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The objective of the current study was to investigate the perceptions of how Chinese adolescents perceive themselves and adolescents in general on moral character traits, and to examine the socio-demographic correlates of perceived moral character traits. Self-report data were acquired from 2,474 adolescents who attended high schools in Hong Kong. Results showed that adolescents perceived the moral traits of themselves as above the midpoint of the scale and the moral traits of the general adolescent population at the midpoint of the scale. Consistent with our hypothesis on the self-enhancement effect, the respondents perceived themselves as more morally superior to the general adolescent population. Female adolescents and those with higher maternal educational levels also showed higher levels of perceived moral character traits. These findings support the selfenhancement effect in the evaluation of moral character traits in Hong Kong adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To present the application of the pre-epiglottic baton plate (PEBP) in infants with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) in the Southern Chinese population (Hong Kong) and to present the diagnosis and management protocol of these infants in our centre. Retrospective case series of three patients with PRS. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Kwong Wah Hospital and Craniofacial Orthodontic Centre in United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong. Three new-born infants (two girls, one boy) with PRS and upper airway obstruction due to glossoptosis. A protocol for the diagnosis and management of these infants in the Southern Chinese population (Hong Kong) was presented. The three patients received nasal high-flow oxygen and/or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as first-line respiratory support, followed by PEBP for 3–5 months. A two-stage approach was undertaken to ensure accurate positioning of the PEBP. All three infants had improvement in clinical signs, symptoms and polysomnography upon discharge. PEBP and other respiratory aids were weaned off at 3–6 months. The PEBP, combined with other respiratory support, is a useful modality in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in infants with PRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Chinese term "Hot Qi" is often used by parents to describe symptoms in their children. The current study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of using the Chinese term "Hot Qi" to describe symptoms in children by their parents and the symptomatology of "Hot Qi". Method: A cross sectional survey by face-to-face interview with a semi-structured questionnaire was carried out in a public hospital and a private clinic in Hong Kong. The parental use of the term "Hot Qi", the symptoms of "Hot Qi" and the remedies used for "Hot Qi" were asked. Results: 1060 pairs of children and parents were interviewed. 903 (85.1%) of parents claimed that they had employed the term "Hot Qi" to describe their children's symptoms. Age of children and place of birth of parents were the predictors of parents using the term "Hot Qi". Eye discharge (37.2%), sore throat (33.9%), halitosis(32.8%), constipation(31.0%), and irritable (21.2%) were the top five symptoms of "Hot Qi" in children. The top five remedies for "Hot Qi" were the increased consumption of water (86.8%), fruit (72.5%), soup (70.5%), and the use of herbal beverages "fiveflower- tea" (a combination of several flowers such as Chrysanthemum morifolii, Lonicera japonica, Bombax malabaricum, Sophora japonica, and Plumeria rubra) (57.6%) or selfheal fruit spike (Prunella vulgaris) (42.4%). Conclusion: "Hot Qi" is often used by Chinese parents to describe symptoms in their children in Hong Kong. Place of birth of parents and age of the children are main factors for parents to apply the term "Hot Qi" to describe symptoms of their children. The common symptoms of "Hot Qi" suggest infections or allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the SARS epidemic, mass fever screening at border control points and public hospitals was done by measuring forehead temperature by non-contact infrared thermometry. However, its accuracy is not well documented. Methods: We evaluated the agreement of non-contact infrared forehead temperature (NIFT) measurement by comparing NIFT readings with tympanic temperatures taken in children (1 mth to 18 yrs) admitted to the general paediatric wards of Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong. Results: A total of 567 patients were recruited and 1000 pairs of readings were obtained. The incidence of fever, defined as tympanic temperature (in rectal model) >38°C (100.4°F), was 12.3%. The mean difference between NIFT and tympanic temperature was 2.34°C (4.21°F) and the 95% limit of agreement between NIFT and tympanic temperature was 0.26–4.42°C (0.47–7.96°F). NIFT was significantly lower than tympanic temperature readings. The optimal cut-off point of NIFT derived from the receiver-operator characteristics curve for fever definition was 35.1°C (95.2°F). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of this cut-off point for fever screening were 89.4%, 75.4%, 33.7% and 98.1%, respectively. Conclusions: NIFT measurement has a reasonable accuracy in detecting tympanic fever in children. However, one should be aware of the high false-positive rate of fever screening using NIFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a community-based telephone survey to estimate the prevalence of snoring, witnessed sleep apnea, teeth grinding, primary and secondary nocturnal enuresis, and sleep duration in Hong Kong, China primary school children. Symptoms in children were reported by parents without any independent verification in the current study. Moreover, overlapping of sleep time of parents and children decreased the likelihood of parental witnessing of sleep problems. Further similar study should be augmented with polysomnography or videotaping of sleep to verify the symptoms reported by parents. In conclusion, the current study identified the prevalence of habitual snoring and witnessed apnea in Chinese children, and it was similar to the white population.

Abstract: The modified radiosurgery-based arteriovenous malformation (AVM) score (modified AVM score or Pollock–Flickinger AVM score [PFAS]) is a simplified grading system developed to predict outcome after gamma knife radiosurgery for cerebral AVM. The purpose of this study was to test the PFAS in a cohort of patients managed with linear accelerator (LINAC) radiosurgery. We analyzed 70 consecutive patients with cerebral AVM treated with LINAC radiosurgery in Hong Kong. The scores were determined by the following equation: Modified AVM score=(0.1×volume [cm3])+(0.02×age [years])+(0.5×location). The location values are as follows: hemispheric/corpus callosum/cerebellar=0; basal ganglia/thalamus/brainstem=1. A total of 74% of patients presented with ruptured AVM before radiosurgery. The overall obliteration rate was 86%. Five (7%) patients developed new permanent neurological deficits from delayed bleeding or radiation-induced complications. Modified AVM score correlated with the percentage of patients with AVM obliteration without new neurological deficits (⩽1, 96%; 1.01–1.50, 78%; 1.51–2.00, 90%; >2, 50%; Spearman’s rho 0.354, p =0.003). In conclusion, the modified AVM score is a good predictor of patient outcome after LINAC radiosurgery in our cohort. The modified AVM score can be used to guide treatment selection for cerebral AVM and stratify patients for future comparative analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Comments on the examination of aldose reductase as a susceptibility gene for diabetic nephropathy among Chinese with type two diabetes in Hong Kong. Increase of the frequencies of the risk alleles; Analysis of the genotype distribution; Lack of significant association between polymorphisms and diabetic nephropathy.

Highlights: [•] Efficacy, immunogenicity and safety of RIX4414 vaccine in Hong Kong infants. [•] Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 3025 infants. [•] Vaccine efficacy against severe RVGE was 95.6% (<2 years) and 96.1% (<3 years). [•] No safety concern was identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]