Hong Kong Bull Rheum Dis 2009;9:72-77 Interhospital Rheumatology Meetings 14 July 2009 Evidence based management of osteoarthritis Dr Kwok Yan, Kitty (QEH) Fellow's section: Management of raynaud's and systemic sclerosis Dr Lao WN, Virginia (KWH) 11 August 2009 Management of common soft tissue rheumatism Dr So Ho (KWH) Fellow's section: RS3PE syndrome Dr Ma Kai Yiu (PYNEH) 13 October 2009 Tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis Dr Yung Ka Man (PYNEH) Fellow's section: IgG4-related sclerosing disease Dr Yuen Ka Yan, Catherine (QMH) 10 November 2009 Management of pregnancy in rheumatic diseases Dr Lee Man Leung, Patrick (YCH) Fellow's section: SLE and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders Dr Chan Pui Shan, Julia (QEH) Scientific Meetings 31 July to 2 August 2009 Title: Regional Basic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Course 2009 Venue: HKEC TrainingCentrefor Healthcare Management & Clinical Technology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital The first regional course for musculoskeletal ultrasound was held in July this year. It was a 3-day course conducted in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and 35 candidates attended the event. With lectures and practical sessions, candidates learnt basic skill in musculoskeletal USG and had hands-on experience during the course. It was our honor to have guest speakers Dr Richard Wakefield from University of Leeds, UK and Peter V Balint from University of Budapest, Hungary as our chief lecturers for the course. Special thanks also to radiologist Dr Lisa Wong and Dr Angela Li as guest speakers for the event.
73 8 November 2009 Title: 15th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology Venue: JM Marriott Hotel, Hong Kong Morning sessions: Rheumatology Course for Family Physicians (Concurrent; Free paper presentation) Afternoon session: lectures Number of attendants: 156 persons (Family Physician Course + free paper presentation), 162 persons (overall) Major Sponsor: Roche Hong Kong Limited Rheumatology Course for Family Physicians: 1. Interpretation of common immunological tests, Dr Daniel KH Ng (Caritas Medical Centre) 2. Management of difficult gout, Dr Ronald ML Yip (Kwong Wah Hospital) 3. Rheumatological manifestations of systemic diseases, Dr Lucia SY Chau (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) 4. Management of soft tissue rheumatism, Dr HS Tsui (Private Consultant Rheumatologist) Dr KH Ng spoke for the Rheumatology Course for Family Physicians Lunch Symposium: IL-6R Inhibition: Advancing New Therapeutic Targets for RA, Prof John Isaac (Clinical Rheumatology, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, UK) Prof John Isaac spoke in the lunch symposium
74 Lectures: 1. Review of the rheumatology literature in year 2009, Dr Ka Wing Lee (Private Rheumatologist) 2. Adverse effects of the novel biological agents and their monitoring in patients with rheumatic diseases, Prof. John Isaac (Newcastle University) 3. Update on the management of juvenile chronic arthritis, Dr Tsz Leung Lee (Department of Paediatrics, University of Hong Kong) 4. B cell therapies for rheumatic diseases, Dr Mo Yin Mok (University of Hong Kong) Dr TL Lee spoke in the lecture Question and Answer Winners of the best presentation prizes (scientific abstract presentation): Dr Kuan Woon Pang (Chinese University of Hong Kong) (gold prize) and Dr Ho Ling Yin (Tuen Mun Hospital) (silver prize). Winner of the best article of the Bulletin of Rheumatic Diseases (the official journal of the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology): Dr Ronald ML Yip. Dr WP Kuan, Gold Price of the free paper presentation Dr LY Ho, Silver Price of the free paper presentation Dr Ronald Yip, Winner of the best article in the Bulletin of Rheumatic Diseases
75 The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology would like to thank the adjudicators for the free paper presentation Dr KH Chan, Dr Raymond WS Wong and Dr WL Ng; and the adjudicators for the best article of the year in the Bulletin of Rheumatic Diseases, Dr Helen KY Chan, Dr Temy MY Mok, Dr Emily Kun, Dr Gavin KW Lee, Prof. Edmund Li, Dr Ronald ML Yip, Dr CW Yim and Dr Shirley KY Ying. The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology would also like to thank all the speakers who have contributed to the Rheumatology Course for Family Physicians and the afternoon lectures: Dr Daniel KH Ng, Dr Ronald ML Yip, Dr Lucia SY Chau, Dr HS Tsui, Dr Gavin KW Lee, Prof. John Isaac, Dr TL Lee and Dr Temy MY Mok. Society Council, Speakers and Chairmen Special thanks to the following pharmaceutical companies for their kind sponsorships for the annual scientific meeting: Roche Hong Kong Limited (major sponsor), Abbott Laboratories Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Hong Kong) Ltd, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Merck, Sharp & Dohme (Asia) Ltd, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (Hong Kong) Ltd, Pfizer Corporation (Hong Kong) Ltd (Pain team and Biolgoical teams) and sanofiaventis (Hong Kong) Ltd.
76 News of the Hong Kong Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation (HKARF) December was the month for celebration and reunion. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and prosperous year 2010. The Hong Kong Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation (HKARF) held its Annual General Meeting in November 2009. Mr. David Yau and a number of retiring Executive Committee members were re-elected for another term of two years. We were very pleased that Mr. Chan Ka Lok was elected as one of the two vice-chairmen and Mr. Albert K M Chan was elected the new Honorary Treasurer. The Arthritis Foundation had carried on the tradition of organizing public awareness campaign to commemorate the World Arthritis Day in October this year. We held a carnival for arthritis patients, their family members, and the general public at the Tseung Kwan O Centre on Sunday, 11th October 2009. The event was very well received and was attended by over 800 members of the public. Patients self-help groups and allied health professionals associations manned booths during the carnival to educate the attendees about various rheumatic diseases and to promote the activities of their associations. More than 600 volunteers participated in the Arthritis Foundation Flag Day on 12th September 2009. Over HKD 250,000 was raised to contribute towards establishing a new Arthritis Resource Centre. The Scientific Committee continued to publish the Foundation s Newsletter and the bulletin for professionals looking after rheumatic disease patients (CHARM). An extensive review of the pathology and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was presented in the last issue. Interested members of the Society are welcome to contact the Arthritis Foundation for a copy of the bulletin. Arthritis patients who are in financial and social difficulties may approach the Foundation for assistance. The Foundation continued organizing the very popular hydrotherapy classes for two consecutive years. Eight sessions of hydrotherapy were held after office hours in Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital every week. Doctors in the public and private sectors are welcome to refer patients suffering from chronic inflammatory arthritis for the classes. Dr. CHAN Tak Hin Vice-chairman, Hong Kong Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation (www.hkarf.org)
77 Hong Kong 2010 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Congress It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 14th Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Congress, which will be held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 11 to 15 July 2010. The biennial APLAR Congress is the premiere educational event in rheumatology in the Asia Pacific region. We envisage that the 2010 APLAR Congress will attract broad interest as many new treatment modalities have become available for inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue disease. The meeting will concentrate on new insights on pathogenesis and therapeutics of rheumatology and related sub-specialties. Internationally recognized keynote speakers will discuss recent advances in arthritis care and selected abstracts will be presented. Concurrent symposia on rehabilitation and nursing care for arthritis patients will be held during the Hong Kong Congress. Members of the allied health professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, will discuss new development in the treatment and care of patients suffering from rheumatic disease. Please mark your diary for this Congress. You will find up-to-date information in the Hong Kong 2010 APLAR Congress website: www.aplar2010.com. We look forward to welcoming you in 2010. Dr. TH Chan Chairman, Organizing Committee