Acute Sophora alkaloid poisoning in Hong Kong.

Sophora alkaloids, including matrine, oxymatrine, and sophoridine, are quinolizidines found in plants used in traditional Chinese medicine such as Sophora flavescens and Sophora tonkinensis. Reports on acute Sophora alkaloid poisoning in humans outside of mainland China are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the clinical presentations, management, and outcomes of acute poisoning involving Sophora alkaloids in Hong Kong.

Ambient PM exposure and tuberculosis reactivation: a cross-sectional study in an intermediate burden city.

Hong Kong is an intermediate tuberculosis (TB) endemicity city dominated by reactivation diseases. A cross-sectional study on the clinical and epidemiologic data of newly diagnosed TB cases was conducted in such a setting, to examine the association between ambient PM and TB reactivation. After the exclusion of cases most likely resulting from recent infection, four distinct TB population phenotypes were delineated by latent class analysis based on their reactivation risk and clinical profiles ( = 2,153): '' (26%), '' (34%), '' (19%) and '' (21%).

The impact of the door-to-antivenom time on the resolution of coagulopathy caused by green pit viper bite-a retrospective cohort study.

Trimeresurus albolabris (green pit viper) accounts for 95% of human venomous snakebites in Hong Kong and the Green Pit Viper antivenin has become the only antivenom available. Little is known about the impact of early antivenom administration on the duration of venom-induced coagulopathy. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of the door-to-antivenom time (DTAT) on the duration of such coagulopathy.

No increased risk of tuberculosis-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome with integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV with profound immunosuppression.

Introduction: The issue of whether integrase inhibitors (INSTIs) may confer a higher risk of paradoxical tuberculosis-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) compared with other classes of antiretroviral in people with HIV with a profound level of immunosuppression remains insufficiently explored. We aimed to assess whether such a higher risk exists by examining a cohort of patients with TB-HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Hong Kong.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of 133 patients registered in the TB-HIV Registry of the Department of Health during the period 2014-2021.

Perioral Paresthesia, Generalize Muscle Cramps, and Rhabdomyolysis After a Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula (Monocentropus Balfouri) Bite.

Background: Literature on systemic envenomation caused by tarantula bites, particularly from the Theraphosidae family, is relatively scarce. This case report provides a formal description of the first known instance of systemic envenomation caused by the Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula (Monocentropus balfouri).

Case Report: In this case, a 23-year-old employee of an exotic pet shop suffered from perioral paresthesia, generalized muscle cramps, and rhabdomyolysis because of a Monocentropus balfouri bite.

Association of ambient PM concentration with tuberculosis reactivation diseases-an integrated spatio-temporal analysis.

Objectives: While the plausible role of ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure in tuberculosis (TB) reactivation has been inferred from experiments, epidemiologic evidence is lacking. We examined the relationship between ambient PM concentration and pulmonary TB (PTB) in an intermediate TB endemicity city dominated by reactivation diseases.

Methods: Spatio-temporal analyses were performed on TB notification data and satellite-based annual mean PM concentration in Hong Kong.

Cholinergic Mushroom Poisoning With a Detection of Muscarine Toxin in Urine.

We report an uncommon case of cholinergic poisoning following an ingestion of wild mushrooms. Two middle-aged patients presented to the emergency unit with acute gastrointestinal symptoms including epigastric pain, vomiting and diarrhea, followed by miosis, palpitations and diaphoresis which were compatible with a cholinergic toxidrome. The patients volunteered a history of taking two tablespoons of cooked wild mushrooms collected in a country park.

Derivation and internal validation of a clinical prediction score to predict major effect or death in acute metamfetamine toxicity.

Objective: Metamfetamine use can cause serious complications or death. We aimed to derive and internally validate a clinical prediction score to predict major effect or death in acute metamfetamine toxicity.

Methods: We performed secondary analysis of 1,225 consecutive cases reported from all local public emergency departments to the Hong Kong Poison Information Centre between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019.

Association of circadian rhythm with mild cognitive impairment among male pneumoconiosis workers in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional study.

Weakened circadian activity rhythms (CARs) were associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the general population. However, it remains unclear among pneumoconiosis patients. We aimed to address this knowledge gap.

Factors associated with seizure in tramadol overdose: a 12-year retrospective study in Hong Kong.

Background: Early identification of patients at risk of seizure after acute tramadol overdose is crucial. Yet, current evidence has been inconclusive regarding the factors associated with the seizure. There is a lack of study on the Chinese population and the value of electrocardiogram (ECG) in risk prognostication has not been fully evaluated.

Human Kinase IGF1R/IR Inhibitor Linsitinib Controls the In Vitro and Intracellular Growth of .

ATP provides energy in the biosynthesis of cellular metabolites as well as regulates protein functions through phosphorylation. Many ATP-dependent enzymes are antibacterial and anticancer targets including human kinases acted on by most of the successful drugs. In search of new chemotherapeutics for tuberculosis (TB), we screened repurposing compounds against the essential glutamine synthase (GlnA1) of (Mtb) and identified linsitinib, a clinical-stage drug originally targeting kinase IGF1R/IR as a potent GlnA1 inhibitor.

Differences in Sleep Patterns and Mental Health Problems During Different Periods of COVID-19 Outbreak Among Community-Dwelling Older Men in Hong Kong.

To determine the association of sleep with mental health among Hong Kong community-dwelling older men in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This additional analysis was derived from the community-dwelling men aged >60 recruited during three COVID-19 outbreaks (i.e.

Arthroscopic Resection of Too-Long Anterior Process (TLAP) of the Calcaneus, Anterior Subtalar Synovectomy, Debridement of the Sinus Tarsi, and Posterior Subtalar Adhesiolysis Via Anterolateral Subtalar and Dorsolateral Midtarsal Portals.

Lateral heel pain can have numerous causes and many of them are intra-articular pathologies of the anterior and posterior subtalar joint. Frequently, there is not a single pathology that account for the lateral heel pain and combination of different pathologies can occur. Symptomatic too-long anterior process of the calcaneus, sinus tarsi syndrome, and subtalar arthrofibrosis can be precipitated by repeated sprain.

Seasonality of tuberculosis in intermediate endemicity setting dominated by reactivation diseases in Hong Kong.

Summer-spring predominance of tuberculosis (TB) has been widely reported. The relative contributions of exogenous recent infection versus endogenous reactivation to such seasonality remains poorly understood. Monthly TB notifications data between 2005 and 2017 in Hong Kong involving 64,386 cases (41% aged ≥ 65; male-to-female ratio 1.

Endoscopic Ganglionectomy of the Extensor Digitorum Longus Tendon: An Extraganglionic Approach.

Abstract: Ganglion is the most common soft tissue mass in the foot and can be painful and affect comfort wearing shoes. The usual treatment of a ganglion is conservative: careful neglect, manual rupture, or aspiration. When the lesion is recurrent or painful, surgical excision is recommended.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Clinical Effectiveness of 3D-Printed Orthosis in the Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Study Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare clinical effectiveness and quality of life (QoL) of the 3D-printed orthosis (3O) and conventional orthosis (CO) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary Of Background Data: Using 3D printing technology to design and fabricate orthoses to manage AIS aiming to improve in-orthosis correction and patients' compliance that are considered essential factors of effective treatment.

Synthesis, Structures, and Properties of Heptabenzo[7]circulene and Octabenzo[8]circulene.

This study puts forth two new members of fully ortho-benzannulated [ n]circulenes, heptabenzo[7]circulene and octabenzo[8]circulene, which are new negatively curved nanographenes and also represent unprecedented structures of septuple [4]helicene and octuple [4]helicene, respectively. The successful synthesis of them through Scholl reaction in good to excellent yields takes advantage of the reactivity of naphthalene. Quantum chemistry calculations reveal that heptabenzo[7]circulene and octabenzo[8]circulene are both flexible π-molecules and adopt saddle-shaped geometry of C and D symmetry, respectively, at the global energy minimum in agreement with the single-crystal structures.

Smoking cessation sharply reduced lung cancer mortality in a historical cohort of 3185 Chinese silicotic workers from 1981 to 2014.

Background: Population-based studies showed an over 50% decrease in lung cancer risk after quitting smoking for 5-6 years, but the beneficial effect in silicotics remains unknown. We aimed to rectify this knowledge gap using a large historical cohort of 3185 Chinese silicotics since 1981 and followed-up till 2014.

Methods: Baseline information on workers' socio-demographics, smoking habits, occupational history, and medical history was collected.

Establishment and characterization of new tumor xenografts and cancer cell lines from EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The lack of representative nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) models has seriously hampered research on EBV carcinogenesis and preclinical studies in NPC. Here we report the successful growth of five NPC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from fifty-eight attempts of transplantation of NPC specimens into NOD/SCID mice. The take rates for primary and recurrent NPC are 4.

Changing patient safety culture in China: a case study of an experimental Chinese hospital from a comparative perspective.

Background: The World Health Organization highlights that patient safety interventions are not lacking but that the local context affects their successful implementation. Increasing attention is being paid to patient safety in Mainland China, yet few studies focus on patient safety in organizations with mixed cultures. This paper evaluates the current patient safety culture in an experimental Chinese hospital with a Hong Kong hospital management culture, and it aims to explore the application of Hong Kong's patient safety strategies in the context of Mainland China.