Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli outpatient urinary isolates from women: emerging multidrug resistance phenotypes.

This study evaluated the antimicrobial resistance profile of outpatient urinary Escherichia coli isolated from women obtained throughout Hong Kong during 2004-2005. Of 1067 single patient isolates analyzed, 60.1% were resistant to ampicillin, 34% were resistant to co-trimoxazole, and 22.

Immediate and sustained psychological impact of an emerging infectious disease outbreak on health care workers.

Objective: To assess the immediate and sustained psychological health of health care workers who were at high risk of exposure during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

Methods: At the peak of the 2003 SARS outbreak, we assessed health care workers in 2 acute care Hong Kong general hospitals with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). One year later, we reassessed these health care workers with the PSS-10, the 21-Item Depression and Anxiety Scale (DASS-21), and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R).

Stress and psychological distress among SARS survivors 1 year after the outbreak.

Objective: Our study examined the stress level and psychological distress of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) survivors 1 year after the outbreak.

Method: During the SARS outbreak in 2003, we used the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to assess SARS survivors treated in 2 major hospitals (non-health care workers, n = 49; health care workers, n = 30). We invited SARS survivors from the same hospitals (non-health care workers, n = 63; health care workers, n = 33) to complete the PSS-10 again in 2004.

Community emergence of CTX-M type extended-spectrum beta-lactamases among urinary Escherichia coli from women.

Objectives: To conduct a territory-wide study of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) among community isolates of urinary Escherichia coli from women in Hong Kong.

Methods: Up to 50 consecutive single-patient E. coli isolates, collected from 13 laboratories in 2004, were studied.

Inhibition of pyocyanin-potentiated IL-8 release by steroids in bronchial epithelial cells.

Airway epithelial cells are the first targets of environmental stimuli and local cytokines. Pyocyanin-induced synergism with interleukin (IL)-1 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in triggering IL-8 release has been documented previously. In this study, IL-8 mRNA and protein expression were examined in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) stimulated with pyocyanin alone, and in combination with IL-1beta or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) in the absence and presence of a group of glucocorticoids.

Elevated levels of transforming growth factor-beta(1) in serum of patients with stable bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic inflammatory and infective airway disease characterized by irreversible dilatation of the bronchi and persistent purulent sputum. Transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) has been found to be increased in the lungs or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with inflammatory lung diseases. However, little is known on the serum TGF-beta(1) levels in patients with bronchiectasis.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome: pertinent clinical characteristics and therapy.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly emerged infection that is caused by a previously unrecognized virus - a novel coronavirus designated as SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). From November 2002 to July 2003 the cumulative number of worldwide cases was >8000, with a mortality rate of close to 10%. The mortality has been higher in older patients and those with co-morbidities.

Psychological responses to the SARS outbreak in healthcare students in Hong Kong.

This paper reports a cross-sectional questionnaire study that investigated perceived stress and psychological responses to the SARS outbreak in healthcare students at the height of the outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003. Non-healthcare university students served as controls. All the groups reported high levels of perceived stress.

Systemic oxidative and antioxidative status in Chinese patients with asthma.

Background: Patients with asthma generate an increased amount of reactive oxygen species from peripheral blood cells. Reactive oxygen species produce many of the pathophysiologic changes associated with asthma and may contribute to its pathogenesis.

Objective: We investigated changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidized glutathione (glutathione disulfide; GSSG) levels in erythrocytes from a group of healthy control Chinese subjects (n=135) and patients with asthma (n=106).

Psychological effects of the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong on high-risk health care workers.

Objective: To quantify stress and the psychological impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on high-risk health care workers (HCWs).

Method: We evaluated 271 HCWs from SARS units and 342 healthy control subjects, using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to assess stress levels and a structured list of putative psychological effects of SARS to assess its psychological effects. Healthy control subjects were balanced for age, sex, education, parenthood, living circumstances, and lack of health care experience.

Stress and psychological impact on SARS patients during the outbreak.

Objective: To examine stress and psychological impact in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients during the 2003 outbreak. SARS is a novel, highly infectious pneumonia, and its psychological impact is still unclear.

Method: At the peak of the outbreak, SARS patients (n = 79) and healthy control subjects (n = 145) completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and documented a range of psychological responses.

Lung cancer susceptibility and polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase genes in Hong Kong.

Objective: To study the potential role of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferases GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 in susceptibility to lung cancer in Hong Kong Chinese.

Methods: 229 consecutive incident patients with a histological diagnosis of lung cancer from a regional hospital and 197 healthy population-based controls were recruited for this study between July 1999 and June 2001. Genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined using PCR-based technique.

In vitro study of regulation of IL-6 production in bronchiectasis.

Persistent airway inflammation is an important pathogenetic factor in bronchiectasis, and interleukin (IL)-6 is among the mediators implicated in regulation of inflammation in bronchiectatic airways. We postulated that airway secretion with its constituents of cytokines and enzymes would provide an environment for perpetuation of inflammation in vivo. We aimed to determine the action of sputum from patients with bronchiectasis on IL-6 production from cultured normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and its modulation by anti-inflammatory drugs in vitro.

Computed tomographic evaluation of the role of craniofacial and upper airway morphology in obstructive sleep apnea in Chinese.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between cephalometric parameters, upper airway morphological factors and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Chinese subjects.

Design: Polysomnogram (PSG) were performed and scored using standard criteria. Supine lateral cephalometric parameters and pharyngeal cross-sectional areas at the level of velopharynx (VA) and hypopharynx (HA) were measured from computed tomographic scans.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome: temporal lung changes at thin-section CT in 30 patients.

Purpose: To evaluate lung abnormalities on serial thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scans in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) during acute and convalescent periods.

Materials And Methods: Serial thin-section CT scans in 30 patients (17 men, aged 42.5 years +/- 12.

High-resolution CT findings of severe acute respiratory syndrome at presentation and after admission.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings at presentation and after hospital admission in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the HRCT findings at presentation (n = 12) and after hospital admission (n = 25) of 29 patients with SARS and compared the HRCT findings with the radiographic findings. HRCT scans were obtained using 1-mm (n = 28) or 2-mm (n = 1) collimation.

Using biofunctional magnetic nanoparticles to capture vancomycin-resistant enterococci and other gram-positive bacteria at ultralow concentration.

Covalently linked to vancomycin (Van), chemically stable and highly magnetic anisotropic FePt magnetic nanoparticles (3-4 nm) become water-soluble and capture vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and other Gram-positive bacteria at concentrations approximately 10(1) cfu/mL via polyvalent ligand-receptor interactions. When a pyramidal end of a magnet "focuses" the nanoparticles into approximately 1 mm(2) area, the bacteria can be observed by an optical microscope and further identified by electron micrograph (EM). Compared to the conventional use of magnetic particles (with the sizes of 1-5 microm) in biological separation or drug delivery, magnetic nanoparticles, combined with specific receptor-ligand interactions, promise a sensitive and rapid protocol to detect pathogens.

Beta-thalassemia major: thin-section CT features and correlation with pulmonary function and iron overload.

Purpose: To describe and quantify thin-section computed tomographic (CT) features of the lung in patients with beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM) and determine the correlation between thin-section CT findings, pulmonary function test (PFT) results, and iron overload.

Materials And Methods: Forty-one patients with beta-TM (mean age, 24.5 years) underwent thin-section CT (during full inspiration and expiration) and PFTs.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome: radiographic evaluation and clinical outcome measures.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship among chest radiographs, oxygen supplementation requirement, and treatment response in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Materials And Methods: Forty patients (20 women, 20 men; mean age, 42.90 years +/- 14.

Endothelial function in obstructive sleep apnea and response to treatment.

Impaired endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation is a prognostic marker of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We evaluated endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced dilation of the brachial artery with Doppler ultrasound in 28 men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and 12 men without OSA. Subjects with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index; mean +/- SD, 46.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome: relationship between radiologic and clinical parameters.

Purpose: To quantify severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on chest radiographs and to determine its relationship with clinical parameters.

Materials And Methods: Forty patients (mean age, 42.90 years +/- 14.

Silicosis in 76 men: qualitative and quantitative CT evaluation--clinical-radiologic correlation study.

Purpose: To use qualitative and quantitative computed tomography (CT) to test the hypothesis that impaired lung function with silicosis is due to progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) and associated emphysema.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-six men with silicosis underwent volumetric and thin-section CT of the thorax. Lung function, Borg scale dyspnea grade, silica exposure duration, and cigarette consumption were determined.

Using biofunctional magnetic nanoparticles to capture gram-negative bacteria at an ultra-low concentration.

After conjugation to vancomycin (Van), chemically stable and highly magnetic anisotropic FePt magnetic nanoparticles (approximately 4 nm) become water-soluble and capture E. coli at 15 cfu mL(-1).

In vitro study examining the effect of sub-lethal QS 755 nm lasers on the expression of p16INK4a on melanoma cell lines.

Background And Objectives: Q-switched lasers had been used in the treatment of lentigo maligna but their role remains controversial. While previous studies have addressed the change in adhesion molecule expression after sub-lethal laser damage, no study has addressed the impact of sub-lethal laser damage at a molecular level. The p16 gene has been proposed as the candidate gene for melanoma.