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F H Fu

Publications and source records attributed to F H Fu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The double-bundle technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic overview.

In traditional anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, there is a subset of patients complaining of knee instability, especially rotational instability, and athletes not able to return to their preinjury level of sports activity. Currently, controversy exists over the usefulness of the double bundle technique (DBT) in addressing these problems. In order to evaluate the DBT, we completed a literature review from 1969 to February 2006 focusing on anatomy, magnetic resonance imaging, graft incorporation, biomechanics, kinematics, surgical techniques, complications and outcome. The DBT is not a standardized technique, which makes it difficult to compare results. Cadaver studies have proven biomechanical advantages with respect to ap-stability, but assessing the rotational stability remains difficult. There is a lack of available outcome studies with sufficient follow-up to demonstrate the potential advantages of DBT. The theoretical advantages of DBT require careful evaluation with outcome, biomechanical and kinematic studies. In addition, studies are needed to address issues such as graft incorporation and complications. An advantage offered by DBT is the possibility to identify rupture patterns that can lead to surgical preservation of an intact and augmentation of an injured bundle. The approach of augmentating a single bundle technique reconstruction with adequate anterior-posterior but poor rotational stability is promising.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗
PubMed2006

Anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament double bundle structure: a macroscopic evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery has demonstrated good results, but there is still a subset of unsatisfactory outcomes. Trends in reconstruction technique have changed from bone-patella-tendon-bone to hamstring refixation, and the next step appears to be the double bundle concept. METHODS: We examined six fresh-frozen cadaver knees to evaluate the double bundle structure, dynamic motion characteristics and the relationship of knee flexion and relative position of the femoral insertion sites of the ACL. RESULTS: In all knees, we identified an anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundle. The motion pattern demonstrated that the AM and PL bundles are oriented near parallel with the knee extended, and twist around each other as the knee is flexed. The visualization of the femoral footprint anatomy differs with knee flexion. DISCUSSION: The double bundle model facilitates restoration of the original footprint anatomy and biomechanics more easily than the concept of the ACL as a one-bundle structure and the use of the o'clock position. It is essential to be aware of the degree of knee flexion when drilling the femoral tunnels. PERSPECTIVE: Anatomic ACL reconstruction is a concept, not a technique, and allows a more refined surgical approach to ACL reconstruction including revision cases and partial ACL tears.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Ex-vivo gene therapy with BMP-4 for critically sized defects and enhancement of fracture healing in an osteoporotic animal model].

Fractures in osteoporotic bones or segment defects are problematic bone lesions with a reduced biological capability of regeneration. We tested the hypothesis that cell-mediated ex vivo gene therapy to deliver BMP4 can heal critically sized defects and improve bone healing in osteoporotic rats. Primary muscle-derived cells were isolated from the hindlimb muscle of rats and retrovirally transduced to express bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4). The bone formation was evaluated following local application of these cells in critically sized defects and in fractures of osteoporotic bones. Radiographic analysis revealed bridging callus formation in a critically sized defect in all specimens using muscle-derived cells expressing BMP4 at 12 weeks. These findings were confirmed by histological evaluation, which revealed callus bone formation with good integration to the distal and proximal bone. Following treatment with muscle-derived cells expressing BMP4, the bone healing process in the osteoporotic bone was improved to the level similar to that of normal bone. The ex vivo gene therapy could be a promising tool for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures and critically sized defects. The reduced number of complications (nonunions, loss of reduction, and fragment dislocation), shortening of hospitalization period, and improvement of bone strength are decisive advocates for this treatment option.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Analysis of rabbit articular cartilage repair after chondrocyte implantation using optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility and limitations of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for immediate, high-resolution structural analysis of rabbit articular repair tissue following chondrocyte implantation without excising or sectioning the specimen. METHODS: Full thickness articular cartilage defects were created in the patellar grooves of 30 adult rabbit knee joints. Allogenic cultured chondrocytes embedded in collagen gels were implanted into the surgical defects. A periosteal patch was then sutured over the chondrocyte-collagen composites. Six animals per time point were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. The repair tissues were sequentially analysed by arthroscopic surface imaging, OCT, and histology. The resulting images were compared to determine qualitative and quantitative features of surface roughness, repair tissue integration, and micro-architecture. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t -testing and linear regression. RESULTS: OCT was able to identify the bone and cartilage interface in normal rabbit articular cartilage and regenerated cartilage at 24 weeks post chondrocyte implantation. OCT was able to identify hypertrophy at 4 and 8 weeks, and subtle surface fibrillations at 24 weeks, comparable with histological analysis at low magnification (20x). More importantly, OCT was able to detect embedded gaps between the repair tissue and surrounding host cartilage. CONCLUSION: Close correlation was observed between OCT and histological analysis of morphological features important to the assessment of articular cartilage repair. These results demonstrate that OCT is capable of providing immediate 'optical biopsy' of the rabbit articular cartilage repair tissue without damaging the specimen, and suggest that this new technique, if integrated with an arthroscope, can potentially be used in longitudinal studies of articular cartilage repair in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Muscle cell-mediated gene delivery to the rotator cuff.

Rotator cuff lesions are one of the most common causes of upper extremity disability. Surgical therapy addresses mostly the extrinsic etiology, but not intrinsic factors such as aging, structural changes, low vascularity, and inflammatory processes. In this study, genetically engineered, highly purified muscle-derived cells (MDCs) were characterized and injected into the supraspinatus tendons of nude rats. The injected cells were monitored for 3 weeks. In vitro, the engineered, highly purified MDCs do not express vimentin; 98% of them are positive for the beta-galactosidase marker gene, and 99% hybridize with the specific pancentromeric mouse probe. beta-Galactosidase marker gene expression of the injected cells was detected up to 21 days. From day 7 after injection, the cell nuclei became spindle shaped, cells were integrated into the tendon collagen bundles, and the cells showed differentiation into vimentin-expressing fibroblastic cells. The results indicate that the rotator cuff tendon matrix and its original cellular components modulated the injected MDCs toward a fibroblastic phenotype. The compatibility and ability of MDCs to differentiate into other cell lineages, such as fibroblasts, might have high potential utility in tissue-engineering applications for tendon healing. This approach facilitates the application of muscle-derived progenitor cells and ex vivo gene therapy for the treatment of rotator cuff lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A pilot study on the relationship between physical impairment and activity restriction in persons with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at long-term follow-up.

This study examined the relationship between impairment of the knee and activity restriction during activities of daily living and sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee range of motion, swelling, pain, instability, ligamentous laxity, isometric and isokinetic muscle function and performance-based measures of activity restriction were measured in 44 subjects. Four measures of patient-reported activity restrictions, including the Activities of Daily Living, Sports Activities Scales of the Knee Outcome Survey, and global ratings of function during activities of daily life and sports, were statistically combined to create a composite variable representing the level of patient-reported activity restrictions for each subject. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that 17% of the variability in patient-reported activity restrictions was accounted for by age, length of postoperative follow-up, and mechanism of injury. Addition of the one-legged hop, Lachman, anterior drawer, and varus stress tests accounted for an additional 40% of the variability of function. When pain and giving way were added to the model, 79% of the variability was explained.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

Precision of ACL tunnel placement using traditional and robotic techniques.

The objective of this study was to examine the precision of ACL tunnel placement using: (1) CASPAR (orto MAQUET GmbH Co. KG)--an active robotic system, and (2) four orthopedic surgeons with various levels of experience (between 100 and 3,500 ACL reconstructions). The robotic system and each surgeon drilled tunnels for ACL reconstruction in 10 plastic knees (total n = 50) that included a reference cube in the medial aspect of the proximal tibia and distal femur. For the robotic system, the placement of each tunnel was planned preoperatively using custom software and CT data for each femur and tibia. The robotic system then drilled the tunnels in the femur and tibia based on the preoperative plan. For the surgeons, tunnel placement was accomplished using their preferred technique, which was based on the one-incision arthroscopic technique. The distribution of intra-articular points on the tibia was contained within a sphere of radius 2.0 mm (robot system), 2.1 mm (Fellow 1), 2.4 mm (Fellow 2), 3.4 mm (Experienced Surgeon 1), or 2.0 mm (Experienced Surgeon 2). On the femur, no significant differences in the distribution of intra-articular points could be demonstrated between the robotic system (2.1 mm), Fellow 1 (4.5 mm), Fellow 2 (4.1 mm), Experienced Surgeon 1 (2.3 mm), and Experienced Surgeon 2 (3.0 mm). The direction of the tunnels drilled in the femur and tibia was different with the robotic and traditional techniques. However, the robotic system had the most consistent tunnel directions, while the surgeons' tunnels were more dispersed. Variation in surgeon precision of tunnel placement for ACL reconstruction is greater on the femur than the tibia, and this can be correlated with experience. Our data also suggest that the robotic system has the same precision as the most experienced surgeons.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗
PubMed2001

Accuracy in tunnel placement for ACL reconstruction. Comparison of traditional arthroscopic and computer-assisted navigation techniques.

The purpose of this randomized, prospective study was to compare accuracy in tunnel placement as performed with a traditional arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction technique and with KneeNavTM ACL, a computer-assisted surgical navigation technique. Two surgeons experienced in ACL reconstruction, but inexperienced in computer-assisted surgical navigation technique, each randomly used traditional arthroscopic guides or KneeNavTM ACL to drill a tunnel in twenty identical foam knees. Placement of the resulting tibial and femoral tunnels was measured with a computer-assisted digitizing method and compared to traditional biplanar radiographs. Statistical analysis with Student's t-test was used to compare the distance from the ideal tunnel placement to the femoral and tibial tunnels. Accuracy of tunnel placement with KneeNavTM ACL was significantly better than that obtained with the traditional arthroscopic technique. Distances from the ideal tunnel placement to the femoral and tibial tunnels were 4.2 +/- 1.8 mm (mean +/- SD) and 4.9 +/- 2.3 mm, respectively, for the traditional arthroscopic technique, and 2.7 +/- 1.9 mm (femur) and 3.4 +/- 2.3 mm (tibia) for KneeNavTM ACL. These differences were statistically different. Tunnel placement for ACL reconstruction with KneeNavTM ACL, an image-based, computer-assisted surgical navigation device with a simple and intuitive interface, was more accurate than with the traditional arthroscopic technique.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗
PubMed2001

An in situ calibration of an ultrasound transducer: a potential application for an ultrasonic indentation test of articular cartilage.

A change in mechanical properties of articular cartilage would be considered one of the most reliable signs of cartilage degeneration. While an indentation method has the potential to measure the cartilage properties in vivo, an accurate measurement of cartilage thickness in situ is technically difficult. An ultrasound transducer has often been used to measure the cartilage thickness. However, its accuracy is limited by the lack of an accurate measurement of the ultrasound speed of cartilage, for the ultrasound speed varies according to the pathological conditions of the tissue. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop an in situ calibration method of predicting the true ultrasound speed of cartilage and thus allow the ultrasound transducer to measure the thickness of the tissue with great accuracy. By simultaneously implementing an indentation testing protocol using the ultrasound transducer as an indenter, this method can also provide an indentation stiffness measurement of cartilage. The feasibility of the proposed method was examined using normal and proteoglycan-depleted cartilage specimens. It was found that the true ultrasound speed measured by the in situ calibration method was sensitive to the proteoglycan depletion (1735+/-35 m/s for normal, and 1598+/-28 m/s for proteoglycan-depleted cartilage), and that the measured cartilage thickness was consistently accurate regardless of the tissue condition. The measured indentation stiffness of articular cartilage was also sensitive to the tissue condition. Thus, this study demonstrates that the proposed ultrasonic indentation technique can be used to accurately identify the abnormality of articular cartilage in situ.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Treatment of osteochondral injuries. Genetic engineering.

Articular cartilage injuries are commonly encountered problems in sports medicine and orthopaedics. The treatment of chondral and osteochondral lesions, which possess only a very limited potential for healing, still represents a great challenge to clinicians and to scientists. Experimental investigations reported over the last 20 years have shown that a variety of methods, including implantation of periosteum, perichondrium, artificial matrices, growth factors, and transplanted cells, can stimulate formation of new cartilage. Genetic engineering--a combination of gene transfer techniques and tissue engineering--will facilitate new approaches to the treatment of articular cartilage injuries.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2001

The fate of the poly-L-lactic acid interference screw after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

We report the persistence of a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) interference screw 2.5 years after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with Achilles tendon allograft. The arthroscopy was performed because the patient sustained a reinjury of the ACL graft, making ACL revision surgery necessary. At the time of arthroscopy, both PLLA screws were macroscopically still intact but could not be removed in 1 piece. No inflammation could be observed either macroscopically or in the histologic analysis. The biopsy specimen from the femoral insertion of the graft showed parts of the PLLA material surrounded by scar tissue. This case shows that biodegradation of PLLA material in the knee joint causes no irritation and can take several years, even if the material is in contact with the synovial fluid.

Absorbable Implants↗
PubMed2001

Effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2-expressing muscle-derived cells on healing of critical-sized bone defects in mice.

BACKGROUND: Cells that express bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) can now be prepared by transduction with adenovirus containing BMP-2 cDNA. Skeletal muscle tissue contains cells that differentiate into osteoblasts on stimulation with BMP-2. The objectives of this study were to prepare BMP-2-expressing muscle-derived cells by transduction of these cells with an adenovirus containing BMP-2 cDNA and to determine whether the BMP-2-expressing muscle-derived cells would elicit the healing of critical-sized bone defects in mice. METHODS: Primary cultures of muscle-derived cells from a normal male mouse were transduced with adenovirus encoding the recombinant human BMP-2 gene (adBMP-2). These cells (5 yen 10(5)) were implanted into a 5-mm-diameter critical-sized skull defect in female SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency strain) mice with use of a collagen sponge as a scaffold. Healing in the treatment and control groups was examined grossly and histologically at two and four weeks. Implanted cells were identified in vivo with use of the Y-chromosome-specific fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, and their differentiation into osteogenic cells was demonstrated by osteocalcin immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Skull defects treated with muscle cells that had been genetically engineered to express BMP-2 had >85% closure within two weeks and 95% to 100% closure within four weeks. Control groups in which the defect was not treated (group 1), treated with collagen only (group 2), or treated with collagen and muscle cells without adBMP-2 (group 3) showed at most 30% to 40% closure of the defect by four weeks, and the majority of the skull defects in those groups showed no healing. Analysis of injected cells in group 4, with the Y-chromosome-specific FISH technique showed that the majority of the transplanted cells were located on the surfaces of the newly formed bone, but a small fraction (approximately 5%) was identified within the osteocyte lacunae of the new bone. Implanted cells found in the new bone stained immunohistochemically for osteocalcin, indicating that they had differentiated in vivo into osteogenic cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that cells derived from muscle tissue that have been genetically engineered to express BMP-2 elicit the healing of critical-sized skull defects in mice. The cells derived from muscle tissue appear to enhance bone-healing by differentiating into osteoblasts in vivo. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ex vivo gene therapy with muscle-derived cells that have been genetically engineered to express BMP-2 may be used to treat nonhealing bone defects. In addition, muscle-derived cells appear to include stem cells, which are easily obtained with muscle biopsy and could be used in gene therapy to deliver BMP-2.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effect of capsular injury on acromioclavicular joint mechanics.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic disruption of the acromioclavicular joint capsule is associated with pain and instability after the injury and may lead to degenerative joint disease. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of transection of the acromioclavicular joint capsule on the kinematics and the in situ forces in the coracoclavicular ligaments in response to external loading conditions. METHODS: Eleven fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders were tested with use of a robotic/universal force-moment sensor testing system. The shoulders were subjected to three loading conditions (an anterior, posterior, and superior load of 70 N) in their intact state and after transection of the acromioclavicular joint capsule. RESULTS: Transection of the capsule resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in anterior translation (6.4 mm) and posterior translation (3.6 mm) but not in superior translation (1.6 mm). The effect of capsule transection on the forces in the coracoclavicular ligaments was also significant (p < 0.05) in response to anterior and posterior loading but not in response to superior loading. However, differences were found between the forces in the trapezoid and conoid ligaments. Under an anterior load, the mean in situ force (and standard deviation) in the trapezoid increased from 14 +/- 14 N to 25 +/- 19 N, while the mean force in the conoid increased from 15 +/- 14 N to 49 +/- 23 N, or 227%. In contrast, in response to a posterior load, the mean in situ force in the trapezoid increased from 23 +/- 15 N to 38 +/- 23 N, or 66% (p < 0.05), while the mean force in the conoid increased only 9%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The large differences in the change of force in the conoid and trapezoid ligaments suggest that these ligaments should not be considered as one structure when surgical treatment is considered. Furthermore, transection of the capsule resulted in a shift of load to the coracoclavicular ligaments, which may render the intact coracoclavicular ligaments more likely to fail with anterior or posterior loading. The results of the present study also suggest that the intact coracoclavicular ligaments cannot compensate for the loss of capsular function during anterior-posterior loading as occurs in type-II acromioclavicular joint injuries.

Acromioclavicular Joint↗
PubMed2001

Effect of nostril dilatation on prolonged all-out intermittent exercise performance.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine whether nostril dilatation would affect the ventilatory muscle (VM) function and the mean power output (PO) during prolonged all-out intermittent exercise. METHODS: Eight untrained young male subjects each completed 30 bouts of all-out exercise 20-sec each on a cycle ergometer interspersed with 40-sec recovery periods under (i) normal breathing and (ii) nostril dilatation conditions. For nostril dilatation, external nasal dilator (END) was used. Pre-exercise peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), pre- and postexercise maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures were assessed in all trials. During exercise, ratings of perceived magnitude of breathing effort (RPMBE) and exertion (RPE) were recorded at 5-min intervals while ventilation, tidal volume, breathing frequency and oxygen consumption (VO2) were measured at 20-sec intervals. RESULTS: Inspiratory muscle fatigue occurred during control trial as MIP reduced from 155.1+/-25.3 cm H2O to 140.5+/-31.2 cm H2O after the exercise. Pre-exercise PNIF was increased with END from 3.1+/-0.8 l x sec(-1) to 3.8+/-1.0 l x sec(-1) showing that the nasal airflow resistance was reduced. Using END during exercise eliminated inspiratory muscle fatigue (no change in post-exercise MIP), and resulted in low average RPMBE and RPE, and high PO in comparison with the control values. In addition, the augmentation of PO was concomitant with no change in the average values of the VO2 and the ventilatory parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-induced VM fatigue occurs during the prolonged all-out intermittent exercise. Nostril dilatation with END during the exercise results in eliminating the VM fatigue and improving the PO.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Reliability of a 5-min running field test and its accuracy in VO2max evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Five-min running field test (5_RFT) was established for determining individuals' maximal aerobic velocity (V(amax)) and functional aerobic capacity (VO2peak) during horizontal run. We determined the number of trials required for establishing high reliability of the 5_RFT and examined its accuracy in evaluating individuals' maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max). METHODS: The V(amax)(5) recorded during the 5_RFT on four separate days was compared in 45 subjects (14 male, 31 female, 17.0+/-0.2 yrs) of various levels of physical fitness. The accuracy of VO2max evaluation using V(amax)(5) was examined via regression analysis in additional 23 male subjects (20.7+/-0.3 yrs). RESULTS: The mean correlation coefficient of V(amax)(5) among four trials was 0.94. Intraclass reliability coefficient across all trials was 0.98. For trial 3 and 4, the mean value of subjects' V(amax)(5) was higher than that of trial 1 and 2. V(amax)(5) of trial 2 was also higher than that of trial 1 while no difference was found between trial 3 and 4. F-test of equality of variances demonstrated similar sample variance of V(amax)(5) in all trials. Within-subject coefficient of variation in V(amax)(5) was 3.7 percent for all trials was reduced to 2.4 percent for trial 3 vs 4. For examining the accuracy in VO2max evaluation, regression analysis revealed that the V(amax)(5) explained 35.0 percent of the variance of measured VO2max (SEE = 5.64 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: The 5_RFT is reliable in determining V(amax)(5). Nevertheless, two familiarization sessions are recommended for achieving the best performance in the test. The 5_RFT cannot evaluate VO2max with reasonable accuracy in young males.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Nostril dilatation increases capacity to sustain moderate exercise under nasal breathing condition.

BACKGROUND: Effect of nasal breathing without and with nostril dilatation on sustainability of moderate exercise (75% VO2max) and selected respiratory variables were examined. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Nine healthy male subjects completed three randomly assigned exhaustive treadmill runnings under three breathing conditions: (i) oronasal breathing (CON), (ii) nasal breathing with external nasal dilator strip (NBENDS), and (iii) nasal breathing with fake nasal strip (NBFNS). RESULTS: Pre-exercise peak nasal inspiratory flow was increased with NBENDS but not with NBFNS. Pre-exercise nasal 12-sec maximum voluntary ventilation with NBENDS was greater than that with NBFNS while both were less than oronasal value. Exercise time to exhaustion in NBFNS trial, which was 23.6+/-6.7% less than the CON value, increased 31.9+/-12.3% under NBENDS condition. During exercise at exhaustion, although the difference in ventilation among all trials was not significant, lower breathing frequency in NBFNS and NBENDS exercises and higher end-tidal CO2 tension in NBFNS trial were found in comparison to CON values. Ratings of perceived magnitude of breathing effort (RPMBE) and exertion (RPE) at exhaustion were similar among all trials. However, RPMBE at exhaustion during NBFNS exercise was higher than that at the iso-time point during CON and NBENDS exercises. Similar result in RPE was found between NBFNS and CON exercises. After exercise, maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures reduced. The reduction of each variable was similar among the three trials. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal breathing reduces the sustainability of moderate exercise measured under oronasal breathing condition. Nostril dilatation increases the capacity to sustain moderate exercise under nasal breathing condition.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors of Hong Kong Chinese.

BACKGROUND: In Hong Kong, the prevalence of cardiovascular heart disease (CHD) increased from 38.6% in 1972 to 59.4% in 1992 and has become an area of concern. The present study intended to identify the CHD risk factors of 18-60 year old Hong Kong Chinese and recommend primary prevention programmes accordingly. METHODS: Subjects (N=1432) were systemically recruited from community and sports centres in urban and rural districts in order to balance the effects of age, gender and economic status. Eight major CHD factors were identified and criteria used for classifying them as high risk were as follows: high blood pressure (SBP: over 160 mmHg or DBP: over 95 mmHg); total blood cholesterol (over 6.2 mmol/L) or high density lipoprotein (HDL) under 0.9 mmol/L; cigarette smoking; overweight (BMI over 27.5, or percent body fat over 25 for men and 30 for women); exercise habit (no exercise or exercise less than once per week); alcohol consumption (over 6 drinks or 90 ml ethanol per week); diabetes mellitus; and family history (one or both parents died of CHD before the age of 60 years). All testings and data collection were conducted at the laboratory in 1997-98. Differences in the prevalence of CHD risk factors due to age and gender were then investigated. RESULTS: It was found that the percentages of subjects with high risk factors were substantially lower than those reported in other countries e.g., Australia and the People's Republic of China. The prevalence of CHD risk factors increased with age and it was also higher in the male subjects. There were more men with three or more CHD risk factors than women (23.5 vs 9.9%). CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that the Hong Kong SAR Government should launch primary prevention programmes to eliminate the five behaviour-related CHD risk factors identified in the present study and monitor their prevalence in the future.

Adolescent↗