Biologic contribution of P1 promoter-mediated expression of ST6Gal I sialyltransferase.

The synthesis of the common and well-documented Siaalpha 2,6 to Galbeta 1,4GlcNAc structure (Sia6LacNAc) is principally mediated by the sialyltransferase ST6Gal I, which is particularly highly expressed in liver, lactating mammary gland, intestinal epithelia of newborn animals, and B cells. Multiple independent promoters govern the expression of Siat1, the ST6Gal I gene. In liver, elevation of hepatic and serum ST6Gal is part of the acute phase reaction, the hepatic response to systemic trauma, and is governed by the inducible, liver-specific promoter-regulatory region, P1.

Homocysteine, endothelial dysfunction, and coronary artery disease: emerging strategy for secondary prevention.

Atherosclerosis is an important medical problem of the 21st century, but traditional risk factors could only account for 50% of the problem. Hyperhomocysteinemia is emerging as an independent atherosclerosis risk factor, associated with folate deficiency, renal failure, and relative deficiency of MTHFR (C677T polymorphism) or other enzymes depending on gender, age, and smoking status. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been reported to occur in 11-22% of western people, in 3-5% of normal asymptomatic Chinese subjects aged 18-70 years in Hong Kong, Macau, Sydney, and San Francisco, 23-36% of Chinese in Hong Kong with premature coronary artery disease, and 29% of a nonselective series of coronary subjects in Hong Kong.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of high-dose omeprazole infusion as adjuvant therapy to endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer.

Background: Intravenous administration of proton pump inhibitors after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers has been shown to decrease the rate of recurrent bleeding and the need for subsequent surgery. Yet there is a relative lack of formal assessment of this practice. The aim of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of this therapy by using standard pharmacoeconomic methods.

Psychological correlates of physical abuse in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents.

Objective: To understand the associations between adolescent family physical maltreatment and psychiatric morbidity or psychological problems.

Methods: questionnaire survey on 489 secondary school students in Form 2 from 10 schools in Hong Kong. Questions regarding three forms of family physical maltreatment were measured: corporal punishment within the past 6 months, beaten without any reason within the past 6 months, or ever been beaten to injury.

The relationship between condom use, sexually transmitted diseases, and location of commercial sex transaction among male Hong Kong clients.

Objective: This study investigated the consistency of condom use and the prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among male Hong Kong commercial sex clients with respect to the geographical location of these transactions.

Design And Methods: Male clients were identified via three independent, population-based surveys conducted in 1998, 1999, and 2001. A unique confidential telephone system was used to collect sensitive information.

Assessment of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors among the general female population in Hong Kong.

This study examined sexual practices among the female population in Hong Kong. A total of 2,076 women between 18 and 50 years were interviewed by using a computerized telephone survey method. Sexually active women (59.

Surveillance of HIV/AIDS-related attitudes and perceptions among the general public in Hong Kong from 1994 to 2000.

The present study monitored the trends of HIV/AIDS-related attitudes and perceptions including awareness, knowledge, self-perceived risk of HIV infection, and program evaluation among the general public in Hong Kong over a period of 7 years. Six cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted. A total of 6,795 respondents aged 18-50 randomly selected from the general population participated in the study.

Behavioral surveillance and factors associated with condom use and std incidences among the male commercial sex client population in Hong Kong--results of two surveys.

The present study compared the results of behavioral surveillance data obtained on the male clients of female sex workers (FSWs) population in Hong Kong. Two surveys, using an identical method, were completed in 1998 and 2000. Respectively, 1,020 and 2,074 respondents aged 18-60 who were randomly selected from the general population participated in the study.

A study of the STD/AIDS related attitudes and behaviors of men who have sex with men in Hong Kong.

A random population based study was carried out to understand HIV-related attitudes and behaviors and self-reported sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among men who have had sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong. A special computerized telephone survey method was used and 85 MSM were identified (from a total sample of 2,074 men), 47.1% of whom had at least one male sex partner in the past 6 months.

Adjusting bone mass for differences in projected bone area and other confounding variables: an allometric perspective.

The traditional method of assessing bone mineral density (BMD; given by bone mineral content [BMC] divided by projected bone area [Ap], BMD = BMC/Ap) has come under strong criticism by various authors. Their criticism being that the projected bone "area" (Ap) will systematically underestimate the skeletal bone "volume" of taller subjects. To reduce the confounding effects of bone size, an alternative ratio has been proposed called bone mineral apparent density [BMAD = BMC/(Ap)3/2].

Construction of the Chinese University Prognostic Index for hepatocellular carcinoma and comparison with the TNM staging system, the Okuda staging system, and the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program staging system: a study based on 926 patients.

Background: The current TNM staging system for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) does not include liver function parameters and does not provide a precise prognosis for patients in different risk groups. The objectives of this study were to construct a new prognostic index for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the Chinese University Prognostic Index (CUPI), and to compare it with existing staging systems in terms of their ability to classify patients into different risk group.

Methods: From 1996 to 1998, 926 ethnic Chinese patients who were diagnosed with HCC (mainly hepatitis B-associated) at a single institution were recruited prospectively into this study.