CC16 levels correlate with cigarette smoke exposure in bronchial epithelial cells and with lung function decline in smokers.

Background: Club cell protein-16 (CC16) expression has been associated with smoking-related lung function decline. The study hypothesis was that CC16 expression in both serum and bronchial epithelium is associated with lung function decline in smokers, and exposure to cigarette smoke will lead to reduction in CC16 expression in bronchial epithelial cells.

Methods: In a cohort of community-based male Chinese subjects recruited for lung function test in 2000, we reassessed their lung function ten years later and measured serum levels of CC16.

Over 8 years experience on severe acute poisoning requiring intensive care in Hong Kong, China.

In order to obtain up-to-date information on the pattern of severe acute poisoning and the characteristics and outcomes of these patients, 265 consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit in Hong Kong for acute poisoning from January 2000 to May 2008 were studied retrospectively. Benzodiazepine (25.3%), alcohol (23%), tricyclic antidepressant (17.

Pseudallescheria boydii or Aspergillus fumigatus in a lady with an unresolving lung infiltrate, and a literature review.

A 53-year-old lady with blood-stained sputum and pleuritic pain had a lingular opacity on CXR which failed to resolve. A bronchial aspirate and transbronchial biopsy revealed features of bronchocentric granulomatosis with dichotomous branching hyphae suggestive of Aspergillus infection. However, subsequent fungal culture grew Pseudallescheria boydii.

Variability of the prevalence of undiagnosed airflow obstruction in smokers using different diagnostic criteria.

Purposes: To estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed airflow obstruction (AFO) in Hong Kong smokers with no previous diagnosis of respiratory disease, and to assess its variability when applying different prediction equations and diagnostic criteria.

Methods: A multicenter, population-based, cross-sectional prevalence study was performed in smokers aged 20 to 80 years. Three different criteria (fixed 70% [Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease and British Thoracic Society], fixed 75%, and European Respiratory Society [ERS]) were applied to define a lower limit of normal (LLN) of the FEV(1)/FVC ratio to compare with the Hong Kong Chinese reference equation (criterion 1), which had used a distribution-free method to obtain the lower fifth percentile of FEV(1)/FVC ratio as the LLN.

Corticosteroid treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong.

Background: The patterns of corticosteroids usage in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and associated treatment outcomes in Hong Kong were studied.

Method: Patients> or =18 years old who either had not received corticosteroid or had taken corticosteroids within 14 days from symptom onset were included. Patients receiving corticosteroids beyond 15 days or other investigational treatment within 21 days from symptom onset were excluded.

Updated spirometric reference values for adult Chinese in Hong Kong and implications on clinical utilization.

Study Objectives: The accuracy of reference values of lung function is important for assessment of severity and functional impairment of respiratory diseases. The aim of the study was to establish updated prediction formulae of spirometric parameters for Hong Kong Chinese and to compare the reference values with those derived from other studies in white and Chinese subjects.

Design: Cross-sectional multicenter study.

Management of Critically Ill Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is frequently complicated with acute respiratory failure. In this article, we aim to focus on the management of the subgroup of SARS patients who are critically ill. Most SARS patients would require high flow oxygen supplementation, 20-30% required intensive care unit (ICU) or high dependency care, and 13-26% developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Outcome of coronavirus-associated severe acute respiratory syndrome using a standard treatment protocol.

Objective: There is so far no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy for the coronavirus-associated severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We aimed to analyse the outcomes of a standard treatment strategy comprising antibiotics, a combination of ribavirin, a 3-week step-down course of corticosteroids, and the possibility of pulsed methylprednisolone rescue in the event of deterioration.

Methodology: This was a prospective cohort study performed at a major public-funded hospital in Hong Kong.

Altered exercise gas exchange as related to microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients.

Study Objective: Microalbuminuria in diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients is related to impaired cardiopulmonary function during exercise, and that the severity of impairment is correlated with the degree of microalbuminuria.

Design: Twenty of each of the following categories of subjects performed symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycle ergometer: (1) type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (daily urinary albumin excretion [UAE] < 30 mg/d); (2) type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria (daily UAE, 30 to 300 mg/d); and (3) normal control subjects.