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The genetic basis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has not been fully elucidated to date. Although it is the most common haematological malignancy in Caucasians, it is uncommon among Asians. A recent genome-wide scan of CLL in Caucasians, which was carried out in the UK, identified six variants showing strong association. We attempted to replicate these findings in 71 patients with CLL and 1273 controls in Hong Kong Chinese. Three of the six variants were significantly associated with CLL. The rs872071 variant (Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval) = 1.78 (1.25-2.53), P = 0.0013) in the IRF4 gene region showed the strongest association, similar to that reported in the UK study. Polymorphisms in SP140 and ACOXL were also associated with risk of CLL. Further, the mean allele frequencies of the six variants were moderately (59%) to extremely (0.5%) lower in the Chinese population compared with Caucasians. These results suggest that variants in three loci may contribute to risk of CLL among Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation in immune-related genes, such as IL10 and TNF, have been associated with the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in Caucasian populations. To test the hypothesis that IL10 and TNF polymorphisms may be associated with NHL risk in Asian populations, we genotyped 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL10 and TNF/LTA loci in three independent case-control studies (2635 cases and 4234 controls). IL10 rs1800871, rs1800872, and rs1800896 were genotyped in all three studies, while 5 of the remaining SNPs were genotyped in two studies, and 12 in a single study. IL10 rs1800896 was associated with B cell lymphoma [per-allele odds ratio (OR) = 1.25, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.45; p trend = 0.003], specifically diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (per-allele OR = 1.29, 95 % CI 1.08-1.53; p trend = 0.004), as well as T cell lymphoma (per-allele OR = 1.44, 95 % CI 1.13-1.82; p trend = 0.003). TNF rs1800629, which was genotyped in only two of our studies, was also associated with B cell lymphoma (per-allele OR = 0.77, 95 % CI 0.64-0.91; p trend = 0.003), specifically DLBCL (per-allele OR = 0.69, 95 % CI 0.55-0.86; p trend = 0.001). Our findings suggest that genetic variation in IL10 and TNF may also play a role in lymphomagenesis in Asian populations.

Aim: To determine the importance and contribution of compliance in a pelvic muscle exercise program as a factor in reducing the severity of urinary stress incontinence amongst Chinese women., Methods: Two hundred fourteen women presenting with urinary stress incontinence who agreed to undertake a program of pelvic muscle exercises were recruited into the study. Incontinence (wetting episodes), pelvic muscle strength, exercises compliance, correctness of pelvic muscle exercise technique, duration of stress incontinence, and previous history of pelvic surgery were recorded on four occasions: baseline (first clinic session) and second to fourth clinic sessions. Demographic data were also collected at baseline. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to determine the relative importance of compliance to exercise regime in predicting the severity of incontinence. Path analysis was used to provide a summary description of the influence of compliance on the outcomes over the four visits., Results: The pelvic muscle training program appears to be able to reduce the overall urinary incontinence episodes by 85.2% and achieved a 73.1% increase in pelvic muscle strength. Although the number of wetting episodes in any visit are causally linked to that recorded in previous visit, those who were more compliant had a greater reduction. Age, mode of delivery, menopausal status, history of pelvic surgery, and duration of incontinence did not appear to contribute significantly to predicting incontinence., Conclusion: Compliance with pelvic muscle exercises significantly contributed to a reduction in urinary stress incontinence., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Ninety-one ampicillin-resistant Shigella flexneri strains from Hong Kong and Shanghai were studied for production of beta-lactamases. TEM-1-like and OXA-1-like enzymes were identified in 21 and 79% of the strains, respectively, by isoelectric focusing (IEF). No difference in the pattern of beta-lactamase production was found between strains from Hong Kong and Shanghai. Four ribotypes were detected. Over 88% of OXA-producing strains had the same ribotype. All TEM-1-like strains harbored a plasmid which hybridized positively with the bla(TEM) probe. Total DNA from OXA-1-like strains failed to hybridize or only hybridized weakly with an OXA probe. The OXA resistance was not transferable. OXA-1-like enzymes exhibited substrate and inhibition profiles similar to that of OXA-1 and were shown to have a pI of 7.3 by further IEF using a narrow-range ampholine gel. The gene encoding the OXA-1-like enzyme from one isolate (CH-07) was cloned, sequenced, and found to differ from bla(OXA-1) at codon 131 (AGA-->GGA; Arg to Gly), resulting in the novel designation OXA-30. The predominance of OXA-type enzymes in ampicillin-resistant S. flexneri suggests host preference for specific beta-lactamases.

Since the means of culturing Helicobacter pylori may not be available in some laboratories, prolonging the survival of this organism during transportation is a major concern in terms of improving detection rates. A selective transport medium was evaluated for the preservation of H. pylori from 254 gastric biopsy specimens collected from a rural area in China where culturing is not feasible. Gastric biopsy specimens were inoculated in sterile broth consisting of brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, horse serum, and yeast extract supplemented with vancomycin, amphotericin B, and nalidixic acid (VAN). Of the 254 biopsy specimens, 238 were identified by histology to have H. pylori infection. Total rates of recovery of H. pylori from the H. pylori-positive gastric biopsy specimens stored in the BHI-VAN broth ranged from 76 to 46% after storage of specimens for 5 to 9 days. In conclusion, the selective medium is useful for prolonging the survival of H. pylori in gastric biopsy specimens for which immediate culture is not feasible.