Factors affecting the maintenance stable warfarin dosage in Hong Kong Chinese patients.

Background: Multiple factors can affect the anticoagulation effect of warfarin. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between different clinical factors and outcomes of warfarin therapy in Hong Kong Chinese patients.

Methods: The study was conducted at the anticoagulation clinic of the Prince of Wales Hospital from 1 April to 31 December 2003.

Who tangos with GOA?-Use of Gene Ontology Annotation (GOA) for biological interpretation of '-omics' data and for validation of automatic annotation tools.

The number of large-scale experimental datasets generated from high-throughput technologies has grown rapidly. Biological knowledge resources such as the Gene Ontology Annotation (GOA) database, which provides high-quality functional annotation to proteins within the UniProt Knowledgebase, can play an important role in the analysis of such data. The integration of GOA with analytical tools has proved to aid the clustering, annotation and biological interpretation of such large expression datasets.

An evaluation of GO annotation retrieval for BioCreAtIvE and GOA.

Background: The Gene Ontology Annotation (GOA) database http://www.ebi.ac.

MR imaging of the gallbladder and biliary system.

MR imaging is an established technique for the diagnosis of a spectrum of biliary and gallbladder pathologies and continues to improve with the advent of technologic advances, including new contrast agents and new sequences that are capable of improving upon the contrast resolution and signal-to-noise that are afforded by conventional MR imaging. These improvements already have shown promise for the increasing role of MRC as the initial modality in assessing living liver donors and evaluating post-operative hepato-biliary complications. Improved spatial resolution and the added functional or physiologic information afforded by MR imaging promise ever expanding clinical applicability and usefulness.

Virulizin, a novel immunotherapy agent, activates NK cells through induction of IL-12 expression in macrophages.

Virulizin, a novel biological response modifier, has demonstrated significant antitumor efficacy in a variety of human tumor xenograft models including melanoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. The significant role of macrophages and NK (Natural killer) cells was implicated in the antitumor mechanism of Virulizin where expansion as well as increased activity of macrophages and NK cells were observed in mice treated with Virulizin. Depletion of macrophages compromised Virulizin-induced NK1.

Sox10 overexpression induces neural crest-like cells from all dorsoventral levels of the neural tube but inhibits differentiation.

SoxE genes (Sox8, Sox9, and Sox10) are early response genes to neural crest induction. Although the early role of Sox9 has been examined in chick and frog, later roles in neural crest migration and differentiation remain largely unexplored. We first examined which SoxE genes were expressed in trunk neural crest cells and then investigated their function using in ovo electroporation.

Identification and characterization of a novel human nephronectin gene in silico.

We describe the identification and characterization of a human epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like gene, nephronectin (NPNT), which encodes predicted proteins most homologous to the mouse nephronectin (Npnt). Human NPNT is located at the chromosomal position 4q25. Two transcript variants, NPNTa and NPNTb, are identified.

Perfusion imaging of the liver: current challenges and future goals.

Improved therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic disease place greater demands on diagnostic and surveillance tests for liver disease. Existing diagnostic imaging techniques provide limited evaluation of tissue characteristics beyond morphology; perfusion imaging of the liver has potential to improve this shortcoming. The ability to resolve hepatic arterial and portal venous components of blood flow on a global and regional basis constitutes the primary goal of liver perfusion imaging.

Effects of vitamins C and E on oxidative stress markers and endothelial function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a double blind, placebo controlled pilot study.

Objective: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience excess morbidity and mortality due to coronary artery disease (CAD) that cannot be fully explained by the classical CAD risk factors. Among emerging CAD risk factors, oxidative stress is currently being emphasized. We evaluated the effects of longterm antioxidant vitamins on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense and endothelial function in 39 patients with SLE.

Clopidogrel versus aspirin and esomeprazole to prevent recurrent ulcer bleeding.

Background: Concurrent therapy with a proton-pump inhibitor is a standard treatment for patients receiving aspirin who are at risk for ulcer. Current U.S.

Restricted response of mesencephalic neural crest to sympathetic differentiation signals in the trunk.

Lineage diversification in the vertebrate neural crest may occur via instructive signals acting on pluripotent cells, and/or via early specification of subpopulations towards particular lineages. Mesencephalic neural crest cells normally form cholinergic parasympathetic neurons in the ciliary ganglion, while trunk neural crest cells normally form both catecholaminergic and cholinergic neurons in sympathetic ganglia. In contrast to trunk neural crest cells, mesencephalic neural crest cells apparently fail to express the catecholaminergic transcription factor dHAND in response to BMPs in the head environment.

The roles of versican V1 and V2 isoforms in cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Versican is a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan belonging to the lectican family. Alternative splicing of versican generates at least four isoforms named V0, V1, V2, and V3. We have shown that the versican V1 isoform not only enhanced cell proliferation, but also modulated cell cycle progression and protected the cells from apoptosis.

A cost comparison of management of chronic hepatitis B and its associated complications in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Goals: To estimate and compare the direct medical cost in the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and its complications from the perspective of public health organizations in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Background: Hong Kong and Singapore are endemic hepatitis B virus areas with about 10% and 5%, respectively, of the population estimated as hepatitis B virus infected.

Study: The medical histories of 660 patients with CHB who received medical services over 5 years from three major public hospitals in Hong Kong and Singapore were studied retrospectively.

Myocardial infarction: optimization of inversion times at delayed contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

Seventeen patients underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for myocardial viability with a protocol approved by the institutional review board and gave written informed consent. Breath-hold cine inversion-recovery segmented k-space true fast imaging with steady-state precession sequence, referred to as inversion time (TI) mapping, was performed to determine optimal TI for myocardial infarction inversion-recovery imaging. From TI mapping, optimal TI was 180-315 msec 10-15 minutes after administration of 0.

Defining intrahepatic biliary anatomy in living liver transplant donor candidates at mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced MR cholangiography versus conventional T2-weighted MR cholangiography.

Purpose: To compare three-dimensional (3D) mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography with conventional T2-weighted MR cholangiography for depiction and definition of intrahepatic biliary anatomy in liver transplant donor candidates.

Materials And Methods: One hundred eight healthy liver transplant donor candidates were examined with two MR cholangiographic methods. All candidates gave written informed consent, and the study was approved by the institutional review board.

Renal magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose Of Review: Current magnetic resonance imaging systems allow the visualization of normal and diseased kidney, with exquisite resolution of renal structures. Dynamic contrast magnetic resonance imaging has the potential, unique among all noninvasive modalities, to differentiate diseases that affect different portions of the vascular-nephron system. This article reviews the most important recently published studies in selected topics chosen because of their clinical relevance or potential for technical developments.

Masses and pseudomasses of the kidney: imaging spectrum on MR.

MR imaging is useful in differentiating and characterizing renal masses. A careful evaluation of the signal characteristics and morphology of a renal mass combined with the ancillary imaging findings and patient history should assist the radiologist in making the proper diagnosis or recommending the appropriate treatment in most cases. This pictorial essay demonstrates the typical MR imaging features of common renal masses including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), oncocytoma, angiomyolipoma, metastases, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), lymphoma, and arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and highlights several potential diagnostic pitfalls in making the proper diagnosis.

Pneumococcal vaccination in the emergency department: an assessment of need.

Study Objectives: Immunization against Streptococcus pneumoniae with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine has been shown to be cost-effective for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease. Yet 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is widely underused, particularly among ethnic minorities. The objectives of this survey are to determine the rate of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine vaccination among all adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) of a county-based, urban, tertiary care medical center; the willingness of patients to receive 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; and reasons for nonvaccination.

Liver transplant donor candidates: associations between vascular and biliary anatomic variants.

Our objective was to investigate the coexistence of vascular and biliary anatomic variants, the latter of which are known to increase the risk of biliary complications in living liver donor transplantation. A total of 108 consecutive liver donor candidates were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that included 2 MR cholangiography methods, T2-weighted MR cholangiography and mangofodipir-enhanced T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D) MR cholangiography, as well as gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography and venography of the liver. Images were interpreted by at least 2 investigators in consensus for definition of hepatic arterial, portal venous, and biliary anatomy.

NK cell activation and tumor infiltration are involved in the antitumor mechanism of Virulizin.

Previous studies have demonstrated antitumor efficacy of Virulizin in several human tumor xenograft models and a critical role for macrophages in the antitumor mechanism of Virulizin. Although there is growing support for an immune stimulatory mechanism of action for Virulizin, the details remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine whether infiltration of natural killer (NK) cells into xenografted tumors is altered by Virulizin treatment, and whether such alterations contribute to the antitumor activity of Virulizin.

Identification and characterization of a novel human FOXK1 gene in silico.

We describe here the identification and characterization of a human forkhead box gene, FOXK1, that encodes predicted proteins most homologous to the mouse myocyte nuclear factor (MNF)/forkhead box K1 (FoxK1). Human FOXK1 is located at the chromosomal position 7p22. Two transcript variants, FOXK1a and FOXK1b, containing the divergent 5'-ends are identified.

Functional renal MR imaging.

MR imaging is the only noninvasive test that may provide a complete picture of renal status with minimal risk to the patient, simultaneously improving diagnosis and lowering costs. This article reviews several MR renography techniques, including approaches for quantifying renal perfusion and glomerular filtration rate. Also discussed are clinical applications for the diagnosis and follow-up of renovascular disease, hydronephrosis,and renal transplant dysfunction.

Renal masses: quantitative analysis of enhancement with signal intensity measurements versus qualitative analysis of enhancement with image subtraction for diagnosing malignancy at MR imaging.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare quantitative and qualitative methods of assessing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast enhancement as the basis for diagnosing renal malignancy.

Materials And Methods: MR imaging was performed by using a gadolinium-enhanced breath-hold fat-suppressed three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient-echo sequence in 71 patients (48 men and 23 women; mean age, 62 years; age range, 26-87 years) with 93 renal lesions for which pathologic correlation was available. For quantitative measurements of enhancement, the relative increase in signal intensity values was measured by one investigator with manually defined regions of interest, and the threshold of an increase of 15% or greater was used to distinguish malignant from benign masses.