Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi / Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
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To evaluate the feasibility of whole body imaging using a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner without a contrast agent, and to study the prevalence of abnormal findings among a cohort of asymptomatic doctors. ⋯ We demonstrated the feasibility of performing whole body imaging in 30 minutes, using 32-channel magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla without a contrast agent or any ionising radiation.
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To determine the factors associated with high-dose antipsychotic prescribing for psychiatric patients in Hong Kong. ⋯ Antipsychotic polypharmacy was the main determinant of high-dose antipsychotic prescribing in this study. Further studies should be conducted to look for other variables contributing to such prescribing in Hong Kong.
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To identify potential prognostic factors affecting the survival in patients with advanced cancer in a local palliative care unit. ⋯ Age, number of involved metastatic sites, serum albumin, Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System score were independent prognosticators. Further studies are needed to provide a prognostic instrument applicable in local clinical settings.
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The authors report a case of Trimeresurus albolabris (white-lipped green pit viper) bite in a 6-year-old girl living in rural Yuen Long. Despite repeated use of Agkistrodon halys antivenin, the patient developed severe coagulopathy with defibrination syndrome on the fourth day of envenomation, which was also refractory to therapy with fresh frozen plasma. When treatment was switched to green pit viper antivenin, the coagulopathy resolved promptly. The case is illustrative of the potential lethality to children of snakebites in Hong Kong and suggests that the A halys antivenin may not be effective for the treatment of T albolabris bites.