News

Antimicrobial Resistance – The Challenge Ahead

Post Date : 14/12/2008

Volume 3, Issue 3, December 2008

IP, Margaret

Professor, Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Introduction - Global Concerns and Challenges

Throughout the world, healthcare professionals are concerned at the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance and the global emergence of multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in the health care setting and in the community. The use of penicillin in early 1940s on a wider scale, and the subsequent newly-introduced antimicrobials, was soon followed by the emergence of resistantmicrobes. Some of the seresistant organisms in relation to the introduction of antimicrobial agents are listed in Table 1. The prevalence of MDROs has increased dramatically worldwide during the last decades [1]. Most alarmingly are in infections caused by MDROs whereby resistance...

Immunogenetics: MHC and non-MHC

Post Date : 01/08/2008

Volume 3, Issue 2, August 2008

KWOK, SY Janette

Associate Consultant, Division of Transplantation and Immunogenetics, Department of Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

Introduction

Immunogenetics is the study of the immune response in relation to genetic makeup. The immune system protects the vertebrates from all potential harmful infectious agents such as bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites. The growing understanding of the immune system has influenced diversified biomedical disciplines, and is playing a significant role in the study and treatment of many diseases such as cancer and autoimmune conditions.

The launch of immunogenetics could be traced back to the demonstration of Mendelian inheritance of the human ABO blood grouping in 1910. Major developments leading to the...

The Autopsy Interview

Post Date : 01/04/2008

Volume 3, Issue 1, April 2008

BEH, SL Philip 

Associate Professor (Forensic Pathology), Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine The University of Hong Kong

The autopsyinterview is an anomaly which arose in Hong Kong at a time when the Coroner did not speak the local language and the police officer investigating the death had very little medical knowledge. The hospital anatomical pathologists and forensic pathologists were therefore delegated the task of obtaining medical information from the Cantonese speaking next-of-kin which may be related to the death and providing a written English summary for the Coroner. The legal authority on the decision to autopsy or to waive an autopsy had always rested with the Coroner. However, the practical decisions were effectively made by the pathologists based on the available me dical...

Impact of Molecular Methods in the Diagnosis of Lymphomas

Post Date : 01/07/2007

Volume 2, Issue 2, July 2007

Dr. CHEUK Wah

BSc(Hons), MBBS, FHKCPath, FRCPA, Associate Consultant, Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital 

Overview of conventional molecular techniques in lymphomas

The use of molecular techniques in hematolymphoid pathology started with cloning of the immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes. [1] This is followed by the cloning of a number of translocation breakpoints in some common lymphoma types.[2-4] Assay of chromosomal breakpoints not only helps in confirming a clonal proliferation but also prov ides an indication of the type of lymphoma. The main application is to establish clonality or lineage of a lymphoid proliferation. 

Southern blot analysis was the standard technique in molecular studies. The advent of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provides an...

Recent perspectives in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency

Post Date : 30/03/2007

Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2007

Dr Edmond S K Ma

MD (HK), FRCPath, FHKAM (Pathology)

Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital

Background

G6PD catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) to 6-phosphogluconate concurrent with reduction of NADP to NADPH, which in turn acts through glutathione and catalase pathways to detoxify hydrogen peroxide, thus counteracting oxidative stress to the cell. In the body, red cells are most susceptible to oxidative damage because oxygen radicals are generated continuously as haemoglobin cycles from deoxygenated to oxygenated forms, as well as being readily exposed to exogenous oxidizing agents present in the blood. Hence G6PD deficiency is a prototype cause of haemolytic anaemia due to intrinsic red cell enzyme abnormality.

Deficiency of G6PD...

Diagnosing Wilson disease in the post-genomic era

Post Date : 10/11/2006

Volume 1, Issue 3, November 2006

Dr Ching-Wan LAM, MBChB(CUHK), PhD(CUHK), FRCPA, FHKAM(Pathology)

Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital

Dr Chloe MAK, MBBS(HK), FRCPA

Resident Specialist, Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital

Wilson disease (WD) (MIM # 277900) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper transport. Clinical manifestations of WD vary widely. The age of onset ranges from three to more than 50 years of age. The initial onset of symptoms can be hepatic, neurological, psychiatric or as an acute haemolytic crisis. The prevalence of WD has been estimated to be approximately 1 in 30,000 in the Caucasian population. Although the prevalence of WD in the Hong Kong Chinese has not been investigated,...

The Roles and Expectations of the Specialist in Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Post Date : 18/07/2006

Volume 1, Issue 2, July 2006

Raymond WH Yung

Infection Control Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health & Infectious Disease Control Training Centre, Hospital Authority

In the past three years, we have witnessed the revived recognition of the importance of the specialty of Clinical Microbiology and Infection. The SARS outbreak reminded the medical profession that the line of defence which we had built against infection was still not robust enough to handle major outbreaks. Three reports were published after the outbreak. They outlined the deficiencies found and recommended what should be done for the future.1-3 Many of the recommendations are relevant and will impact on the future development of the specialty of Clinical Microbiology and Infection. Let me quote from the report of the Hospital Authority Review Panel,...

Laboratory diagnosis of human disease caused by H5N1 influenza virus

Post Date : 10/03/2006

Volume 1, Issue 1, March 2006

JSM Peiris & Wilina Lim

Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong & Virology Division, Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR 

Avian influenza A subtype H5N1 is endemic in poultry across south-east Asia and continues to cause zoonotic disease in humans. So far, transmission of virus from avian to humans appears very inefficient and sustained transmission from human-to-human has not occurred. However, with the continued opportunity for human exposure over an ever increasing geographic range, it is possible (though not inevitable) that H5N1 virus may acquire the ability to transmit efficiently from human-to-human, leading to a pandemic.

Human disease caused by H5N1 influenza virus typically presents either as a rapidly...