This study defined the characteristics of Baumann's angle in a local population. One hundred and sixty-eight radiographs were studied and categorised into age groups at two-year intervals. Two observers measured all the angles and the data was analysed by computer using various statistical methods. The mean value was 70.1? in boys and 69.9? in girls; no statistically significant difference could be demonstrated in the different sex or age groups. However, some differences to Western studies were noted. This could be important information for the management of supracondylar fractures of the elbow in children.

Information on assisted reproduction in Hong Kong for the period from January 1992 to December 1993 was collected from the three centres that offer assisted reproduction. Altogether, 912 treatment cycles of in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer, 158 treatment cycles of gamete intrafallopian transfer, and 87 cycles of zygote intrafallopian transfer were initiated during this period. The delivery rates per cycle started were 8.4% for in vitro fertilisation, 29.1% for gamete intrafallopian transfer, and 13.8% for zygote intrafallopian transfer. During the same period, 233 cycles of replacement of frozen thawed embryos were completed with a delivery rate of 11.2% per cycle. Pregnancies were also achieved using oocyte donation and micromanipulation techniques.

The records of twelve patients with discoid lupus erythematosus who attended the Social Hygiene Service, of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, during the period rom March 1987 through June 1994 were reviewed and analysed. Our series shows that discoid lupus erythematosus affects both men and women equally. Compared with studies in Caucasians, a higher proportion of our patients (17%) subsequently developed features that satisfied the American College of Rheumatology's revised classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. Hence, regular follow up of these patients for the early detection of systemic lupus erythematosus is important.

The features of head injury at Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, were determined by reviewing the medical records of head-injured patients admitted to its neurosurgical service during the period commencing January 1989 to December 1993. During this time, there was a decline in the total number of head injury admissions. This reduction was secondary to a decrease in admissions for minor head injuries. The number of severe head injuries remained constant during these years. Falls represented the leading cause of head injury and accounted for more than 50% of all head injury admissions. Fall from a height was mainly a paediatric problem and falling at ground level was most common in the elderly. In teenagers and young adults, the most common causes of head injury were bicycle- and traffic-related accidents. Traffic-related accidents accounted for more than 50% of all head injury fatalities. There was a direct relationship between age and the mortality rate.

The pathological lesions found in 68 successfully engrafted patients with human leucocyte antigen-matched sibling-related bone marrow transplants werereviewed retrospectively. Twenty-six (38%) patients had acute graft-versus-host disease, which was slightly less than that reported in Caucasians. Skin was a constant site of involvement (100%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract (74%) and liver (59%). There was a 74% correlation between the clinical and histological grading of cutaneous graft-versus-host disease, while that of the gastrointestinal tract was lower at 60%. Cytomegalovirus colitis was found on histological examination of two patients clinically thought to have graft-versus-host disease. Histological evidence of infection, which included viral hepatitis (n=5), disseminated cytomegalovirus infection (n=3), disseminated aspergillosis (n=2), systemic candidiasis (n=2), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (n=1), and bacterial pneumonia (n=1), was present in 14 patients. In addition to graft-versus-host disease and infections, there was a case of veno-occlusive disease of the liver. Histological examination is important in distinguishing graft-versus-host disease from infection and other complications in bone marrow transplantation.