Effect of mobile interventions with nicotine replacement therapy sampling on long-term smoking cessation in community smokers: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Mobile interventions enable personalized behavioral support that could improve smoking cessation (SC) in smokers ready to quit. Scalable interventions, including unmotivated smokers, are needed. We evaluated the effect of personalized behavioral support through mobile interventions plus nicotine replacement therapy sampling (NRT-S) on SC in Hong Kong community smokers.

Towards decarbonisation targets by changing setpoint temperature to avoid building overcooling and implementing district cooling in (sub)tropical high-density cities - A case study of Hong Kong.

Climate warming, rapid economic development, and urbanisation in (sub)tropical regions lead to increasing electricity demand for building air-conditioning that could jeopardise the efforts of decarbonisation required to meet the climate change mitigation goals. This study investigates two strategies to reduce building energy consumption due to air-conditioning: 1) the bottom-up adoption of an Adaptive Thermal Comfort (ATC)-based cooling setpoint temperature and 2) the top-down implementation of efficient District Cooling Systems (DCS). The subtropical high-density city of Hong Kong is chosen for case study since detailed data on the city's current and realistic future urban form and function are available.

A Direct Ammonia Microfluidic Fuel Cell using NiCu Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotubes as an Electrocatalyst.

This work demonstrates the use of a NiCu electrocatalyst prepared by hydrothermal method with different Ni/Cu mass ratios (70:30, 50:50 and 30:70) supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which was studied with regards to its electrochemical behavior in the ammonia oxidation reaction and direct ammonia microfluidic fuel cell (DAMFC) performance. XRD and SEM-EDX showed the formation of NiCu alloy while TEM showed the particles size to be 15-20 nm. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry showed that NiCu had higher catalytic activity than pure Ni and pure Cu, and that the active species was a NiCu oxyhydroxide.

Accelerated fractionation radiotherapy and late intensification with 2 intra-arterial cisplatin infusions for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: This study was established to determine the maximum tolerated dose of intra-arterial cisplatin (IAC) concurrent with accelerated fractionation radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: We conducted a phase I study. Treatment consisted of 70 Gy/35 fractions/5.

HER2 expression predicts improved survival in patients with cervical node-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of HER2 and p63 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study Design: A case review of 186 HNSCCs from the oral tongue, palate, maxillary sinus, floor of mouth, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx.

Subjects And Methods: All primary tumor specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for HER2 and p63 expressions, which were correlated with clinical parameters including age, sex, grade, lymph node metastases, stage, and survival.

New evidence for geographic variation in the role of human papillomavirus in tonsillar carcinogenesis.

Aims: Our previous studies of tonsillar cancers from New South Wales, Australia, and Jilin Province in the north-east of China, provided evidence that the proportion of these cancers attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV) varies geographically. This study provides the first data on HPV in tonsillar cancers from Hong Kong.

Methods: A total of 49 Hong Kong tonsillar cancers were analysed for HPV DNA by PCR/sequencing and for p16(INK4A), retinoblastoma (pRb) protein, cyclin D1 and p53 expression by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry as evidence of virus causality.

Dose-response relationship of nasopharyngeal carcinoma above conventional tumoricidal level: a study by the Hong Kong nasopharyngeal carcinoma study group (HKNPCSG).

Background And Purpose: To define the dose-response relationship of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) above the conventional tumoricidal dose level of 66 Gy when the basic radiotherapy (RT) course was given by the 2D Ho's technique.

Patients And Methods: Data from all five regional cancer centers in Hong Kong were pooled for this retrospective study. All patients (n = 2426) were treated with curative-intent RT with or without chemotherapy between 1996 and 2000 with the basic RT course using the Ho's technique.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for attributable mortality in Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia.

Background And Purpose: Enterobacter spp. have emerged as an important cause of nosocomial bacteremia. The purpose of this study was to delineate the clinical, laboratory and microbiologic features that may influence prognosis of Enterobacter cloacae and enable a stratification of those patients at high risk of mortality.

Predictors of mortality in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia.

This study retrospectively investigated 149 episodes of Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia which occurred during a 41-month period from September 1997 to January 2001. Bacteremia was nosocomial in 139 (93%) of the episodes and community-acquired in 10 (7%). Thirty three deaths (22.

Survival outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma with first local failure: a study by the Hong Kong Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Study Group.

Background: The purpose of this article is to report the overall survival (OS) outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with local failure who received salvage treatment and to identify prognostic factors for OS.

Methods: Between January 1996 and December 2000, 2915 patients received primary radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy for nonmetastatic NPC. At a median follow-up of 3.

Live view of gonadotropin-releasing hormone containing neuron migration.

Neurons that synthesize GnRH control the reproductive axis and migrate over long distances and through different environments during development. Prior studies provided strong clues for the types of molecules encountered and movements expected along the migratory route. However, our studies provide the first real-time views of the behavior of GnRH neurons in the context of an in vitro preparation that maintains conditions comparable to those in vivo.

Influence of histidine on the stability and physical properties of a fully human antibody in aqueous and solid forms.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of histidine on the stability and physical properties of a fully human anti-IL8 monoclonal antibody (ABX-IL8) in aqueous and solid forms.

Methods: Using a fractional factorial design, we tested many excipients, including histidine, sucrose, and other commonly used excipients, on the stability and physical properties of the antibody in both liquid and lyophilized forms. Antibody stability and physical properties were evaluated using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SEC-HPLC), sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and a viscometer.

Viewing cell movements in the developing neuroendocrine brain.

Many studies suggest that migratory guidance cues within the developing brain are diverse across many regions. To better understand the early development and differentiation of select brain regions, an in vitro method was developed using selected inbred and transgenic strains of embryonic mice. In particular, organotypic slices are used to test factors that influence the movements of neurons during brain development.

A Phase I-II study of sequential administration of topotecan and oral etoposide (toposiomerase I and II inhibitors) in the treatment of patients with small cell lung carcinoma.

Background: Topotecan (9-dimethylaminomethyl-10-hydroxycampthothecin) is a new topoisomerase I inhibitor with promising efficacy in the treatment of patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Combination with a topoisomerase II inhibitor may potentate the therapeutic effect of topotecan, although there has been conflicting preclinical information on the combination. The objectives of this study were to establish the maximum tolerated dose and to determine the efficacy of the sequential combination of intravenous topotecan and oral etoposide in the treatment of patients with SCLC.