited. Their serum levels of fasting glucose, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, haemoglobin A1c levels, lipid profile, blood pressure, and co-morbidities were retrieved from the Clinical Management System. Student's t test and analysis of variance were used to evaluate continuous variables and the Chi squared test for categorical data. All statistical tests were two-sided, and a P value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Among 4346 type 2 diabetes patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, 3966 (91.3%) patients were Chinese and 380 (8.7%) were from the ethnic minority groups. Compared with Chinese diabetes patients, the latter were much younger and more obese (both P<0.001). Their glycaemic control was poorer than age- and sex-matched Chinese diabetes patients (P=0.006). Control of systolic blood pressure was similar in the two groups, but the mean diastolic blood pressure was higher in the ethnic minority groups than in the controls (78 ± 11 mm Hg vs 73 ± 11 mm Hg; P<0.001). With regard to lipid control, their total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels were similar, but high-density lipoprotein levels were much lower in the ethnic minority groups than their Chinese counterparts (1.19 ± 0.33 mmol/L vs 1.28 ± 0.36 mmol/L; P=0.001). Among the five major ethnic minority groups with diabetes, Pakistani patients had particularly poor glycaemic control and the Nepalese had the poorest diastolic blood pressure control. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic minority groups are an integral part of the Hong Kong population. Compared with Chinese diabetes patients, those from the ethnic minorities were much younger and more obese. Deficiencies exist in the comprehensive management of diabetes in these ethnic minorities, particularly with respect to glycaemic control. Culturally tailored health care interventions are therefore warranted to promote patient education and clinical effectiveness and to improve their long-term health status.

Development of a thermal diagnostic system for the SPARC tokamak.

The SPARC tokamak will have scrape-off layer parallel heat fluxes on the order of GW/m2. Managing power exhaust of this magnitude will be mandatory for a reactor-scale device. To enable this mission, a thermal diagnostic suite will be deployed to measure the in-vessel structural temperatures to ensure they do not exceed their design limits and to determine the spatial distribution and magnitude of energy deposited onto the first wall. Thermocouples and fiber Bragg gratings have been selected for their environmental compatibility and proven useful on other fusion devices. High-density thermocouple arrays in the divertor will have two spring-loaded thermocouples per divertor target tile, which are being used as calorimeters, and will look to resolve the temperature distribution within the tile due to a swept or static strike point. All systems will need to survive the vacuum vessel bake, set at a minimum plasma facing surface temperature of 350 °C, which presents a particularly challenging environment for the fiber-based subsystem. Along with this temperature design requirement, all the materials in the primary vacuum need to be ultra-high vacuum compatible, able to handle the expected neutron and gamma radiation, as well as tritium exposure, all of which restrict material options. Finally, due to the expected activated environment in SPARC, there will be little chance to replace defective sensors, so system resilience is ensured through toroidal redundancy, probe material selection, and mitigating the impact of common-mode failures. Initial testing of sensors show that intershot structural measurements are sufficiently captured with the raw output, but intrashot measurements of the plasma facing material requires model-based interpretive tools.

Plasma total bilirubin levels predict amputation events in type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Bilirubin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Previous studies demonstrated that higher bilirubin levels were associated with reduced prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, the relationship between bilirubin and lower-limb amputation, a consequence of PAD, is currently unknown. We hypothesised that, in patients with type 2 diabetes, bilirubin concentrations may inversely associate with lower-limb amputation. METHODS: The relationship between baseline plasma total bilirubin levels and amputation events was analysed in 9,795 type 2 diabetic patients from the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study. The analysis plan was pre-specified. Lower-limb amputation was adjudicated blinded to treatment allocation. Relevant clinical and biochemical data were available for analyses. Amputation was a pre-specified tertiary endpoint. RESULTS: Bilirubin concentrations were significantly inversely associated with lower-limb amputation, with a greater than threefold risk gradient across levels. Individuals with lower bilirubin concentrations had a higher risk for first amputation (HR 1.38 per 5 µmol/l decrease in bilirubin concentration, 95% CI 1.07, 1.79, p = 0.013). The same association persisted after adjustment for baseline variables, including age, height, smoking status, γ-glutamyltransferase level, HbA1c, trial treatment allocation (placebo vs fenofibrate), as well as previous PAD, non-PAD cardiovascular disease, amputation or diabetic skin ulcer, neuropathy, nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy (HR 1.38 per 5 µmol/l decrease in bilirubin concentration, 95% CI 1.05, 1.81, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our results identify a significant inverse relationship between bilirubin levels and total lower-limb amputation, driven by major amputation. Our data raise the hypothesis that bilirubin may protect against amputation in type 2 diabetes.

Use of the human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cell line for isolating respiratory viruses from nasopharyngeal aspirates.

The human colorectal adenocarcinoma-derived Caco-2 cell line was evaluated as a means isolating common respiratory viruses from nasopharyngeal aspirates for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. One hundred eighty-nine direct immunofluorescence positive nasopharyngeal aspirates obtained from patients with various viral respiratory diseases were cultured in the presence of Caco-2 cells or the following conventional cell lines: LLC-MK2, MDCK, HEp-2, and A549. Caco-2 cell cultures effectively propagated the majority (84%) of the viruses present in nasopharyngeal aspirate samples compared with any positive cultures obtained using the panel cells (78%) or individual cell line MDCK (38%), HEp-2 (21%), LLC-MK2 (27%), or A549 (37%) cell lines. The differences against individual cell line were statistically significant (P = < 0.000001). Culture in Caco-2 cells resulted in the isolation of 85% (36/42) of viruses which were not cultivated in conventional cell lines. By contrast, 80% (24/30) of viruses not cultivated in Caco-2 cells were isolated using the conventional panel. The findings indicated that Caco-2 cells were sensitive to a wide range of viruses and can be used to culture a broad range of respiratory viruses.

Interdiction of a blood donation containing varicella-zoster virus by donor self-report of chickenpox.

Nowadays, risk of transfusion-transmitted infection has been substantially minimized by stringent donor eligibility screening and infectious disease testing. However, we report an interdiction of a blood donation containing varicella-zoster virus (VZV) by donor self-reporting of chickenpox. The donor developed varicella infection shortly after blood donation despite vaccination. Varicella-zoster virus DNA was detected in her fresh-frozen plasma before the blood components were issued for clinical transfusion. The report indicates the importance of donors' education and awareness of their obligation to report any symptoms developed shortly after blood donation in order to further secure blood safety.

Anaemia and type 2 diabetes: implications from a retrospectively studied primary care case series.

OBJECTIVES. To identify the prevalence of anaemia in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients managed in a primary care setting and to explore its associations with cardiovascular complications and kidney disease. DESIGN. Retrospective case series study. SETTING. General Out-patient Clinic of Hospital Authority, Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Chinese type 2 diabetic patients who had annual assessments between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2011 were recruited. Their complete blood picture, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (calculated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease method), haemoglobin A1c, and urine albumin-creatinine ratio were retrieved. Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin level of <130 g/L in men and <120 g/L in women (World Health Organization criteria). Student's t test and analysis of variance were used to analyse continuous variables and the Chi squared test for categorical data. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine associations between haemoglobin level and different variables including age, gender, serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and urine albumin-creatinine ratio. All statistical tests were two-sided, and a P value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS. Among 6325 Chinese type 2 diabetic patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, 1441 were found to have anaemia with a period prevalence of 22.8%. The prevalence of anaemia increased significantly with deterioration of renal function. Compared with diabetic patients with normal haemoglobin levels, anaemic diabetic patients had a higher co-morbidity rate for stroke, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (P<0.001). Independent predictors for haemoglobin level among diabetic patients were age, gender, serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, haemoglobin A1c, and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that male gender, old age, increased serum creatinine level, decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate, elevated urine albumin-creatinine ratio, and co-morbidity with stroke or ischaemic heart disease were associated with greater odds for the presence of anaemia. CONCLUSION. Anaemia is common among Chinese type 2 diabetic patients, particularly those with impaired renal function or established cardiovascular disease. Early detection of anaemia and prompt referral to specialist care for optimal treatment, if associated with severe renal impairment or high-risk proteinuria at the primary care settings, is recommended.

Viral evolution from one generation of human influenza infection to the next.

1. In a sub-tropical epidemic, most of the apparent household secondary cases are actually secondary infections. 2. The consensus sequence for the entire influenza virus genome is not usually identical within the same household sample. Rather, there are commonly one or two nucleotide changes. 3. These results hint at an obvious generational threshold for adaptation at the level of the consensus sequence.

Viral shedding, clinical history and transmission of influenza.

1. During influenza infections, most viral shedding occurs within a few days of illness onset. 2. Children may be more infectious than adults because they shed more virus. 3. The degree of viral shedding (infectiousness) correlates with symptoms and tympanic temperature.

Hand, foot and mouth disease in an immunocompetent adult due to Coxsackievirus A6.

Hand, foot and mouth disease most commonly occurs in children less than 10 years old, but can occur in immunocompetent adults. We describe a 37-year-old immunocompetent man who presented with multiple painful papules and vesicles on his palms and feet together with vesicles inside the mouth. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed Coxsackievirus A6 in the vesicle fluid from the feet, throat swab, and rectal swab. Since the disease is highly contagious, to contain the infection it is prudent to recognise that hand, foot and mouth disease can occur in immunocompetent adults.

Plasma amyloid-ß oligomers level is a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.

Amyloid beta (Aß), especially Aß oligomers, is important in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. We studied plasma Aß(40), Aß(42), and Aß oligomers levels in 44 AD patients and 22 non-demented controls. Cognitive functions were assessed by Chinese version of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Abbreviated Metal Test (AMT), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog). Plasma Aß monomers and oligomers levels were measured by ELISA. We found that the median plasma Aß(40) and Aß(42) levels were similar between AD and controls, and without significant correlation with cognition. Plasma Aß oligomers level was higher in AD than controls (642.54 ng/ml [range 103.33-2676.93] versus 444.18 ng/ml [range 150.19-1311.18], p=0.047), and negatively correlated with cognition. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the highest tertile of Aß oligomers levels showed an increased risk of AD than the combined group of middle and lowest tertiles (OR=8.85, p=0.013), after adjustment of gender, age and APOE4 genotype. Increased plasma Aß oligomers level was associated with decreased MMSE and AMT scores (p=0.037, p=0.043, respectively) and increased ADAS-cog score (p=0.036), suggesting negative correlation with cognitive function. We concluded that plasma Aß oligomers level is an useful biomarker for AD diagnosis.