Smoking family, paternal smoking at home and saliva cotinine levels of young children in Hong Kong

Conference Theme: Tobacco and Non-Communicable DiseasesPoster Discussion 25. Smoke-Free Environments and Second-Hand Smoke: Changing the Norm: no. PD-890-20BACKGROUND: Prevalence of smoking in Hong Kong (all 10.7%, male 19.1%, female 3.1%) is among the lowest in the world. Home is a main source of children’s secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in densely populated Hong Kong. We investigated paternal smoking places at home and distance from children with children’s cotinine levels. DESIGN/METHODS: 773 children (response rate 66.0%, mean age 6.2±5.6, 51.6% boys) were recruited in 4 Maternal and Children Health Centers in Hong Kong. Information on SHS exposure at and outside home, paternal smoking behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics was reported …published_or_final_versio

DECODE: An integrated differential co-expression and differential expression analysis of gene expression data

2014-2015 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Paternal smoking and maternal protective behaviors at home on infant’s saliva cotinine levels

BackgroundWe investigated the association between paternal smoking, avoidance behaviors and maternal protective actions and smoke-free home rules with infant's saliva cotinine in Hong Kong.MethodsSix hundred and seventy-five non-smoking mothers (mean age 32.6 years) who attended the maternal-child health clinics with their newborns aged ≤18 months completed a questionnaire about paternal smoking and avoidance behaviors, maternal protective actions, smoke-free rules at home, and infant's second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure. Three hundred and eighty-nine infants provided saliva sample and its cotinine was tested.ResultsThe geometric mean of infant's saliva cotinine was 1.07 ng/ml (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98, 1.16). Infants living in smoking families with SHS exposure had significantly higher cotinine level than in non-smoking families (adjusted β=0.25, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.33). Paternal smoking near infants (within 1.5 m) was associated with higher cotinine level (adjusted β=0.60, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.98), which was not reduced by avoidance behaviors (e.g., smoking in kitchen or balcony). Even fathers smoking ≥3 m away from infants was associated with higher cotinine level than non-smoking families (adjusted β=0. 09, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16). Maternal protective actions and smoke-free home rules were not significantly associated with reduced cotinine level.ConclusionPaternal smoking avoidance, maternal protective actions, and smoke-free policy at home did not reduce infant's saliva cotinine.Pediatric Research advance online publication, 13 December 2017; doi:10.1038/pr.2017.279

Coexpression pattern analysis of NPM1-associated genes in chronic myelogenous leukemia

2014-2015 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Gene network exploration of crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy in chronic myelogenous leukemia

2014-2015 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Genetic association between germline JAK2 polymorphisms and myeloproliferative neoplasms in Hong Kong Chinese population : a case–control study

2014-2015 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Proximity to Sports Facilities and Sports Participation for Adolescents in Germany

Objectives - To assess the relationship between proximity to specific sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities for adolescents in Germany. Methods - A sample of 1,768 adolescents aged 11–17 years old and living in 161 German communities was examined. Distances to the nearest sports facilities were calculated as an indicator of proximity to sports facilities using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participation in specific leisure-time sports activities in sports clubs was assessed using a self-report questionnaire and individual-level socio-demographic variables were derived from a parent questionnaire. Community-level socio-demographics as covariates were selected from the INKAR database, in particular from indicators and maps on land development. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between proximity to the nearest sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities. Results - The logisitic regression analyses showed that girls residing longer distances from the nearest gym were less likely to engage in indoor sports activities; a significant interaction between distances to gyms and level of urbanization was identified. Decomposition of the interaction term showed that for adolescent girls living in rural areas participation in indoor sports activities was positively associated with gym proximity. Proximity to tennis courts and indoor pools was not associated with participation in tennis or water sports, respectively. Conclusions - Improved proximity to gyms is likely to be more important for female adolescents living in rural areas