INTRODUCTIONWe describe an unusual case of acute hepatitis leading rapidly to acute liver failure.

CLINICAL PICTUREOur patient had known chronic hepatitis B with a regenerating nodule confirmed on imaging and histology. He was admitted initially for abdominal discomfort after a trip to China, and investigations showed acute hepatitis with alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) at 678 and 557 U/L, respectively. Initial differential diagnoses were acute exacerbations of chronic hepatitis B, and viral hepatitis A or E. However, acute Budd- Chiari syndrome was diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen, which showed extensive thrombosis of the hepatic vein, all the intrahepatic branches, inferior vena cava, up to the right atrium.

TREATMENTDue to the extensive nature of the thrombus, radiological or surgical intervention could not be performed.

OUTCOMEThe patient was managed conservatively but progressed rapidly and died of acute liver failure 16 days after presentation.

CONCLUSIONOur case highlights the rapidity of progression of acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. Diagnosis and management of Budd-Chiari syndrome are discussed.

Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fatal Outcome ; Hepatic Veins ; diagnostic imaging ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Liver Failure, Acute ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; diagnostic imaging

BACKGROUND:Intravenous fluid (IVF) is commonly used in acute clinical management. This study aimed to review the choice and primary considerations in IVF prescriptions and to evaluate the adequacy of guidelines and trainings on it in the New Territories West Cluster (NTWC) of Hong Kong. METHODS:This is a descriptive study based on data collected from an online survey. Data were processed by SPSS for statistical analysis. This study focused on a general description and doctor-nurse between group comparison. Participants were asked the choice of IVF for nine acute clinical scenarios and provide reason. A 1–10 scale was used to assess the sufficiency of guideline, training and information, and time for revision on IVF prescription. RESULTS:0.9％ sodium chloride was the most familiar IVF (36％), followed by 5％ Dextrose solution (26％). In the nine scenarios, the most chosen IVF was 0.9％ sodium chloride (37％–61％). There was significant difference in the choice of IVF between doctors and nurses in 7 cases. The second most chosen IVF for doctors was Plasma-Lyte A while that for nurses was Gelofusine. Departmental practice was the most chosen reason to account for the prescription. The adequacy of guideline, information and training, and time for revision was rated 5. Doctors had significantly more time at work than nurses to update knowledge in IVF prescription (5.41 versus 4.57). CONCLUSION:0.9％ sodium chloride was mostly chosen. The choice of IVF was mainly based on departmental practice. Adequacy of guideline, information and training, and time for revision on IVF prescription were average, indicating significant training deficit.

Child ; Dystonia Musculorum Deformans ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Chaperones ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Positron-Emission Tomography

It has been established in the recent several decades that adult stem cells play a crucial role in tissue renewal and regeneration. Adult stem cells locate in certain organs can differentiate into functional entities such as macrophages and bone cells. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are two of the most important populations of adult stem cells. The application of these stem cells offers a new insight in treating various pathological conditions, through replenishing cells of specific functions by turning on or off the differentiating program within quiescent stem cell niches. Apart from that, they are also capable to travel through the circulation, migrate to injury sites and differentiate to enhance regeneration process. Recently, Chinese medicine (CM) has shown to be potential candidates to activate adult stem cells for tissue regeneration. This review summarizes our own, as well as others' findings concerning the use of Chinese herbal medicine in the regulation processes of adult stem cells differentiation and their movement in tissue repair and rejuvenation. A number of Chinese herbs are used as therapeutic agents and presumably preventive agents on metabolic disorders. In our opinion, the activation of adult stem cells self-regeneration not only provides a novel way to repair tissue damage, but also reduces the use of targeted drug that adversely altering the normal metabolism of human subjects.
Cell Differentiation ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Regeneration ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tissue Engineering

INTRODUCTIONHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Asia. Good public knowledge on disease transmission is one way of controlling spread of HBV. We aimed to study the general knowledge on HBV among the general public in Singapore, which is moderately prevalent with HBV.

MATERIALS AND METHODSBefore conducting a public education seminar on liver diseases, a 16-point questionnaire survey was conducted among the participants. Misperceptions (if any) were identified, and factors associated with knowledge score were analysed by multivariate analysis.

RESULTSOne hundred and ninety-two subjects completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 52 years, 78 (41%) were male, 183 (95%) were Chinese, 17 (9%) were known hepatitis B carriers and 73 (38%) had completed college education. The mean knowledge score was 10.7 (out of a maximum of 16). Most misperceptions were in the category of HBV transmission. At multivariate analysis, having college education was the only independent factor associated with a high knowledge score.

CONCLUSIONAlthough HBV infection is moderately prevalent in Singapore, many misperceptions existed among the general public, especially on the mode of transmission. Better education was related to better knowledge of HBV. Further public education should be targeted to clear the misperceptions identified, and be specifically targeted to the less educated.

Female ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Hepatitis B ; transmission ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Singapore ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDSingle incision laparoscopic colectomy has been performed in recent years, and has been shown to be feasible and safe. This study was to assess the feasibility of single incision laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and to compare the differences in different approaches.

METHODSThis retrospective study included eighteen patients with carcinoma of caecum and ascending colon, undergoing single incision laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. This study also compared single incision laparoscopic right hemicolectomy using different approaches: (1) single incision multiport, (2) single access port and (3) glove port.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in surgical outcomes. Concerning the surgeon's satisfaction toward three methods, overcrowding and durability were similar but the single incision multiport was associated with the highest gas-leak and the "glove" port was associated with poor durability. However, the method of single incision multiport has the lowest average cost of the special trocar or port in each operation. The operative time and blood loss of the operations in this study were comparable to previous publications.

CONCLUSIONThere was no significant difference between different approaches of single incision laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colonic cancer in right side colon.

Aged ; Cecal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Colectomy ; methods ; Colonic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vasa vasorum (VV) have been believed to be rare or non-existent in small-caliber intracranial arteries. In a series of human cerebral artery specimens, we identified and examined the distribution of VV in association with co-existing intracranial atherosclerosis. METHODS: We obtained cerebral artery specimens from 32 consecutive autopsies of subjects aged 45 years or above. We scrutinized middle cerebral artery (MCA), vertebral artery (VA), and basilar artery (BA) for the presence of adventitial VV. We described the distribution of VV, and the characteristics of co-existing atherosclerotic lesions. RESULTS: Among 157 intracranial arteries, adventitial VV were present in 74 of the 157 specimens (47%), involving MCA (n=13, 18%), BA (n=14, 19%), and VA (n=47, 64%). Although qualitatively these 74 adventitial VV distributed similarly in arteries with or without atherosclerotic lesions (disease-free arteries n=4/8; arteries of pre-atherosclerosis n=17/42; and arteries of progressive atherosclerosis n=53/107), the presence of adventitial VV in intracranial VA was associated with a heavier plaque load (1.72±1.66 mm2 vs. 0.40±0.32 mm2, P < 0.001), severer luminal stenosis (25%±21% vs. 12%±9%, P=0.002), higher rate of concentric lesions (79% vs. 36%, P=0.002), and denser intraplaque calcification (44% vs. 0%, P=0.003). Histologically, intracranial VA with VV had a larger diameter (3.40±0.79 mm vs. 2.34±0.58 mm, P < 0.001), thicker arterial wall (0.31±0.13 mm vs. 0.23±0.06 mm, P=0.002), and a larger intima-media (0.19±0.09 mm vs. 0.13± 0.04 mm, P=0.003) than VA without VV. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the distribution of adventitial VV within brain vasculature and association between vertebral VV and progressive atherosclerotic lesions with a heavier plaque load and denser intraplaque calcification.
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Autopsy ; Basilar Artery ; Brain ; Cerebral Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis* ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Phenobarbital ; Vasa Vasorum* ; Vertebral Artery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of a herbal formula in the prevention of influenza or influenza-like syndrome among elderies residing in old-people's home in Hong Kong. The secondary objectives are to investigate the quality of life (QOL) and symptomology changes among the herbal users and to evaluate the safety of this formula.

METHODSIn ten old people's home or community centres in New Territories, Hong Kong, 740 eligible subjects agreed to join the study and were randomized to receive a herbal formula or a placebo on alternate days over 8 weeks. Among those 740 participants, 113 had provided blood samples for immunological assessments before and after the study drug. Assessments were done at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Participants were instructed to keep a daily record of body temperature and any symptoms as sore throat, myalgia, running nose or cough, and to report to assessor accordingly. Those reporting body temperature of 37.8 °C and above would be visited and a proper nasopharyngeal swab be taken for viral study.

RESULTSSeventy-two participants developed influenza-like-symptoms but none of them was proven influenza in their nasopharyngeal swabs, 40 of these patients belonged to the herbal group and 32 to the placebo group, without significant differences between groups. The difference on the changes in QOL between the two groups was not statistically significant. However, in the immunological study, the natural killer cell absolute count was significantly increased in the herbal group compared with the placebo group (463 ± 253 vs 413 ± 198, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe herbal preparation was not effective compared with placebo in the prevention of influenza-like syndrome. It was however safe and possibly supporting immunological responses.

Aged ; Demography ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Vaccination

AIMTo evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, in men of Asian ethnicity with erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSIn this prospective, double-blind, multinational study, Asian men were randomized to receive vardenafil (10 mg) or placebo (4:1 ratio) for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy variables were the International Index of Erectile Function erectile function domain (IIEF-EF), and Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) questions related to penetration and intercourse completion. Significant mean improvements were required in all three measures to show positive benefits of vardenafil treatment. Secondary efficacy variables included the Global Assessment Question (GAQ) on erection improvement.

RESULTSLeast-squares mean baseline IIEF-EF domain scores (vardenafil 14.6, placebo 13.4) were consistent with moderate ED. After 12 weeks, vardenafil treatment was associated with significant increases from the baseline in IIEF-EF domain scores compared with the placebo (22.4 vs. 14.3; P<0.001). Vardenafil was associated with significant improvements from baseline in least squares (LS) mean success rates for SEP-2 (vardenafil 82.2 vs. placebo 43.6; P<0.001) and SEP-3 (vardenafil 66.1 vs. placebo 24.0; P<0.001). Positive GAQ responses were reported by 81.8% of vardenafil recipients vs. 24.3% of placebo recipients. Adverse events were reported by 25.4% of the vardenafil group, the majority mild and transient.

CONCLUSIONVardenafil (10 mg) is a highly effective and well-tolerated treatment for moderate ED in Asian men. These results add to the increasing amount of data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of vardenafil for the treatment of ED in a range of patient populations.

Adult ; Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Sulfones ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Triazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride