Impact assessment of non-pharmaceutical interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza in Hong Kong: an observational study.

Background: A range of public health measures have been implemented to suppress local transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong. We examined the effect of these interventions and behavioural changes of the public on the incidence of COVID-19, as well as on influenza virus infections, which might share some aspects of transmission dynamics with COVID-19.

Methods: We analysed data on laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, influenza surveillance data in outpatients of all ages, and influenza hospitalisations in children.

Morphometric MRI Imaging Study of the Corridor for the Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technique at L1-L5.

Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion and lateral lumbar interbody fusion are associated with approach-related disadvantages. Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) is the proposed solution, especially for upper lumbar levels. We analyzed the size and regional anatomy of the corridor used in the OLIF technique between levels L1 and L5.

Outcomes of Short Fusion versus Long Fusion for Adult Degenerative Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in clinical and radiographic outcomes between short (<3 levels) and long (≥3 levels) fusions in the setting of degenerative lumbar scoliosis. A literature search was performed from six electronic databases. The key terms of "degenerative scoliosis" OR "lumbar scoliosis" AND "fusion" were combined and used as MeSH subheadings.

A novel technique for placement of sacro-alar-iliac (S2AI) screws by K-wire insertion using intraoperative navigation.

Sacral-iliac fixation techniques may be indicated in the management of various lumbosacral pathologies including spinal degeneration, infection, tumour resection, fracture, pseudarthrosis, correction of spinal deformities involving long fusion constructs to the sacrum and cases with poor sacral fixation. There are a number of options for lumbosacral fixation each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Though S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) have demonstrated promising advantages over alternatives, the complex anatomy of the spinopelvic region demands precise insertion of the screws to create a biomechanically robust construct safely.

Synthesis and anti-breast cancer activity of new indolylquinone derivatives.

A series of novel indolylquinones have been synthesized by treating halogeno-quinone with 2-substituated indole derivatives in the presence of kalium carbonate and TEBA in acetonitrile at room temperature. These compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against human MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. All the tested compounds showed potent mircomolar cytotoxicity activity in both breast cancer cell lines.

Study of apoptosis induced by 188Re-DTPA-DG in MCF-7 breast carcinoma and A549 pulmonary carcinoma cells.

Objective: To evaluate apoptosis induced by rehenium-188-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-glucosamine (188Re-DTPA-DG) in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells and A549 pulmonary carcinoma cells.

Methods: Through the use of flow cytometry (FCM) with CBA software to detect apoptosis, cells of both the MCF-7 and A549 cell lines were divided into groups exposed to 188Re-DTPA-DG, 188Re-perrhenate (188ReO4-), and saline, respectively. The first two groups were further divided into subgroups on the basis of their exposure to radioactivity at 37, 55.

Antitumor effects of radioiodinated antisense oligonuclide mediated by VIP receptor.

A 15-mer phosphorothioate antisense oligonuclide (ASON) complementary to the translation start region of the C-myc oncogene mRNA was radioiodinated to enhance its antitumor activity, and vasoactive intestinal peptide bound covalently polylysine (VIP-polylysine) was used as a carrier to deliver the oligonucleotide into VIP receptor-positive tumor cells. The antitumor activity of radioiodinated ASON conjugated to VIP-polylysine(VIP-131I-ASON) was investigated in athymic mice bearing HT29 tumor xenografts in comparison with unconjugated radioiodinated ASON(131I-ASON), unlabelled ASON (VIP-ASON) and scrambled oligonucleotide (VIP-131I-MON) conjugated to VIP-polylysine. Conjugation 125I-ASON to VIP-polylysine resulted in a 5.