Look-back investigation of a health care worker infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

We report the referral of an HIV-infected surgeon and a subsequent first-ever recommended look-back investigation in Hong Kong. Efficient coordination and effective implementation of the look-back investigation yielded a high response rate of 92.3% of priority patients, with none tested HIV positive.

Management and outcome of peptic ulcers or erosions in patients receiving a combination of aspirin plus clopidogrel.

Background: This multicenter retrospective study investigated the management and outcome of patients with peptic ulcer/erosion-related aspirin and clopidogrel (A + C) cotherapy.

Methods: From January 2002 to September 2006, patients with endoscopically proven peptic ulcers/erosions after receiving A + C cotherapy were analyzed.

Results: This group consisted of 106 patients (age, 69.

Risk factors associated with life-threatening rickettsial infections.

We retrospectively analyzed 92 cases of severe rickettsial infections in patients (median age = 49 years, 57% male, 37.0% with scrub typhus) in Hong Kong. Immunofluorescence assay was used for diagnostic confirmation.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated smooth muscle tumor (SMT) is a recognized but uncommon disease that is found to occur in patients with immunocompromised conditions such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These tumors may be multifocal and located at unusual sites, such as the brain and liver. This report describes the case of 2 AIDS patients with EBV-associated SMT and highlights the features and outcome of this rare but potentially important tumor in human immunodeficiency virus management.

Epidemiology and clinical features of sporadic hepatitis E as compared with hepatitis A.

Objectives: To compare the epidemiology and clinical features of two enterically transmitted hepatitis, namely hepatitis E and hepatitis A.

Methods: We analyzed clinical features and risk factors of 105 cases of hepatitis A and 24 cases of hepatitis E admitted in 2002. All patients were tested positive for IgM antibody against either hepatitis A virus (HAV) or hepatitis E virus (HEV), and all patients were tested to be negative for IgM anti-HBV or IgG anti-HCV.

Myopathic changes associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome: a postmortem case series.

Background: The March 2003 outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. Muscle weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase levels are commonly encountered in patients with SARS. However, the nature and cause of myopathy associated with a SARS infection are unknown because, to our knowledge, there has been no report of histological or postmortem examination of the skeletal muscle from SARS-infected patients.

Pregnancy and perinatal outcomes of women with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the pregnancy and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Study Design: All pregnant women (12) who presented with SARS in Hong Kong between February 1 and July 31, 2003, were included. The pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were collected.

A case-controlled study comparing clinical course and outcomes of pregnant and non-pregnant women with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Objective: To compare the clinical courses and outcomes of pregnant severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients and non-pregnant SARS patients.

Design: A case-control study.

Setting: Tertiary Hospital for Infectious Disease.

Prevalence of subclinical infection by the SARS coronavirus among general practitioners in Hong Kong.

Eight general practitioners had severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong during the epidemic, and others may have been infected by the SARS coronavirus without developing the full syndrome. We conducted a serological and questionnaire survey to determine the prevalence of subclinical infection by SARS coronavirus among general practitioners in Hong Kong. Participants had to be doctors actively practising in family medicine and who did not have SARS.

Outcomes and prognostic factors in 267 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has become a global public health emergency.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with SARS in Hong Kong and to identify predictors of mortality.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome: clinical outcome and prognostic correlates.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) poses a major threat to the health of people worldwide. We performed a retrospective case series analysis to assess clinical outcome and identify pretreatment prognostic correlates of SARS, managed under a standardized treatment protocol. We studied 127 male and 196 female patients with a mean age of 41+14 (range 18-83).

Lung pathology of fatal severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a novel infectious disease with global impact. A virus from the family Coronaviridae has been identified as the cause, but the pathogenesis is still unclear.

Methods: Post-mortem tissue samples from six patients who died from SARS in February and March, 2003, and an open lung biopsy from one of these patients were studied by histology and virology.