Risk factors for the metabolic syndrome in contemporary China

An epidemic of metabolic disease is currently emerging in China. This review considers determinants of the metabolic syndrome in contemporary China within the context of the recent and compressed epidemiological transition. As well as considering proximal causes, such as energy imbalance resulting from increases in food availability and decreases in occupational, commuting and domestic physical activity, this review also considers life course and epigenetic influences on population health and individual risk in a transitioning population. Identifying the relative importance and mutability of epigenetic processes, influences over the life course and current environment is key to developing effective public health interventions during the current 'demographic window' before the costs of metabolic disease become overwhelming. © 2008 World Heart Federation.postprin

A socio-biological explanation for social disparities in non-communicable chronic diseases: The product of history?

This study places social disparities in the major non-communicable chronic diseases within their global economic and historical contexts. Rapid economic transition outside the developed world provides a unique opportunity to re-examine the origins of, and biological mechanisms driving, social disparities. Gaps in prevailing theories focusing on material resources, civic infrastructure and social structure are identified. Using longstanding experimental evidence and epigenetic theories, it is suggested that exposure to economic development over generations (ie, improved living conditions over historical time) could by acting on different biological axes (somatotrophic and gonadotrophic) generate specific patterns of social disparities. Moreover, these same processes could initially generate a transient epidemic of diabetes as well as a permanent increase in male risk of premature ischaemic heart disease. As such, this study demonstrates the importance of context, and implies that current evidence from the developed world may be largely uninformative for preventing or mitigating social disparities in non-communicable chronic diseases elsewhere, suggesting research efforts should be focused on developing countries.published_or_final_versio

Associations of birth order with early adolescent growth, pubertal onset, blood pressure and size: Evidence from Hong Kong’s “Children of 1997” birth cohort

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Cost-effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment for gastric cancer in Hong Kong: a decision analytic approach

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Modifiable determinants of child health: what have we learnt from Hong Kong's Children of 1997 birth cohort?

Conference Theme: Maternal and Child Health: the Foundation of Population HealthAbstractpostprin

Power and sample size calculations for Mendelian randomization studies using one genetic instrument

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Social patterning in adiposity in adolescence: prospective observations from the chinese birth cohort ‘‘Children of 1997’’

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Maternal age of menarche and blood pressure in adolescence: evidence from Hong Kong’s “Children of 1997” birth cohort

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A randomised-controlled trial of two educational modes for undergraduate evidence-based medicine learning in Asia

BACKGROUND: As the overall evidence for the effectiveness of teaching of evidence based medicine (EBM) is not strong, and the impact of cultural and societal influences on teaching method is poorly understood, we undertook a randomised-controlled trial to test the effectiveness and learning satisfaction with two different EBM teaching methods (usual teaching vs. problem based learning (PBL)) for undergraduate medical students. METHODS: A mixed methods study that included a randomised-controlled crossover trial with two intervention arms (usual teaching and PBL) and a nested qualitative study with focus groups to explore student perceptions of learning and to assess the effectiveness and utility of the two teaching methods.All 129 second-year medical students at the University of Hong Kong in 2007.The main outcomes measures were attitudes towards EBM; personal application and current use of EBM; EBM knowledge; future use of EBM. RESULTS: PBL was less effective at imparting knowledge than usual teaching consisting of a lecture followed by a group tutorial. After usual teaching students showed improvement in scores for 'attitudes towards EBM', 'personal application and current use of EBM' and 'EBM knowledge, which were not evident after PBL. In contrast to the usual teaching, students found PBL difficult as they lacked the statistical knowledge necessary to support discussion, failed to understand core concepts, and lost direction. CONCLUSION: The evidence presented here would suggest that the teaching of EBM within an Asian environment should adopt a format that facilitates both the acquisition of knowledge and encourages enquiry.published_or_final_versio

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Ischemic Heart Disease Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study

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