Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an expanding problem with low levels of awareness in Hong Kong.

Background And Aim: With the Westernization of the lifestyle and the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging health problem in the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness of NAFLD among the general population in Hong Kong.

Methods: A random telephone survey was conducted from September 2007 to January 2008 using a structured multiple-choice questionnaire.

Risk factors associated with life-threatening rickettsial infections.

We retrospectively analyzed 92 cases of severe rickettsial infections in patients (median age = 49 years, 57% male, 37.0% with scrub typhus) in Hong Kong. Immunofluorescence assay was used for diagnostic confirmation.

Lamivudine compared with lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil for the treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: We aimed to evaluate nucleoside/nucleotide combination therapy in treatment-naïve HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: One hundred and fifteen HBeAg-positive patients received lamivudine 100 mg daily plus placebo (monotherapy) or lamivudine 100 mg plus adefovir dipoxil 10 mg daily (combination therapy) for 104 weeks in a randomized double-blind study.

Results: Time-weighted average change in serum HBV DNA from baseline up to week 16 was -4.

Mutational analysis of 65 Wilson disease patients in Hong Kong Chinese: identification of 17 novel mutations and its genetic heterogeneity.

Wilson disease (WD), an autosomal recessive disorder of copper transport, is the most common inherited liver disorder in Hong Kong Chinese. This was the first local study to elucidate the molecular basis and establish an effective DNA-based diagnostic protocol. The ATP7B genes of 65 patients were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced.

Sustained disease remission after spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is associated with reduction in fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B Chinese patients.

Unlabelled: Recently, controversies have arisen about whether hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion can result in regression of fibrosis, thus improving the clinical outcome of Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B. In this study, we determined if spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is associated with regression of fibrosis in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients. We evaluated the histology of liver samples from 128 HBeAg-positive treatment-naive Chinese patients who had undergone 2 liver biopsies over the years.

Coronavirus-positive nasopharyngeal aspirate as predictor for severe acute respiratory syndrome mortality.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has caused a major epidemic worldwide. A novel coronavirus is deemed to be the causative agent. Early diagnosis can be made with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal aspirate samples.

Outcomes and prognostic factors in 267 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has become a global public health emergency.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with SARS in Hong Kong and to identify predictors of mortality.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Transjugular liver biopsy with an automated trucut-type needle: comparative study with percutaneous liver biopsy.

Objective: Transjugular liver biopsy using the suction method usually produces small specimens with excessive fragmentation, hence the diagnosis adequacy of specimens and the clinical impact of performing the biopsy have been questioned. An alternative biopsy needle, the Quick-Core needle system, which uses an automated trucut-type mechanism, has been shown to produce non-fragmented tissue specimens. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety, adequacy and clinical impact of the transjugular liver biopsy by comparing it with the standard percutaneous liver biopsy.