Adherence to a COPD treatment guideline among patients in Hong Kong.

Background: This study aimed to assess the adherence rate of pharmacological treatment to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guideline published in 2011 and the prevalence of comorbidities among patients with COPD in Hong Kong (HK).

Methods: Patients were recruited from five tertiary respiratory centers and followed up for 12 months. Data on baseline physiological, spirometric parameters, use of COPD medications and coexisting comorbidities were collected.

Functional and psychosocial effects of health qigong in patients with COPD: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: The initial gain from a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) begins to fade away 6 months after the completion of a rehabilitation program. One possible reason may be due to the poor compliance of the patients to the existing forms of home exercise program (e.g.

Bronchial artery embolisation can be equally safe and effective in the management of chronic recurrent haemoptysis.

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of bronchial artery embolisation in patients with acute major haemoptysis and those with chronic recurrent haemoptysis.

Design: Retrospective review of clinical records.

Setting: Regional hospital, Hong Kong.

Genetic polymorphisms and plasma levels of transforming growth factor-beta(1) in Chinese patients with tuberculosis in Hong Kong.

Susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) may be affected by host genetic factors. Elevated levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) were found in plasma of patients with active TB compared with those of healthy contacts. To investigate the association of TGF-beta(1) gene polymorphisms (C-509T and T869C) and plasma levels with the risk of TB in Hong Kong Chinese adults, a case-control study was carried out on 174 active TB patients and 174 healthy controls matched for age, gender and smoking.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently recognized and highly contagious pneumonic illness, caused by a novel coronavirus. While developments in diagnostic, clinical and other aspects of SARS research are well underway, there is still great difficulty for frontline clinicians as validated rapid diagnostic tests or effective treatment regimens are lacking. This article attempts to summarize some of the recent developments in this newly recognized condition from the Asia Pacific perspective.

High-dose pulse versus nonpulse corticosteroid regimens in severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The treatment of atypical pneumonia, subsequently termed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), is controversial, and the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy is unknown. We have evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 72 patients with probable SARS (median age 37 years, 30 M), who received ribavirin and different steroid regimens in two regional hospitals. Chest radiographs were scored according to the percentage of lung field involved.