A single bolus of 1 microg/kg remifentanil effectively attenuated hemodynamic changes after induction and tracheal intubation. However, remifentanil crosses the placenta and may cause mild neonatal depression and thus should be used for clear maternal indications when adequate facilities for neonatal resuscitation are available.

Our data support the use of the Chinese version of the SDQ, especially the total difficulties scale, as a screening instrument for psychiatric morbidities among children in Hong Kong.

No abstract

Please cite this paper as: Mak et al. (2012) The impact of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 on the circulation of respiratory viruses 2009–2011. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(3), e6–e10.Surveillance of respiratory viruses has been conducted for many years at the public health laboratory in Hong Kong. With the occurrence of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009, we observed a change in the seasonality of influenza activity with a seemingly corresponding change in the activity of respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus during 2009–2011. This phenomenon could most likely be explained by virus interference.

The identification of the serologic status of BKV as a significant risk factor for BKV viruria suggests that it should be included as an integral part of the pre-HSCT evaluation.

Objective To study the prophylactic use of levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in the prevention of endometrial pathology in women having breast cancer treated with tamoxifen.Design Randomised controlled trial.Setting A tertiary teaching hospital.Population One hundred and thirteen women (66 premenopausal/ 47 postmenopausal) who required adjuvant tamoxifen for breast cancer after the completion of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Methods Women were randomised to treatment group (prophylactic LNG-IUS insertion before the commencement of tamoxifen) or control group. Uterine cavity was examined by outpatient hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy before and at 12 months after commencement of tamoxifen.Main outcome measures De novo endometrial pathology at 1 year of tamoxifen.Results Women in the treatment group had a much lower incidence of endometrial polyp (1.8 versus 15.5%, P = 0.017) (relative risk: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02-0.91) at 12 months. There was no significant difference in the incidence of submucosal fibroid between the two groups (1.8 versus 3.4%, P = 1.0). LNG-IUS was retained in 95% women in the treatment group at 1 year.Conclusion LNG-IUS reduces the occurrence of de novo endometrial polyp in women treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer.Keywords Breast cancer, endometrial polyps, levonorgestrel intrauterine system, tamoxifen.Please cite this paper as: Chan S, Tam W, Yeo W, Yu M, Ng D, Wong A, Kwan W, Yuen P. A randomised controlled trial of prophylactic levonorgestrel intrauterine system in tamoxifen-treated women. BJOG 2007;114:1510-1515

The absorption of ropivacaine after thoracic paravertebral block is described by rapid and slow absorption phases. The rapid phase approximates the speed of intravenous administration and accounts for nearly half of ropivacaine absorption. The addition of 5 mug/ml epinephrine to ropivacaine significantly delays its systemic absorption and reduces the peak plasma concentration.

Virus evolution should be monitored because frequent reassortment, which contributes to virus diversity, creates the potential for more severe infections.