Relationship between viral load and pregnancy outcomes among hepatitis B carriers.

Objective: Pregnant hepatitis B carriers may have a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Current evidences are conflicting regarding the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and various pregnancy complications, owing to the inclusion of women with different viral activity. This study is to evaluate the relationship between hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status/HBV DNA level and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant hepatitis B carriers in Hong Kong.

Prospective risk of stillbirth and neonatal complications for monochorionic diamniotic and dichorionic diamniotic twins after 24 weeks of gestation.

Introduction: Our study compared the prospective risks of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), neonatal death (NND), perinatal death (PND), and neonatal morbidities in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) and dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancies.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included twin pregnancies who had antenatal care and delivery in a public hospital from 2011 to 2018. Exclusion criteria included monoamnionicity, one/both twin miscarriage, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, or lethal congenital abnormalities.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of chromosomal microarray as a primary test for prenatal diagnosis in Hong Kong.

Background: Chromosomal microarray (CMA) has been shown to be cost-effective over karyotyping in invasive prenatal diagnosis for pregnancies with fetal ultrasound anomalies. Yet, information regarding preceding and subsequent tests must be considered as a whole before the true cost-effectiveness can emerge. Currently in Hong Kong, karyotyping is offered free as the standard prenatal test while genome-wide array comparative genome hybridization (aCGH), a form of CMA, is self-financed.

The effect of rupture of membranes and labour on the risk of hepatitis B vertical transmission: Prospective multicentre observational study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of rupture of membranes and labour on the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical transmission.

Study Design: A prospective multicentre observational study was carried out in Hong Kong between 2014-2016. Pregnant HBV carriers were recruited.

Prenatal ultrasonography of craniofacial abnormalities.

Craniofacial abnormalities are common. It is important to examine the fetal face and skull Epub ahead of print during prenatal ultrasound examinations because abnormalities of these structures may indicate the presence of other, more subtle anomalies, syndromes, chromosomal abnormalities, or even rarer conditions, such as infections or metabolic disorders. The prenatal diagnosis of craniofacial abnormalities remains difficult, especially in the first trimester.

Prenatal sonography of placental abscess and prolonged antibiotic treatment for bacteremia.

Termination of pregnancy is indicated for bacteremia, a major cause of mortality. Our present case was highly challenging because the patient wished to continue with her pregnancy, and the ultrasonography showed features of a placental abscess. Although the outcomes were good after prolonged antibiotic treatment, this was an exceptional case.

Use of clinical chromosomal microarray in Chinese patients with autism spectrum disorder-implications of a copy number variation involving .

Background: Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is recommended as a first-tier genetic test for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, interpretation of results can often be challenging partly due to the fact that copy number variants (CNVs) in non-European ASD patients are not well studied. To address this literature gap, we report the CNV findings in a cohort of Chinese children with ASD.