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This article examines the video game Kingdom Hearts and its classification as a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) due to its collaboration with the Walt Disney Company. It explores the game's Japanese identity and the role of race in its production and the global video game industry. The article also discusses the erasure of minority labor in the industry and the importance of studying JRPGs to understand the racial politics of the industry. It analyzes the game's creator, Tetsuya Nomura, from the perspective of auteur theory and contrasts his auteurship with other game developers. The tensions between Disney and Square Enix in the development of Kingdom Hearts are explored, as well as the racialized labor of the creative team. The article also discusses the game's use of Disney animations and characters, including the creation of iconic landmarks and new environments. It explores the concept of the anti-auteur in the game industry. [Extracted from the article]

This article uncovers how the distribution of yaoi anime in the United States, in the specific context of streaming services, could be affected by and is reflective of shifting market conditions. Specifically, I study how a selection of yaoi anime are completely or partially withheld from circulation on Crunchyroll due to licensing issues and censorship, creating what I call "nonpresences" in Crunchyroll's yaoi catalog. Through translating these nonpresences into readable information, I illuminate how Crunchyroll as a niche distributor is affected by the disruptive presence of conglomerates, the impermanence of streaming licenses, and the constraints of industry regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

K. T. Wong, K. Y. Ng, K. C. Ong, W. F. Ng, S. K. Shankar, A. Mahadevan, B. Radotra, I. J. Su, G. Lau, A. E. Ling, K. P. Chan, P. Macorelles, S. Vallet, M. J. Cardosa, A. Desai, V. Ravi, N. Nagata, H. Shimizu and T. Takasaki (2012) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 38, 443-453 Enterovirus 71 encephalomyelitis and Japanese encephalitis can be distinguished by topographic distribution of inflammation and specific intraneuronal detection of viral antigen and RNA Aims: To investigate if two important epidemic viral encephalitis in children, Enterovirus 71 (EV71) encephalomyelitis and Japanese encephalitis (JE) whose clinical and pathological features may be nonspecific and overlapping, could be distinguished. Methods: Tissue sections from the central nervous system of infected cases were examined by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results: All 13 cases of EV71 encephalomyelitis collected from Asia and France invariably showed stereotyped distribution of inflammation in the spinal cord, brainstem, hypothalamus, cerebellar dentate nucleus and, to a lesser extent, cerebral cortex and meninges. Anterior pons, corpus striatum, thalamus, temporal lobe, hippocampus and cerebellar cortex were always uninflamed. In contrast, the eight JE cases studied showed inflammation involving most neuronal areas of the central nervous system, including the areas that were uninflamed in EV71 encephalomyelitis. Lesions in both infections were nonspecific, consisting of perivascular and parenchymal infiltration by inflammatory cells, oedematous/necrolytic areas, microglial nodules and neuronophagia. Viral inclusions were absent. Conclusions: Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization assays were useful to identify the causative virus, localizing viral antigens and RNA, respectively, almost exclusively to neurones. The stereotyped distribution of inflammatory lesions in EV71 encephalomyelitis appears to be very useful to help distinguish it from JE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first in the phase-mode analysis literature to analytically characterise the far-field azimuth-elevation (φ-θ) beam-pattern due to any arbitrary excitation-function on an elliptical-rim aperture. The key findings include: such an arbitrary excitation-function's far-field beam-pattern is not always φ-θ separable. Nonetheless, this beam-pattern is Σ-separable in the sense that it is a sum of φ-θ separable terms. Moreover, this sum may be approximated (with arbitrarily small truncation-error) as a finite-term summation. A ceiling of this truncation-error is derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study the pathology of two cases of human Hendra virus infection, one with no clinical encephalitis and one with relapsing encephalitis. Methods: Autopsy tissues were investigated by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results: In the patient with acute pulmonary syndrome but not clinical acute encephalitis, vasculitis was found in the brain, lung, heart and kidney. Occasionally, viral antigens were demonstrated in vascular walls but multinucleated endothelial syncytia were absent. In the lung, there was severe inflammation, necrosis and viral antigens in type II pneumocytes and macrophages. The rare kidney glomerulus showed inflammation and viral antigens in capillary walls and podocytes. Discrete necrotic/vacuolar plaques in the brain parenchyma were associated with antigens and viral RNA. Brain inflammation was mild although CD68+ microglia/macrophages were significantly increased. Cytoplasmic viral inclusions and antigens and viral RNA in neurones and ependyma suggested viral replication. In the case of relapsing encephalitis, there was severe widespread meningoencephalitis characterized by neuronal loss, macrophages and other inflammatory cells, reactive blood vessels and perivascular cuffing. Antigens and viral RNA were mainly found in neurones. Vasculitis was absent in all the tissues examined. Conclusions: The case of acute Hendra virus infection demonstrated evidence of systemic infection and acute encephalitis. The case of relapsing Hendra virus encephalitis showed no signs of extraneural infection but in the brain, extensive inflammation and infected neurones were observed. Hendra virus can cause acute and relapsing encephalitis and the findings suggest that the pathology and pathogenesis are similar to Nipah virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors describe the case of a 50-year-old man with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), diabetes mellitus (DM), and coronary artery disease. The patient had no cardiac conduction abnormalities. During coronary artery bypass surgery, his heart and two skeletal muscles were biopsied. All three muscles showed ragged red fibers. The heart muscle showed significant glycogen accumulation. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) showed a 5019obase-pair deletion, with no duplications. There were morphologically abnormal mitochondria in all 3 muscles, with clinically apparent difference in preservation of function. The combination of diabetes mellitus and mtDNA deletion is fortuitous, as they can be causally linked. The cardiac pathology allows speculation about the possible adaptive processes that may occur in the heart in DM. There are few reported cases with CPEO and excess glycogen in the heart. Most show deposition of fat and poorer clinical outcomes as compared to those with glycogen deposition. This observation may lend support to the hypothesis that in the myocardium, adaptive responses are mediated via changes in glucose handling, whereas alterations in fat metabolism likely represent maladaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a report that documents the use of the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel as a visual aid in medical teaching in delivering pathology lectures to two classes of 150 medical students over a two-year period. Features of LCD; Results of analyzing the effectiveness of LCD panel; Advantages and disadvantages of LCD panel; Other uses of the LCD panel.

In the open literature on the geometric modelling of wireless radiowave landmobile propagation channels, this reported work is the first to attempt to account for the propagation power loss of the multipaths, in deriving closed-form expressions for an uplink received-signal's spatial-correlation-coefficient function across the aperture of a base-station antenna-array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hendra and Nipah viruses (genus: Henipavirus) are novel paramyxoviruses that emerged to cause severe human and animal disease. Studies in both humans and animals suggest that both viral infections are associated with similar pathologies. This is probably related to the common viral receptors that henipaviruses employ to infect the cell. The blood vessels and central nervous system tissues were particularly susceptible. A dual pathogenetic mechanism of vasculitis-associated thrombosis/ microinfarction and direct parenchymal cell infection contributed to acute tissue injury. A unique relapsing encephalitis may also complicate henipavirus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In biomedical applications, the similarity between a signal measured from an injured subject and a reference signal measured from a normal subject can be used to quantify the injury severity. A generalisation of the adaptive signed correlation index (ASCI) is proposed to account for specific signal features of interest and the trichotomisation of conventional ASCI extended to an arbitrary number of levels. In the context of spinal cord injury assessment, a computational example is presented to illustrate the enhanced resolution of the proposed measure and its ability to offer a more refined measure of the level of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteroviruses are small RNA viruses that belong to several species groups (A to H and J) in the genus Enterovirus and family Piconarviridae. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in enterovirus infections is well known although it is a relatively rare complication. Several neurological syndromes have been described including aseptic meningitis, acute flaccid paralysis (myelitis), and the more serious encephalitis. Perhaps the best known neurotropic enterovirus for more than a century is the poliovirus, although other enteroviruses have also been associated with neurological syndromes. Except perhaps for poliovirus and enterovirus A71 (EVA71), many reports were anecdotal and causative links yet to be firmly established, partly because of the difficulty of demonstrating virus in the cerebrospinal fluid or CNS tissues. Based on poliovirus studies, enteroviral neuroinvasion had been long thought to be via haematogenous and peripheral nerve routes. Recent evidence from transgenic mouse models has confirmed poliovirus neuroinvasion by peripheral nerves. Human and animal studies have provided good evidence that EV-A71 may enter the CNS via spinal and cranial motor nerves by retrograde axonal transport but other neural pathways other than the motor pathway may help spread virus within the CNS. Brain MRI scans in echovirus 7, coxsackievirus A16, EV-A71 and enterovirus D68 (EVD68) encephalitides often show similar lesions in the anterior horns of the spinal cord, dorsal brainstem and cerebellar dentate nucleus. If confirmed by autopsy and other studies, these findings could suggest a common pathway for enteroviral neuroinvasion via peripheral motor nerves. The neuron in the CNS is the main viral target so neuronal viral cytolysis/necrosis is probably responsible for CNS injury for most enteroviruses. However, other mechanisms of cell injury such as apoptosis and immunopathogenesis may have a role and should be investigated. With better molecular techniques and MRI facilities, the diagnosis of enterovirus encephalitis should improve in the future. A greater understanding of the pathology and neuropathogenesis of non-poliovirus encephalitides is important with the imminent worldwide eradication of poliovirus, and the emergence of enteroviruses such as EV-A71 and EV-D68, which capable of causing epidemic encephalitides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a large hospital cohort, older adults with respiratory syncytial virus infections were shown to have high rates of lower respiratory tract complications (72%) and respiratory failure requiring assisted ventilation (>10%), prolonged hospitalization, and high mortality (>10%).Background. Better understanding of complications and outcomes of adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is necessary.Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all adults (≥18 years) admitted to 3 acute care general hospitals in Hong Kong with virologically confirmed RSV infection during 2009–2011 (N = 607). Adults hospitalized for seasonal influenza during the period were used for comparison (n = 547). Both infections were prospectively diagnosed following a standard protocol. Independent reviews of chest radiographs were performed by radiologists. Main outcome measures were all-cause death, respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support, and hospitalization duration. Cox proportional hazards models were used for analyses.Results. The mean age of RSV patients was 75 (SD, 16) years; 87% had underlying conditions. Lower respiratory and cardiovascular complications were diagnosed in 71.9% (pneumonia, 42.3%; acute bronchitis, 21.9%; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma exacerbation, 27.3%) and 14.3% of patients, respectively; 12.5% had bacterial superinfections. Supplemental oxygen and ventilatory support were required in 67.9% and 11.1%, respectively. Crude all-cause mortality was 9.1% and 11.9% within 30 days and 60 days, respectively; mean length of stay of survivors was 12 (SD, 13) days. Advanced age, radiographic pneumonia, requirement for ventilation, bacterial superinfection, and elevated urea level and white blood cell count were independently associated with poorer survival. Systemic corticosteroid use was associated with longer hospitalization and secondary infections. The overall outcomes of survival and length of stay were not significantly different from those in influenza.Conclusions. RSV can cause severe lower respiratory complications in older adults, resulting in respiratory failure, prolonged hospitalization, and high mortality similar to seasonal influenza. Corticosteroids did not seem to improve outcomes. The unmet need for antiviral therapy and vaccination against RSV in adults should be promptly addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors describe the case of a 50-year-old man with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), diabetes mellitus (DM), and coronary artery disease. The patient had no cardiac conduction abnormalities. During coronary artery bypass surgery, his heart and two skeletal muscles were biopsied. All three muscles showed ragged red fibers. The heart muscle showed significant glycogen accumulation. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) showed a 5019-base-pair deletion, with no duplications. There were morphologically abnormal mitochondria in all 3 muscles, with clinically apparent difference in preservation of function. The combination of diabetes mellitus and mtDNA deletion is fortuitous, as they can be causally linked. The cardiac pathology allows speculation about the possible adaptive processes that may occur in the heart in DM. There are few reported cases with CPEO and excess glycogen in the heart. Most show deposition of fat and poorer clinical outcomes as compared to those with glycogen deposition. This observation may lend support to the hypothesis that in the myocardium, adaptive responses are mediated via changes in glucose handling, whereas alterations in fat metabolism likely represent maladaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with Kuttner tumours present with clinical features simulating a submandibular tumour. This article aims to familiarise sonologists with the sonographic appearances of these tumours, to help in their differentiation from other salivary lesions. In 13 patients with histologically or cytologically proven Kuttner tumours, the features evaluated on sonography included: shape and border of the gland, internal architecture, duct dilatation, presence/absence of calculi and presence and distribution of vascularity. There was diffuse involvement of the submandibular glands in 11 patients and focal involvement in 2. The majority (9 of 11) of the patients with diffuse involvement showed sonographic appearances simulating a “cirrhotic” liver; 2 showed diffuse heterogeneous involvement with duct dilatation and calculus. Doppler showed prominent intraglandular vessels, with no evidence of displacement. Focal lesions (2 of 11) were seen as hypoechoic, heterogeneous “masses,” with a radial branching vascular pattern within, on Doppler. In conclusion, sonographic features may help in identifying Kuttner tumours of the submandibular glands. (E-mail: aniltahuja@cuhk.edu.hk) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Proposed is a zero-inserting precoder and a two-stage linear equaliser, to shorten the guard interval in block-based single-carrier modulation. The first-stage equaliser consists of a linear single-tapper-subcarrier frequency-domain equaliser. The second-stage equaliser maximises the SINR, in the time-domain, based on the interference-plus-noise estimated from the zero-padded sub-intervals of the single-carrier modulation. This proposed scheme is applicable even without cyclic prefixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Syncope occurs commonly in children and adolescents. The objectives of the present study were to quantify this occurrence locally and to examine the profiles of subjects experiencing syncope.Methodology: A self-administered questionnaire was filled out by students between 6 and 17 years of age from a selected school in January 1999.Results: Out of 2574 completed questionnaires, a total of 121 subjects reported having had at least one previous episode of syncope, including 9.0% of the 15-17 years age group. The overall incidence of a first syncope in the preceding 12 months was 1.7% and was highest (3.3%) in the 15-17 years age group. No significant difference in incidence was noted between sexes. Among those who experienced syncope, 32.2% had sought medical advice and 9.1% had been admitted to hospital; 57.9% became worried, while 37.2% reported restriction of daily activities because of syncope.Conclusion: Syncope is a common event in children and adolescents in Hong Kong. It can cause a considerable degree of anxiety and activity restriction. The impact on medical services due to syncope in Hong Kong has been substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on the topics including efforts to maximize the player's moment-to-moment entertainment muddles its critique of security and data privacy; and creating virtual environments with religious and sacred meaning.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including explores how mechanics or aesthetics might require, encourage, or allow for moments of inaction in games; and understand how performative transitioning from one gender to another occur.

We report the first known ethnic Malay patient with laminin alpha-2 (merosin) deficiency (MDC1A), a subtype of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD)as a result of novel LAMA2 gene mutations. The 21-month-old female presented with hypotonia at birth and gross motor delay of her distal lower limbs. Physical examination showed generalised hypotonia, hyporeflexia and myopathic facies but good cognitive functions. Serum creatine kinase was elevated and white matter changes were detected in the brain MRI. Muscle biopsy showed dystrophic changes with complete laminin α2 deficiency by immunohistochemistry. Mutation analysis of LAMA2 showed compound heterozygote at exon 21, c.2888delG(p.Gly963Alafs*111) and exon 34, c.4886dupC(p.Pro1629Profs*40) leading to premature stop codon for each of the frameshift mutations. Patient review at seven years of age showed satisfactory cognitive functions despite having contractures and weakness. Genetic testing of LAMA2 related muscular dystrophy facilitated the earlier diagnosis of MDC1A and genetic counselling for this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the possible role of viral neuronotropism in the pathogenesis of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE). Topics covered include history of encephalitis outbreaks, neuronallocalization of viral antigens and viral RNA and the conclusion that MVE virus is neurotropic and that neuronal viral cytolysis plays an important role in its pathogenesis.

Tioman virus (TioPV) and Menangle virus (MenPV) are two antigenically and genetically related paramyxoviruses (genus: Rubulavirus, family: Paramyxoviridae) isolated from Peninsular Malaysia (2001) and Australia (1997), respectively. Both viruses are potential zoonotic agents. In the present study, the infectivity, growth kinetics, morphology and morphogenesis of these two paramyxoviruses in a human neuronal cell (SK-N-SH) line were investigated. Sub-confluent SK-N-SH cells were infected with TioPV and MenPV at similar multiplicity of infection. These cells were examined by conventional and immunoelectron microscopy, and virus titres in the supernatants were assayed. Syncytia were observed for both infections in SK-N-SH cells and were more pronounced during the early stages of TioPV infection. The TioPV titre increased consistently (101) every 12 h after infection. In MenPV-infected cells, cellular material was frequently observed within budding virions, and microfilaments and microtubules were abundant. Viral budding was common, and extracellular MenPVs tended to be more pleomorphic compared to TioPVs, which appeared to be more spherical in appearance. The MenPV cytoplasmic viral inclusion appeared to be comparatively smaller, loose and interspersed with randomly scattered circle-like particles, whereas huge tubule-like cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in TioPV-infected cells. Both viruses also displayed different cellular pathology in the SK-N-SH cells. The intracellular ultrastructural characteristics of these two viruses in infected neuronal cells may allow them to be differentiated by electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the discriminatory features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and severe non-SARS community-acquired viral respiratory infection (requiring hospitalization) in an emergency department in Hong Kong. In a case-control study, clinical, laboratory and radiological data from 322 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS from the 2003 SARS outbreak were compared with the data of 253 non-SARS adult patients with confirmed viral respiratory tract infection from 2004 in order to identify discriminatory features. Among the non-SARS patients, 235 (93%) were diagnosed as having influenza infections (primarily H3N2 subtype) and 77 (30%) had radiological evidence of pneumonia. In the early phase of the illness and after adjusting for baseline characteristics, SARS patients were less likely to have lower respiratory symptoms (e.g. sputum production, shortness of breath, chest pain) and more likely to have myalgia ( p < 0.001). SARS patients had lower mean leukocyte and neutrophil counts ( p < 0.0001) and more commonly had “ground-glass” radiological changes with no pleural effusion. Despite having a younger average age, SARS patients had a more aggressive respiratory course requiring admission to the ICU and a higher mortality rate. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for predicting SARS when all variables were considered was 0.983. Using a cutoff score of >99, the sensitivity was 89.1% (95%CI 82.0–94.0) and the specificity was 98.0% (95%CI 95.4–99.3). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for predicting SARS when all variables except radiological change were considered was 0.933. Using a cutoff score of >8, the sensitivity was 80.7% (95%CI 72.4–87.3) and the specificity was 94.5% (95%CI 90.9–96.9). Certain clinical manifestations and laboratory changes may help to distinguish SARS from other influenza-like illnesses. Scoring systems may help identify patients who should receive more specific tests for influenza or SARS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and clinical correlates of poststroke cognitive impairment in Chinese stroke patients in Hong Kong. One hundred seventy-nine stroke patients were interviewed by a psychiatrist 3 months after their stroke. Cognitive impairment was determined according to the Mini-Mental State Examination score. Thirty-nine participants (21.8%) had cognitive impairment. Univariate analysis found that cognitive impairment was associated with age, female sex, level of education, previous stroke, prestroke Rankin score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale dysarthria and total scores, urinary incontinence, and cerebral atrophy index. Multivariate logistic regression suggested that female sex, education, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale dysarthria score, urinary incontinence, and atrial fibrillation were independent risk factors of poststroke cognitive impairment. After removal of 54 patients with previous stroke from the sample, the frequency of cognitive impairment decreased to 18.4%. It was concluded that cognitive impairment is common among nondemented Chinese stroke patients in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the determinants of prestroke cognitive impairment (PCI) in stroke associated with small vessel disease (SVD) may shed light on how to prevent further cognitive deterioration after stroke. We administered the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline (IQCODE) to close informants of 78 consecutive stroke patients who had SVD. PCI, as defined by an average score of IQCODE ≥3.4 was found in 19 (24%) patients. Regression analyses were performed on the following risk factors for PCI: age, years of education, gender, previous stroke, volume of white matter changes, measures of silent lacunes, cerebral atrophy index, medial temporal lobe atrophy and frontal lobe atrophy. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that only cerebral atrophy index (OR 1.5, CI 1.2–1.9, p < 0.001) predicted PCI among patients with SVD. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to evaluate the psychosocial, clinical, and radiological predictors of poststroke depression (PSD) in Chinese patients. One hundred eighty-nine patients participated in the study. Three months after the index stroke, a psychiatrist administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV to all of the patients and made a DSM-IV diagnosis of depression. In addition, a host of demographic, clinical, and radiological variables were examined. Thirty-one (16.4%) of the patients had a diagnosis of PSD that included major depression (n = 11, 5.8%,), minor depression (n = 16, 8.5%), or dysthymia (n = 4, 2.1%). Univariate analysis revealed that PSD was associated with female gender, a lower level of education, a lower Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS) score, subcortical infarcts, and lesions in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory, and the Modified Life Event Scale (MLES) score was borderline for statistical significance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that female gender, a high MLES score, and subcortical and ACA lesions were independent risk factors for PSD and that a high LSNS score was a protective factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the few studies published on poststroke emotional incontinence (PSEI), none has investigated a consecutive stroke cohort in a Chinese patient population. The objective of this study was to examine the frequency and the clinical and radiological correlates of PSEI in Chinese stroke patients in Hong Kong. Three months after their admission, a psychiatrist interviewed 127 stroke patients who were consecutively admitted to the medical wards of a university-affiliated regional hospital. The presence of PSEI was defined according to both Kim’s and House’s criteria. The frequency of PSEI was 17.9% according to Kim’s criteria and 6.3% according to House’s criteria. The kappa between the two sets of criteria was 0.34. Univariate analysis found that PSEI was associated with a younger age, previous history of depression, a higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale total score and cortical infarcts. Multivariate logistic regression suggested that past history of depression and cortical infarcts were independent predictors for PSEI. In conclusion, PSEI is relatively common among Chinese stroke survivors. A previous history of depression or cortical lesions were independent predictors for PSEI. There is a need for a revision of the diagnostic criteria for PSEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-existing dementia among patients with acute stroke is common, and adversely affects outcomes. Only a few studies have been published on prestroke dementia (PSD), none of which have investigated a consecutive stroke cohort in an Asian patient population. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and clinical correlates of PSD in Chinese stroke patients in Hong Kong. Close and reliable informants of 289 stroke patients who were consecutively admitted to the medical wards of a university-affiliated regional hospital completed the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) within 1 week after their relative’s admission. The presence of PSD was defined as an average IQCODE score of ≥ 4.00. In addition, a wide range of demographic and clinical variables were examined and recorded. Twenty-two participants (7.6%) had PSD. The frequency of PSD in the group of subjects (n = 73) who were assessed within 48 hours after their admission was 12.3%. Univariate analysis found that PSD was associated with age, marital status, atrial fibrillation (AF), previous transient ischaemic attack (TIA), leukoaraiosis, and cerebral atrophy index (CAI). Multivariate logistic regression suggested that CAI, age, AF, and past TIA were independent risk factors for PSD. The low prevalence of PSD in Chinese patients in comparison with their Caucasian counterparts may be due to the difference in the time frame of the assessment. Comparative studies involving both Caucasian and Chinese stroke patients are required to further explore the role of AF and TIA in the development of PSD in both Chinese and Caucasian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that most commonly affects the feet and lower limbs. It is rare for this infection to occur on the face, and it is exceptionally rare for it to involve the nose and sinuses. This paper reports a rare case of nasal chromoblastomycosis in a 50-year-old Malaysian male.Case report:The patient, who was a rubber plantation worker in the southern state of Johor, presented to the ENT clinic with a history of epistaxis. He did not recall any history of injury to the nose. Nasal endoscopy showed a pale yellowish lesion at the inferior edge of the left middle turbinate. Histology revealed that this was a case of chromoblastomycosis.Conclusion:Chromoblastomycosis of the nasal cavity is very rare and can be mistaken for other granulomatous conditions in the nose. It progresses very slowly over many years. Our patient was managed conservatively, as he was not keen on undergoing surgical intervention. Lesion size remained the same at five months' follow up, with no recurrence of epistaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An efficient and morphologically stable pyrimidine-containing spirobifluorene-cored oligoaryl, 2,7-bis[2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)pyrimidine-5-y1]-9,9'-spirobifluorene (TBPSF), as an emitter or a host for blue organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs), is reported. The steric hindrance inherent with the molecular structure renders the material a record-high neat-film photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of 80% as a pure blue emitter (PL peak at 430 nm) of low molecular weight, and a very high glass-transition temperature (T[sub g]) of 195°C. Blue OLEDs employing this compound as the emitter or the emitting host exhibit unusual endurance for high currents over 5000 mA/cm². When TBPSF is used as a host for perylene in a blue OLED, maximal brightness of ∼80 000 cd/m² had been achieved, representing the highest values reported for blue OLEDs under dc driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 63-year-old woman with right axillary and breast swelling. Her right breast was enlarged with an ill-defined mass in the lateral half of the right breast, which appeared to be continuous with a lobulated 20-cm right axillary mass. She had undergone ultrasound using a curvilinear probe revealed deep-seated enlarged axillary lymph nodes.