'Organic Anxiety' in a Middle-aged Man Presenting with Dyspnoea: a Case Report.

We report a case of pulmonary embolism in a patient who presented with repeated anxiety attacks and psychotic symptoms and was misdiagnosed as having withdrawal seizure or anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. This case highlighted the nonspecific clinical features of pulmonary embolism and the principles in making psychiatric diagnosis. Careful history taking, thorough physical examination, appropriate investigation, and a high index of suspicion led to the correct diagnosis. The principle of hierarchy of psychiatric diagnosis (ie, organic over non-organic) and the possibility of comorbidities should always apply.

Cognitive Impairment In Treatment-Naïve Bipolar II and Unipolar Depression.

Cognition dysfunction may reflect trait characteristics of bipolarity but cognitive effects of medications have confounded previous comparisons of cognitive function between bipolar II and unipolar depression, which are distinct clinical disorders with some overlaps. Therefore, we examined the executive function (WCST), attention, cognitive speed (TMT-A) and memory (CAVLT, WMS-Visual reproduction) of 20 treatment-naïve bipolar II patients (BPII), 35 treatment-naïve unipolar depressed (UD) patients, and 35 age/sex/education matched healthy controls. The subjects were young (aged 18-35), and had no history of psychosis or substance use, currently depressed and meeting either RDC criteria for Bipolar II Disorder or DSM-IV-TR criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. The patients were moderately depressed (MADRS) and anxious(HAM-A), on average within 3.44 years of illness onset. Sociodemographic data and IQ were similar between the groups. UD patients had significantly slower cognitive speed and cognitive flexibility (WCST perseverative error). BPII depressed patients showed relatively intact cognitive function. Verbal memory (CAVLT List A total) correlated with illness chronicity only in BPII depression, but not UD. In conclusion, young and treatment-naïve BPII depressed patients differed from unipolar depression by a relatively intact cognitive profile and a chronicity-cognitive correlation that suggested a stronger resemblance to Bipolar I Disorder than Unipolar Depression.

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.

Mummification in a Chinese patient with grief: a morbid symptom or a cultural practice?

Mummification was first described by Gorer in 1965 as a feature of grief in which the deceased individual's belongings and, in extreme cases, his or her corpse are preserved as if he or she was still alive and, often, the grieving person acts as if the deceased will return at a later date. Little research has been done on the cultural differences of patients demonstrating mummification. In the Asian community, a common belief is that there is life after death. The spirits of the dead are believed to exist in the human world, and ancestral worship is a common practice among Chinese people. Gorer believed that mummification was a maladaptation of unresolved grief in a ritual-less society. While this may possibly be true in western societies, this theory does not necessarily comply with Chinese practices. This case study discusses the psychopathology of mummification in a grieving Chinese patient and explores the importance of considering cultural influences in assessing the morbidity of this symptom.

Dosimetric advantages and superior treatment delivery efficiency of RapidArc over conventional intensity-modulated radiotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer involving seminal vesicles and pelvic nodes.

AIMS: To compare the dosimetry and treatment delivery efficiency of RapidArc with conventional intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the treatment of high-risk prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with high-risk localised prostate cancer were studied. Sequential treatment was used. The initial planning target volume (PTV-L) included the prostate, seminal vesicles and pelvic lymphatics, whereas the prostate boost PTV (PTV-P) included the prostate and seminal vesicles only. The total prescription dose was 76 Gy (44 Gy to PTV-L, 32 Gy to PTV-P; 2 Gy/fraction). Two separate planning techniques were generated for each patient: seven static-field IMRT versus two-arc RapidArc. Dose-volume parameters for the organs at risk, conformity index and homogeneity index for the PTVs, the calculated monitor units and treatment delivery time for both techniques were compared. RESULTS: RapidArc gave more conformal plans than IMRT for both PTVs. RapidArc gave a higher homogeneity index to the PTV-P and a similar homogeneity index to the PTV-L. The two techniques gave similar dosimetric results for the rectum, bladder and femoral heads. The mean dose (Dmean) and the maximum dose (Dmax) of the bowel space were reduced by 3.06 and 2.83%, respectively, with RapidArc. The V20 Gy, V30 Gy and V40 Gy for healthy tissues were reduced by 7.77, 14.25 and 17.55%, respectively, with RapidArc. The calculated treatment delivery time and monitor units were reduced by 74.09%/60.93% and 68.32%/48.06% for the PTV-L/PTV-P, respectively, with RapidArc. CONCLUSION: RapidArc is better than conventional IMRT in terms of dosimetry and delivery efficiency for high-risk prostate cancer.

Efficacy and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer in Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVE: To report the treatment efficacy and toxicity profile of intensitymodulated radiation therapy in Chinese patients with clinically localised prostate cancer. DESIGN: Historical cohort study. SETTING: Oncology unit in a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Patients with clinically localised prostate cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy in our institution between May 2001 and November 2009 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 5-year biochemical failure­free survival, 5-year overall survival, as well as acute/late gastro-intestinal toxicities and genito-urinary toxicities. RESULTS: A total of 182 patients were treated with prostate intensitymodulated radiation therapy with or without whole-pelvic radiotherapy. The median follow-up was 44 months. The median patient age was 72 years. Overall survival of the cohort was 92% after 5 years. The favourable, intermediate, and unfavourable risk category distributions of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network were 21 (12%), 42 (23%), and 119 (65%), respectively. The 5-year actuarial biochemical failure­free survival rates for patients in these categories were 95%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified early tumour stage, low pre-treatment prostate-specific antigen levels, and the use of adjuvant androgen deprivation as independent prognostic factors for better biochemical failure­free survival. Grade 2 and 3 late gastro-intestinal/genito-urinary toxicities occurred in 8%/3% and 4%/3% of the patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer is feasible and safe in the Chinese population. These data are consistent with the results of other series in Caucasian populations.

Generalized schemes for high-throughput manipulation of the Desulfovibrio vulgaris genome.

The ability to conduct advanced functional genomic studies of the thousands of sequenced bacteria has been hampered by the lack of available tools for making high-throughput chromosomal manipulations in a systematic manner that can be applied across diverse species. In this work, we highlight the use of synthetic biological tools to assemble custom suicide vectors with reusable and interchangeable DNA "parts" to facilitate chromosomal modification at designated loci. These constructs enable an array of downstream applications, including gene replacement and the creation of gene fusions with affinity purification or localization tags. We employed this approach to engineer chromosomal modifications in a bacterium that has previously proven difficult to manipulate genetically, Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, to generate a library of over 700 strains. Furthermore, we demonstrate how these modifications can be used for examining metabolic pathways, protein-protein interactions, and protein localization. The ubiquity of suicide constructs in gene replacement throughout biology suggests that this approach can be applied to engineer a broad range of species for a diverse array of systems biological applications and is amenable to high-throughput implementation.

Immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease: experience with this novel entity in a local hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To review the site of involvement, clinical presentation, and treatment outcome of patients having immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease in a local regional hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All patients with a diagnosis of immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease in the hospital diagnosed in the period from April 2008 to March 2010. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients with involvement of various organs were identified. There was a male predominance (male-to-female ratio=5:1). The mean age at diagnosis was 65 years. The salivary glands, biliary tract, pancreas, and cervical lymph nodes were the commonest involved sites. The immunoglobulin G4 level was elevated in 83% of the patients. Patients usually appeared to respond well to steroid treatment. CONCLUSION: Immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease is a systemic disease and can involve various systems.

Public awareness of hepatitis B infection: a population-based telephone survey in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: To test our hypothesis that there is inadequate knowledge and awareness of hepatitis B infection among the general population in Hong Kong. DESIGN: A random telephone survey using a structured multiple-choice questionnaire. SETTING: Hong Kong community. PARTICIPANTS: Hong Kong residents aged 18 years or above. RESULTS: A total of 506 respondents were successfully interviewed in February 2010. Approximately half of respondents (55%) were aware that hepatitis B virus is the most common cause of chronic viral hepatitis in Hong Kong. Regarding knowledge about the mode of transmission, mother-to-infant transmission and blood contact were recognised as risk factors by 67% and 65% of respondents, respectively. Transmission by sexual contact, sharing a razor or toothbrush, and tattooing or body piercing were appreciated by 44%, 41%, and 37% of respondents, respectively. A majority (73%) had the mistaken belief that the virus is transmitted by eating contaminated seafood. Over half of respondents (53%) knew nothing about the clinical presentation of acute hepatitis B. Only 35% of respondents realised that periodic abdominal ultrasonographic examinations are indicated for asymptomatic hepatitis B carriers. While 51% of respondents reported being tested for hepatitis B virus infection, only 36% acknowledged being vaccinated against the infection. Education level, occupation, and marital status were factors associated with both hepatitis B virus screening and vaccination. CONCLUSION: These findings support our hypothesis that there is inadequate knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B infection in the general population in Hong Kong.

Acute psychiatric disorders in foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong: a pilot study.

AIM: To explore the psychopathology of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) who had an acute psychiatric disorder in Hong Kong. METHOD: This was a retrospective chart review. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from case records of FDWs who were admitted for the first time as inpatients for psychiatric treatment to three regional hospitals of the same catchment area in Hong Kong between 2000 and 2004. Relevant socio-demographic data on local FDWs and the general population of Hong Kong were obtained from local government departments. RESULTS: Twenty-seven Filipino and 14 Indonesian FDWs presenting with their first and so far only psychiatric admission were identified. There were significantly more FDWs who were single or never married in the sample. Filipino FDWs tended to fall ill after 4 years of service in Hong Kong while the corresponding figure for Indonesian FDWs was 2 years. Indonesian FDWs were older and had less access to social and medical services than their Filipino counterparts. Home sickness and marital problems were more commonly identified as stressors rather than work-related difficulties. Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder (ICD-10) was diagnosed in over 60% of the subjects, making FDWs two times more vulnerable than local women of similar age for this illness. CONCLUSIONS: FDWs constitute a vulnerable group in terms of psychiatric morbidity. Concerted political, social and psychological efforts would be require to alleviate the distress faced by this particularly disadvantaged subset of female expatriates.

Clinical and social correlates with the use of depot antipsychotic drugs in outpatients with schizophrenia in China.

BACKGROUND: To date, no study has investigated the use of depot antipsychotic medication (DA) in Chinese outpatients with schizophrenia. This study explored the frequency and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of DA in schizophrenia outpatients in both Hong Kong (HK) and Beijing (BJ), China. METHODS: 505 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia were randomly selected and interviewed in HK and BJ using standardized assessment instruments. Their basic sociodemographic and clinical data and psychotropic drug prescriptions were collected at the time of a diagnostic interview. RESULTS: 117 (23.2%) patients were prescribed DA, 36.1 and 10% of the HK and BJ samples, respectively. Prescription of DA was associated with a history of suicide, less use of clozapine, more frequent antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP), more frequent admissions, and study site (HK vs. BJ). In multiple logistic regression analysis, study site, less frequent prescription of clozapine, history of suicide, and more frequent use of APP remained significantly associated with DA. CONCLUSION: There was wide variation in the frequency of DA prescribing between HK and BJ even though the ethnic and clinical characteristics of the two samples were nearly identical. This suggests that sociocultural and economic factors, as well as traditions in psychiatric training and practice all played a role in determining the use of DA.

Clinical and social determinants of long-term use of benzodiazepines and its impact on quality of life of Chinese schizophrenia patients.

AIMS: To date there have been no studies investigating prescription patterns of benzodiazepine agents (BZDs) in Chinese outpatients with schizophrenia. This study examined the frequency and socio-demographic and clinical correlates of BZD prescription in Hong Kong (HK) and Beijing (BJ), China. METHODS: Five hundred and five clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia were randomly selected and interviewed in HK and BJ using standardized assessment instruments. Basic socio-demographic and clinical data and psychotropic drug prescriptions were collected at the time of a diagnostic interview. RESULTS: One-hundred and fifty one (29.9%) patients were prescribed BZDs in the whole sample; 25.1% and 34.8% of the HK and BJ samples, respectively. Use of BZDs was associated with sex, employment status, history of suicide, less use of clozapine, more frequent use of typical antipsychotics (APs), higher doses of APs, severity of positive symptoms, extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and insomnia. In multiple logistic regression analysis, severity of depressive symptoms, study site, sex, employment status, less use of clozapine and history of suicide remained significantly associated with BZDs. CONCLUSION: Although the ethnic and clinical characteristics of the two samples were nearly identical, there was a wide variation in the frequency of BZD prescriptions between HK and BJ suggesting that socio-cultural and economic factors as well as traditions of psychiatric training and practice all played a role in determining the use of BZDs. Prescription of BZDs in either site was not in line with current recommendation.

Clinical and social determinants of antipsychotic polypharmacy for Chinese patients with schizophrenia.

Most prescription pattern surveys have found a high rate of antipsychotic polypharmacy. To date few studies have investigated antipsychotic polypharmacy in Chinese patients with schizophrenia in general and outpatients in particular. This study examined the frequency and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of antipsychotic polypharmacy in Hong Kong (HK) and Beijing (BJ), China. Three hundred and ninety-eight clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia were randomly selected and interviewed in HK and BJ using standardized assessment instruments. Antipsychotic polypharmacy was found in 17.6% ( N=70) of the whole sample and in 28% and 7.1% of the HK and BJ samples, respectively. Polypharmacy was associated with monthly income, severity of negative symptoms and extrapyramidal side effects (EPS), use of depot antipsychotic and anticholinergic drugs, doses of antipsychotics, and the number of hospitalizations. In multiple logistic regression analysis, younger age, number of hospitalizations, site (HK vs. BJ), and the use of depot antipsychotics were all significantly associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy. Although the ethnic and clinical characteristics of the two cohorts were nearly identical, there was a wide variation in the prescription frequency of antipsychotic polypharmacy between HK and BJ, suggesting that sociocultural and economical factors and traditions of psychiatric practice all played a role in determining antipsychotic polypharmacy. Clinicians should bear in mind that, at least for clinically stable patients, no scientifically sound therapeutic principles for antipsychotic polypharmacy exist.

Significance of genomic DNA group delineation in comparative studies of antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter spp.

There were significant differences in antimicrobial susceptibilities in isolates of genomic DNA groups 2 (Acinetobacter baumannii), 3, and 13TU collected from the same sources, e.g., patients in intensive care units and general wards, and in isolates of the same group collected from different sources. The delineation of genomic groups is important in comparative surveillance studies of antimicrobial susceptibilities.

Carbon monoxide poisoning as a new method of suicide in Hong Kong.

The incidence in Hong Kong of intentional carbon monoxide poisonings by burning charcoal in a confined space was investigated. In the two-year study period, 22 (39 percent) of the 56 reported cases occurred in the three months following a highly publicized case in which this method was used to commit suicide; no cases were reported before the publicized incident. Individuals who used this method were younger on average (mean, 39 years) than those who used the more common methods of jumping (mean, 47 years) and hanging (mean, 55 years). The authors speculate that this form of suicide is becoming more prevalent because it has been highly publicized, it is easily carried out, and it is culturally acceptable.

Epidemiology and infection control implications of Acinetobacter spp. in Hong Kong.

In a previous study, we showed that Acinetobacter genomic DNA group 3 was the most common species among blood culture isolates and was commonly found on superficial carriage sites of the healthy and the sick, which are different findings from those reported in Europe and North America. We used amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to study further the molecular epidemiology of acinetobacters in our region. Over a study period of 6 weeks with 136 consecutive routine clinical isolates (1.33% of all specimens), genomic DNA groups 2 (Acinetobacter baumannii), 3, and 13TU were obtained from 59 of 69 positive patients. There is a significant difference in the specimen sources of the three genomic DNA groups, with group 13TU being significantly associated with the respiratory tract (chi-square exact test, P = 0.0064). Settle plates showed a significantly heavier environmental load from the intensive care unit (ICU) than from the four surgical wards examined (22 of 70 versus 76 of 120 plates with <5 colonies; chi-square test, P < 0. 0001). Genomic group 3 accounted for 6 of 12 clusters of possibly related strains among patients, between patients and the ICU environment, and in the ICU environment. Genomic groups 2 and 3 accounted for 21% of the 132 genomically identified isolates recovered from 21 of 41 local vegetables, 53 of 74 fish and meat samples, and 22 of 60 soil samples. Group 13TU was present only in patients' immediate surroundings. The role played by the environment and by human carriage should be evaluated in order to devise a cost-effective infection control program pertinent to our situation of acinetobacter endemicity.

Skin carriage of acinetobacters in Hong Kong.

We studied the carriage of Acinetobacter spp. at five superficial sites in 79 patients from two hospitals, in 133 healthy controls from the community (medical students and new nurses), and in 198 student nurses in different classes. A total of 431 isolates from 364 positive sites of 201 subjects and 124 blood culture isolates (1997 to 1998) were genospeciated by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis. Genospecies 3 was the most common species. The carriage rate of student nurses (42 of 131) was significantly lower than that of new nurses from the community (25 of 38) (chi-square test, P = 0.0004; odds ratio [OR], 4.08; 95% confidence limits, 1.78 to 9.41) but not significantly different (P = 0.1) from that of patients in the same hospital (20 of 42). Genospecies from blood cultures and subjects (acute patients and student nurses) from Prince of Wales Hospital were similar to one another but different from subjects from the community or from another hospital (chi-square test, P < 0.0001). Half of the subjects who were positive at at least two sites had different genospecies. Of the 28 sites examined, 68% showed strain variation among isolates of the same genospecies by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. Half of the 106 subjects who had samples taken again within 6 weeks or 6 months later were positive only once. In the 17 subjects who were positive on at least two occasions, each occasion yielded different genospecies in 13 subjects. Our results indicate that skin carriage in the majority of healthy subjects is characterized by low density, variation in genospecies and strains, short-term duration, and the typicality of a given locality.