Drs. Kenneth Tsang and Thomas Mok, Chairmen of ASM Organizing Committee
This year, our Annual Scientific Meeting was held on 15th and 16th March with record-breaking registration of almost 500 participants. Apart from local experts, there were overseas speakers from UK, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, and mainland China. The programme on the first day was mainly focused on treatment of pneumonia and infective exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Regional perspectives on antibiotic resistance, epidemiology of community acquired pneumonia, and antibiotic treatment in COPD had been discussed. On the second day of the meeting, updates on major clinical problems were presented. These included the use of polymerase-chain reaction for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis, immunotherapy for difficult asthma, local practice of lung transplantation, and overview of the local trends of HIV infection in the past few decades. The concurrent workshop for allied health professionals focused on interpretation of lung function tests especially on COPD and a demonstration on spirometric measurements. It was very well received with more than 200 participants. There were 6 free papers presented competing for the Young Presenter’s Award, in which there were 2 winners this year. Dr. K Lee from the Department of Paediatrics of Prince of Wales Hospital presented her winning paper entitled “Declining Asthma Prevalence in Hong Kong Chinese Children?”. Also, Dr. Matthew Wong from the University Department of Medicine of Queen Mary Hospital won this award with his paper entitled “Clinical Significance of Ciliary Abnormalities in Bronchiectasis”.
The HKLF Research Grant Awards 2003 were granted to (A) Dr Clara Ooi, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital. Bronchial wall thickening in bronchiectasis: utility of qualitative and quantitative CT in clinico-functional correlation. (HK$60,000) (B) Dr SS Ho, Department of Medicine, Alice Ho Mui Ling Nethersole Hospital. A prospective study of the epidemiology and the efficacy of initial empirical antibiotic treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in Hong Kong. (HK$50,000) (C) Dr Fanny Ko, Department of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Princes of Wales Hospital. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms, common respiratory diseases, atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in elderly Chinese living in Hong Kong. (HK$60,000) (D) Dr CW Lau, Department of Medicine, Pamela Younde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. Predictors of improvement in exercise performance by hyperoxia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. (HK$50,OOO) (E) Dr James Ho, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital. A study of the role of antioxidants and oxidative load in obstructive sleep apnoea. (HK$60,000)
Last but not least, we had a joint CTS and ESRM sponsored symposium this year. There were experts from UK, Germany, Hungary, and China enlightening us of the most updated knowledge on cardiovascular complications of obstructive sleep apnea, interstitial lung disease, use of exhaled breath condensate, and management of chronic cough. Because of the emerging epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a special ad hoc session was arranged for Prof. N S Zhong to share his experience on management of this new disease entity. This generated lots of feedback and discussion from different local experts.