Evaluation of INK4A promoter methylation using pyrosequencing and circulating cell-free DNA from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hyper-methylation of CpG dinucleotides in the promoter region of inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 4A (INK4A) has been reported in 60%-80% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As INK4A promoter hypermethylation event occurs early in HCC progression, the quantification of INK4A promoter methylation in blood sample may represent a useful biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis and prediction of response to therapy.

Methods: We examined INK4A promoter methylation using circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) in a total of 109 serum specimens, including 66 HCC and 43 benign chronic liver diseases.

A 4-year prospective follow-up study of childhood OSA and its association with BP.

Background: Childhood OSA is a prevalent condition associated with raised BP as documented in cross-sectional studies. This study aimed to determine whether baseline or change in OSA severity was associated with ambulatory BP at 4-year follow-up.

Methods: Children who participated in our previous OSA prevalence research were invited to undergo a repeat overnight sleep study and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring in this 4-year follow-up study.

Acute and chronic effects of sleep duration on blood pressure.

Objective: To evaluate the association between ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and sleep duration as measured by 7-day sleep diary and nocturnal polysomnography in normal-weight adolescents without significant obstructive sleep apnea.

Methods: Subjects aged 10 to 17.9 years with an obstructive apnea hypopnea index <5 underwent polysomnography for 9.

The effect of childhood obstructive sleep apnea on ambulatory blood pressure is modulated by the distribution of respiratory events during rapid eye movement and nonrapid eye movement sleep.

Objective: We aimed to investigate if different childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subtypes, namely rapid eye movement (REM)-related, nonrapid eye movement (NREM)-related and stage-independent OSA would exert different effects on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP).

Methods: Data from our previous school-based cross-sectional study were reanalyzed. Subjects who had an obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI) between 1 and 10 events per hour and a total REM sleep duration of >30min were included in our analysis.

Emergent percutaneous nephrostomy for the diagnosis and management of pyonephrosis.

Emergent percutaneous nephrostomy is a potentially lifesaving procedure with a high technical success rate, minimal morbidity, and long safety record that is often used in the setting of an obstructed and infected renal collecting system (i.e., pyonephrosis).

Effects of passive smoking on snoring in preschool children.

Objective: To examine the association between passive smoking and snoring in preschool children using parent-reported questionnaires and urine cotinine levels.

Study Design: This was a population-based cross-sectional survey of 2954 children aged 2-6 years in Hong Kong. Parent-reported questionnaires provided information on snoring and household smoking.

Orlistat improves endothelial function in obese adolescents: a randomised trial.

Aim: To investigate the effect of orlistat on endothelial function in obese adolescents.

Methods: Single-blind 10-week controlled trial of 67 normolipidaemic obese adolescents randomised into three groups. Group 1 (diet alone), Group 2 (diet and orlistat), Group 3 (diet, orlistat and exercise).

Sleep education in pediatric residency programs: a cross-cultural look.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of education about sleep and sleep disorders in pediatric residency programs and to identify barriers to providing such education.

Methods: Surveys were completed by directors of 152 pediatric residency programs across 10 countries (Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United States-Canada, and Vietnam).

Results: Overall, the average amount of time spent on sleep education is 4.

Resting heart rate in children and adolescents: association with blood pressure, exercise and obesity.

Objective: Resting heart rate (RHR) is increasingly recognised as a prognostic marker for long term cardiovascular outcomes in adults. This study assessed associations of RHR with blood pressure (BP), anthropometry and exercise in a large representative sample of Hong Kong children.

Study Design, Setting And Subjects: A territory-wide growth survey carried out in 2005-2006 included students sampled from each of Hong Kong's 18 districts.

Long term neurocognitive impact of low dose prenatal methylmercury exposure in Hong Kong.

Background: International studies suggest that low dose prenatal methylmercury exposure (>29 nmol/L) has long-term adverse neurocognitive effects. There is evidence that the majority of children in Hong Kong exceed this level as a result of high fish consumption of mothers during pregnancy.

Objective: To study whether there are any associations between low-dose prenatal methylmercury exposure and neurocognitive outcomes in Hong Kong children.

Reference standards for forced expiratory indices in Chinese preschool children.

Spirometric testing is traditionally achievable in children of school-age and beyond. Incorporation of interactive incentives motivates preschool children to facilitate measurement of forced expiratory indices. Validated spirometric reference standards are available for Caucasian preschoolers but lacking in Asians.

Fever as a predictor of doctor shopping in the paediatric population.

Objectives: To estimate prevalence and assess factors associated with doctor shopping among caregivers of children acutely admitted to a hospital in Hong Kong, and examine the reasons for such behaviour and caregivers' awareness of its possible dangers.

Design: Cross-sectional study with face-to-face surveys.

Setting: A paediatric unit in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong.

Prevalence of habitual snoring and its correlates in young children across the Asia Pacific.

Aims: To evaluate: (i) the prevalence of habitual snoring (HS) in a large sample of children aged from birth to 36 months in 14 countries across Asia Pacific; and (ii) the different correlates associated with HS in Caucasians, Chinese and non-Chinese, non-Caucasian Asians.

Methods: This was a multi-centre, cross-sectional survey conducted across Asia Pacific. Parents/caregivers of 23,481 infants and toddlers completed an expanded version of the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire.

Natural history of primary snoring in school-aged children: a 4-year follow-up study.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the natural history of childhood primary snoring (PS) and to identify predictive clinical symptoms and risk factors associated with PS progression to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Children aged 6 to 13 years old who received a diagnosis of PS in our previous community-based OSA prevalence study were invited to undergo repeat polysomnography (PSG) at 4-year follow-up. Subjects with an obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) ≥ 1 were classified as having OSA at follow-up.

Reduced flow-mediated vasodilation of brachial artery in children with primary snoring.

Background: Sleep disordered breathing, especially obstructive sleep apnea, is associated with endothelial dysfunction in both adults and children. However, the role of primary snoring (PS) on endothelial function has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in both normal weight and overweight children with PS.

Definition of metabolism-dependent xenobiotic toxicity with co-cultures of human hepatocytes and mouse 3T3 fibroblasts in the novel integrated discrete multiple organ co-culture (IdMOC) experimental system: results with model toxicants aflatoxin B1, cyclophosphamide and tamoxifen.

The integrated discrete multiple organ co-culture system (IdMOC) allows the co-culturing of multiple cell types as physically separated cells interconnected by a common overlying medium. We report here the application of IdMOC with two cell types: the metabolically competent primary human hepatocytes, and a metabolically incompetent cell line, mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, in the definition of the role of hepatic metabolism on the cytotoxicity of three model toxicants: cyclophosphamide (CPA), aflatoxin B1 (AFB) and tamoxifen (TMX). The presence of hepatic metabolism in IdMOC with human hepatocytes was demonstrated by the metabolism of the P450 isoform 3A4 substrate, luciferin-IPA.

BK virus as a potential co-factor for HPV in the development of cervical neoplasia.

Cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women worldwide. A persistent infection with high risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary for cervical cancer to occur. However, the great majority of women that are infected with HR-HPV will not develop cervical cancer, indicating that HR-HPV alone is not adequate to drive the development of cervical cancer, suggesting the involvement of cofactors.