Health behaviour practices and expectations for a local cancer survivorship programme: a cross-sectional study of survivors of childhood cancer in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION: Lifestyle choices may influence health outcomes in cancer survivors. This study of childhood cancer survivors in Hong Kong investigated factors associated with health-protective and health-damaging behaviours; it also examined expectations of a survivorship programme. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited survivors of childhood cancer ≥2 years after treatment. Survivors completed a structured questionnaire to report their health practices and the perceived values of survivorship programme components. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with health behaviours. RESULTS: Two hundred survivors were recruited (mean age=23.4 ± 8.8 years; mean duration since treatment, 13.4 ± 7.6 years). Comparatively few survivors exercised ≥4 days/week (16.0%), used sun protection (18.0%), and had a balanced diet (38.5%). Furthermore, comparatively few survivors reported that they had not undergone any immunisation (24.5%) or were unsure (18.5%) about their immunisation history. Most adult survivors were never-drinkers (71.0%) and never-smokers (93.0%). Brain tumour survivors were more likely to have unhealthy eating habits, compared with haematological malignancy survivors (odds ratio [OR]=2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.29-4.68). Lower socioeconomic status was associated with inadequate sun protection (OR=0.20; 95% CI=0.05-0.83), smoking (OR=5.13; 95% CI=1.48-17.75), and exposure to second-hand smoke (OR=3.52; 95% CI=1.42-8.69). Late-effects screening (78.5%) and psychosocial services to address psychological distress (77%) were considered essential components of a survivorship programme. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low prevalences of health-damaging behaviours, local survivors of childhood cancer are not engaging in health-protective behaviours. A multidisciplinary programme addressing late effects and psychosocial aspects may address the multifaceted needs of this special population.

Improving the Quality of Care in Radiation Oncology using Artificial Intelligence.

Radiation therapy is a complex process involving multiple professionals and steps from simulation to treatment planning to delivery, and these procedures are prone to error. Additionally, the imaging and treatment delivery equipment in radiotherapy is highly complex and interconnected and represents another risk point in the quality of care. Numerous quality assurance tasks are carried out to ensure quality and to detect and prevent potential errors in the process of care. Recent developments in artificial intelligence provide potential tools to the radiation oncology community to improve the efficiency and performance of quality assurance efforts. Targets for artificial intelligence enhancement include the quality assurance of treatment plans, target and tissue structure delineation used in the plans, delivery of the plans and the radiotherapy delivery equipment itself. Here we review recent developments of artificial intelligence applications that aim to improve quality assurance processes in radiation therapy and discuss some of the challenges and limitations that require further development work to realise the potential of artificial intelligence for quality assurance.

Modeling the effect of water quality on the recreational shellfishing cultural ecosystem service of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts.

Estuaries provide significant cultural ecosystem services, including recreation and tourism. Disruptions of estuarine biogeochemical processes resulting from environmental degradation could interrupt the flow of these services, reducing benefits and diminishing the welfare of local communities. This study focused on recreational shellfishing in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (41.55°N, 70.80°W). Relationships among measures of recreational shellfishing, estuarine water quality, and local socioeconomic conditions were tested to understand how the benefits of cultural ecosystem services to local communities might be affected by declining water quality. Transferring estimated economic benefits from an analysis of nearby municipalities, the study finds that increases in Chl a during the 24-year period were associated with losses in recreational shellfishing benefits of $0.08-0.67 million per decade. The approach presented here suggests a more broadly applicable framework for assessing the impacts of changes in coastal ecosystem water quality on the welfare of local communities.

Optically Controlled Orbital Angular Momentum Generation in a Polaritonic Quantum Fluid.

Applications of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light range from the next generation of optical communication systems to optical imaging and optical manipulation of particles. Here we propose a micron-sized semiconductor source that emits light with predefined OAM pairs. This source is based on a polaritonic quantum fluid. We show how in this system modulational instabilities can be controlled and harnessed for the spontaneous formation of OAM pairs not present in the pump laser source. Once created, the OAM states exhibit exotic flow patterns in the quantum fluid, characterized by generation-annihilation pairs. These can only occur in open systems, not in equilibrium condensates, in contrast to well-established vortex-antivortex pairs.

Refractive outcome of combined phacoemulsification and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.

PURPOSE: To compare the refractive outcome of eyes that underwent phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco-ECP) with the eyes that underwent phacoemulsification alone. METHODS: A retrospective case series review of 103 consecutive eyes that underwent phaco-ECP and 62 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification between January 2006 and August 2012 was conducted. Post-operative refractive outcomes were obtained by subjective refraction or autorefraction. Demographic data, best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, number of glaucoma agents and mean deviation of the Humphrey visual field test (MD) were also analysed. RESULTS: The total number of eyes included in the study was 62 eyes for the phaco-ECP group and 62 eyes for the control group who underwent phacoemulsification alone. More than 90% of eyes (n = 56) in phaco-ECP group achieved post-operative refraction within ±1 dioptre (D) of the target refraction. In the control group, 100% of eyes achieved post-operative refraction within ±1D of the target refraction. When comparing the difference between the target and the actual refractive outcome between the phaco-ECP and the control group, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Refractive outcome after phaco-ECP is comparable to phacoemulsification alone. This study suggests that the intraocular lens power can be selected for cataract surgery alone and that ECP does not change the effective lens position significantly; therefore, no modification of biometry formulae is required. Phaco-ECP should be considered as an effective, safe and predictable surgical treatment option for glaucoma patients with co-existing cataract.

A revision of the New Zealand species of Howickia Richards.

Howickia Richards 1951 is redefined to include all wingless or strongly brachypterous Sphaeroceridae in New Zealand as well as two newly described fully winged species, H. oliveri and H. lepidostylus. Biroina Richards 1973 is newly treated as a junior subjective synonym of Howickia. The following new flightless species are described from New Zealand: H. bicolor, H. cordata, H. exasperata, H. harrisoni, H. mercurialis, H. nigrilegula, H. nigriventer, H. nudistylus, H. omamari, H. palmai, H. regalis, H. tangata, H. wahaika and H. zonula.

Percutaneous cementoplasty of osteolytic metastases induces immediate and long-lasting pain relief in oncological patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous cementoplasty with respect to pain relief in patients with refractory painful bone metastases. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All oncological patients with painful bone metastases despite conventional treatment seen between October 2006 and May 2010 were recruited. INTERVENTIONS: Cementoplasty with or without radiofrequency ablation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain score before and after the procedure. RESULTS: In all, 12 patients with 13 lesions received cementoplasty. Two patients were excluded from the analysis because of inadequate documentation of pain score due to rapid disease progression. For the remaining 10 patients with 11 metastases, the primary sites were the lung (n=3), renal cell carcinoma (n=2), rectum (n=2), pancreas (n=1), multiple myeloma (n=1), and soft tissue sarcoma (n=1). The locations of the metastatic lesions were scapula (n=1), thoracic vertebrae (n=1), lumbar vertebrae (n=3), and pelvic bones (n=6). Eight lesions were treated by cementoplasty alone, whereas the other three associated with large soft tissue components had radiofrequency ablation followed by cementoplasty in a single setting. Immediate or near-immediate pain relief after treatment was achieved in 10 out of 11 lesions; the median pain score was 5 before treatment and decreased to 2 a week after treatment (P=0.039). In all lesions for which the pain was successfully controlled in the first week, the palliation effect persisted at subsequent follow-ups. The median follow-up period for these patients was 16 weeks, and the longest pain-relieving effect was at least 9 months. CONCLUSION: In our experience, cementoplasty with or without radiofrequency ablation achieves satisfactory and long-lasting pain control in oncological patients with bone metastases. This is the first local study to describe the effect of cementoplasty for pain relief. Patients with painful bone metastases that are refractory to conventional treatments can benefit from cementoplasty, which should therefore be considered when conservative treatments fail.

Hong Kong experiences the 'Ultimate superbug': NDM-1 Enterobacteriaceae.

We report the second imported case of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) Enterobacteriaceae encountered in Hong Kong soon after the patient's arrival in the territory for medical care. As NDM-1 is spreading throughout the world via international travel, being an international city, Hong Kong was always expected to encounter the same public health threat. This case also illustrates the importance of active surveillance of at-risk patients in preventing the spread of this 'superbug'.

Hepatocarcinogenesis of regenerative and dysplastic nodules in Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the development rate of hepatocellular carcinoma and survival of patients diagnosed to have regenerative, and low-grade and high-grade dysplastic liver nodules. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Acute public hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Patients with non-malignant liver nodules confirmed by imaging-guided liver biopsy between January 1997 and December 2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of hepatocellular carcinoma development and survival. RESULTS: A total of 147 patients with non-malignant liver nodules were followed up over a median duration of 29 months. The initial histological diagnosis included regenerative nodules (n=74), low-grade dysplastic nodules (n=34), and high-grade dysplastic nodules (n=39). The respective cumulative hepatocellular carcinoma development rate during the first, second, third, and fourth year were 3%, 5%, 9% and 12% for simple regenerative nodules, 29%, 35%, 38% and 44% for low-grade dysplastic nodules, and 38%, 41%, 51% and 51% for high-grade dysplastic nodules. The hepatocellular carcinoma development rate was highest in those with high-grade dysplastic nodules. Multivariate analysis showed that histological dysplastic changes were associated with increased alpha-fetoprotein levels and advanced age, which were both independent predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma development. Histological dysplastic changes, male sex, advanced age, prolonged prothrombin time, and ultrasound appearances were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: The presence of dysplastic change in liver nodules increased the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development and death.

Diagnostic challenges of human brucellosis in Hong Kong: a case series in two regional hospitals.

A retrospective analysis of six patients diagnosed with brucellosis in two regional hospitals was carried out. The epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features were studied. All patients had exposure history. Three patients presented with musculoskeletal symptoms, while three had predominantly genitourinary symptoms. One patient did not have fever at presentation. All patients were diagnosed by positive blood culture of Brucella melitensis, and the diagnosis was not suspected for all except one patient at presentation. Given the inferior sensitivity of blood culture to serology, human brucellosis may be underdiagnosed, especially when the index of suspicion is low.

TP53 regulates human AlkB homologue 2 expression in glioma resistance to Photofrin-mediated photodynamic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment. However, cancers resistant to PDT, mediated through the efflux of photosensitisers by means of P-glycoprotein or ATP-binding cassette transporter proteins, have been reported. The DNA repair has also been suggested to be responsible for PDT resistance, but little is known about the repair pathways and mechanisms involved. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the possible function of six major DNA repair mechanisms in glioma cells resistant to Photofrin-mediated PDT (Ph-PDT). METHODS: The U87 glioma cells relatively resistant to Ph-PDT were obtained by recovering the viable cells 3 h after PDT treatment. The mRNA and protein expression levels of DNA repair genes were evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Small-interfering RNA and chromatin-immunoprecipitation assays were used to further examine the relationship between AlkB, an alkylation repair homologue 2 (Escherichia coli) (ALKBH2) and Ph-PDT responsiveness, and transcription factors involved in ALKBH2 transcription. RESULTS: The ALKBH2 of DNA damage reversal was significantly increased at both mRNA and protein levels from 30 min to 48 h post-treatment with Ph-PDT. Conversely, down-regulating ALKBH2 expression enhances Ph-PDT efficiency. Furthermore, our data clearly show for the first time that tumour protein (TP53) is directly involved by binding to the promoter of ALKBH2 in mediating Ph-PDT resistance. CONCLUSION: C The DNA damage reversal mechanisms may have important functions in Ph-PDT resistance through the activation of ALKBH2 by TP53.

In vivo evidence of gamma-tocotrienol as a chemosensitizer in the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

gamma-Tocotrienol (gammaT3) is known to selectively kill prostate cancer (PCa) cells and to sensitize the cells to docetaxel (DTX)-induced apoptosis. In the present study, the pharmacokinetics of gammaT3 and the in vivo cytotoxic response of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPCa) tumor following gammaT3 treatment were investigated. Here, we investigated these antitumor effects for PCa tumors in vivo. The pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution of gammaT3 after exogenous gammaT3 supplementation were examined. Meanwhile, the response of the tumor to gammaT3 alone or in combination with DTX were studied by real-time in vivo bioluminescent imaging and by examination of biomarkers associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. After intraperitoneal injection, gammaT3 rapidly disappeared from the serum and was selectively deposited in the AIPCa tumor cells. Administration of gammaT3 alone for 2 weeks resulted in a significant shrinkage of the AIPCa tumors. Meanwhile, further inhibition of the AIPCa tumor growth was achieved by combined treatment of gammaT3 and DTX (p < 0.002). The in vivo cytotoxic antitumor effects induced by gammaT3 seem to be associated with a decrease in expression of cell proliferation markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67 and Id1) and an increase in the rate of cancer cell apoptosis [cleaved caspase 3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase]. Additionally, the combined agents may be more effective at suppressing the invasiveness of AIPCa. Overall, our results indicate that gammaT3, either alone or in combination with DTX, may provide a treatment strategy that can improve therapeutic efficacy against AIPCa while reducing the toxicity often seen in patients treated with DTX.

Transcatheter embolisation of intrahepatic arteriovenous shunts in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

This paper assesses the feasibility of transcatheter embolisation of arteriovenous shunts in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and reviews available embolic agents, based on our experience and a literature review. From 2001 to 2007, 11 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and significant arteriovenous shunts underwent transcatheter embolisation of liver arteriovenous shunts. The age range was 36 to 80 years. A total of 17 embolisations were performed using different embolic agents including absolute ethanol (n=11), histoacryl (n=1), coils (n=2), and polyvinyl alcohol particles (n=1). We reviewed the degree of shunt occlusion and the clinical outcomes. There were 15 arteriovenous shunts. Nine (60%) were arterioportal venous shunts and six were arteriohepatic venous shunts. Two were classified as 'simple' types, according to our protocol, and 13 were 'complex' types. More than 80% occlusion was achieved in 80% of the shunts. In the simple shunts, coil embolisation achieved complete occlusion. In complex shunts with multiple feeders and draining veins, liquid or particulate agents were required to achieve satisfactory occlusion. Managing arteriovenous shunts with embolisation was feasible. The choice of embolic agent should be based on good understanding of the underlying mechanism of the shunts and their angio-architecture.

Towards the understanding and prediction of material changes during micronisation using atomic force microscopy.

In this study we aim to explore the potential links between the mechanical properties, micronisation behaviour and surface energy of carbamazepine polymorphs using atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of material properties at the nanoscale. Carbamazepine Forms I, II and III were prepared and confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). AFM measurements of indentation hardness, Young's modulus and surface energy were made on the starting material. In addition, the surface energy was measured immediately after micronisation and after storage for four weeks. Carbamazepine polymorphs could be ranked by Young's modulus and hardness. Surface energy measurements showed an increase after micronisation in all cases, and a varying relaxation after storage for four weeks. Form I showed a smaller particle size distribution, indicating more complete micronisation. A promising correlation was observed between the hardness/Young's modulus ratio and the micronisation behaviour, in terms of particle size reduction and surface energy change. The results show potential for the predictive capacity of such an approach, and help to provide a greater understanding of material behaviour and properties during micronisation.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the nasal cavity.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare tumor with a variable natural history and biologic behavior, ranging from completely benign to malignant with fatal outcome. We report a case of benign IMT in the left nasal cavity with radiologic features mimicking angiofibroma. We also demonstrate the hypervascular nature of this disease on angiography and the contribution of preoperative embolization in assisting surgical excision and minimizing the potential uncontrolled intraoperative bleeding.

Pulmonary artery thrombosis in a patient with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infectious disease with both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations. Although coagulation abnormalities are common in these patients, clinically overt thromboembolic events are rarely reported. This report describes the first case of pulmonary artery thrombosis in a patient with laboratory confirmed SARS.

Anti-cancer and pro-apoptotic effects of an herbal medicine and Saccharomyces cerevisiae product (CKBM) on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health problem worldwide. Different treatment strategies have been developed to cope with this problem. Herbal medicine is now widely studied in both Eastern and Western countries. In this study, we used both in vitro and in vivo model to illustrate the anti-tumor effect of a product, CKBM, consisting of herbal medicine and specially processed Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Dose-dependent anti-proliferation effect was observed on in vitro growth of human hepatoma HepG2 cells after 48 hours incubation with CKBM. At the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) no significant toxic effect was observed on normal human fibroblasts Hs68 and human liver WRL-68 cells. The results of morphological changes, detection of DNA fragmentation, flow cytometric analysis and Western blot analysis indicated that this anti-tumor effect of CKBM was mediated via the process of apoptosis. In addition, HepG2 cells- bearing nude mice model was used for in vivo anti-tumor study. Our results showed that 14-day treatment with 0.8 ml daily dosage of CKBM could inhibit 54.1% of tumor growth. The plasma activities of enzymes specific for heart and liver, namely creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase, remained at normal levels, indicated that CKBM did not produce toxicity to the host.

Comparing suprapubic urine aspiration under real-time ultrasound guidance with conventional blind aspiration.

UNLABELLED: To determine the optimal method of suprapubic aspiration (SPA), the success rates of real-time ultrasound-guided SPA were compared with those of conventional SPA, and factors associated with success were studied. Thirty infants were randomly allocated to group A (for real-time ultrasound-guided SPA) and 30 infants to group B (for blind SPA with a prehydration protocol). The results showed that the overall success rates for all attempts were similar (26/30 or 87% in group A vs 24/30 or 80% in group B, p > 0.05). The first attempts in both groups were equally successful (both 18/30 or 60%). In comparison with failed attempts, successful ultrasound SPA attempts were associated with a greater bladder depth (mean +/- SD: 28 +/- 11 vs 21 +/- 5 mm, p < 0.01), length (32 +/- 12 vs 23 +/- 9 mm, p < 0.05) and volume (17 +/- 13 vs 8 +/- 6 ml, p < 0.01), but similar width (33 +/- 9 vs 29 +/- 5 mm, p > 0.05). In blind SPA, successful attempts were associated with the presence of bladder dullness on percussion (odds ratio 29). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that ultrasound-guided SPA has a high success rate. Blind SPA could also be equally successful with appropriate preparation. Ultrasound-guided SPA is recommended when the bladder depth exceeds 3 cm, or the bladder length exceeds 3.7 cm. If an ultrasound machine is not available, blind SPA may be an alternative, with attention being paid to prehydration and the demonstration of bladder dullness by percussion.