Barriers and facilitators to human papillomavirus vaccination among Chinese adolescent girls in Hong Kong: A qualitative-quantitative study

Objectives: To explore perceptions towards cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccination and to identify factors affecting the acceptability of HPV vaccination among Chinese adolescent girls in Hong Kong. Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with Chinese adolescent girls (median age 16 years, age range 13-20, n = 64) in Hong Kong in April 2007. Thematic analysis was employed to identify major themes related to cervical cancer and HPV vaccination. A supplementary questionnaire was administered to all participants before and after group discussion to assess their knowledge, attitudes and intention to be vaccinated and to collect demographic information. Results: Participants' knowledge on cervical cancer was limited and HPV was largely unheard of. They had difficulty understanding the mechanism linking cervical cancer with HPV infection. Participants held a favourable attitude towards HPV vaccination but the perceived timing of vaccination varied. Barriers to vaccination include high monetary cost, uncertain length of vaccine effectiveness, low perceived risk of HPV infection, no immediate perceived need of vaccination, anticipated family disapproval and fear of the pain of injection. Factors conducive to vaccination include perceived family and peer support and medical reassurance on safety and efficacy of vaccine. The differences on knowledge, attitudes, intention to be vaccinated now and willingness to conform to significant others before and after the discussion were statistically significant, with an increased tendency towards favouring vaccination after the focus group. Conclusions: Participants favoured HPV vaccination despite not feeling an immediate need to be vaccinated. Interventions could focus on providing professional information on HPV vaccination and raising adolescents' perceived need to take preventive measures against HPV infection.published_or_final_versio

Genetic variation and exercise-induced muscle damage: implications for athletic performance, injury and ageing.

Prolonged unaccustomed exercise involving muscle lengthening (eccentric) actions can result in ultrastructural muscle disruption, impaired excitation-contraction coupling, inflammation and muscle protein degradation. This process is associated with delayed onset muscle soreness and is referred to as exercise-induced muscle damage. Although a certain amount of muscle damage may be necessary for adaptation to occur, excessive damage or inadequate recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage can increase injury risk, particularly in older individuals, who experience more damage and require longer to recover from muscle damaging exercise than younger adults. Furthermore, it is apparent that inter-individual variation exists in the response to exercise-induced muscle damage, and there is evidence that genetic variability may play a key role. Although this area of research is in its infancy, certain gene variations, or polymorphisms have been associated with exercise-induced muscle damage (i.e. individuals with certain genotypes experience greater muscle damage, and require longer recovery, following strenuous exercise). These polymorphisms include ACTN3 (R577X, rs1815739), TNF (-308 G>A, rs1800629), IL6 (-174 G>C, rs1800795), and IGF2 (ApaI, 17200 G>A, rs680). Knowing how someone is likely to respond to a particular type of exercise could help coaches/practitioners individualise the exercise training of their athletes/patients, thus maximising recovery and adaptation, while reducing overload-associated injury risk. The purpose of this review is to provide a critical analysis of the literature concerning gene polymorphisms associated with exercise-induced muscle damage, both in young and older individuals, and to highlight the potential mechanisms underpinning these associations, thus providing a better understanding of exercise-induced muscle damage

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Association analysis identifies 65 new breast cancer risk loci

Breast cancer risk is influenced by rare coding variants in susceptibility genes, such as BRCA1, and many common, mostly non-coding variants. However, much of the genetic contribution to breast cancer risk remains unknown. Here we report the results of a genome-wide association study of breast cancer in 122,977 cases and 105,974 controls of European ancestry and 14,068 cases and 13,104 controls of East Asian ancestry. We identified 65 new loci that are associated with overall breast cancer risk at P < 5 × 10-8. The majority of credible risk single-nucleotide polymorphisms in these loci fall in distal regulatory elements, and by integrating in silico data to predict target genes in breast cells at each locus, we demonstrate a strong overlap between candidate target genes and somatic driver genes in breast tumours. We also find that heritability of breast cancer due to all single-nucleotide polymorphisms in regulatory features was 2-5-fold enriched relative to the genome-wide average, with strong enrichment for particular transcription factor binding sites. These results provide further insight into genetic susceptibility to breast cancer and will improve the use of genetic risk scores for individualized screening and prevention.We thank all the individuals who took part in these studies and all the researchers, clinicians, technicians and administrative staff who have enabled this work to be carried out. Genotyping of the OncoArray was principally funded from three sources: the PERSPECTIVE project, funded by the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the ‘Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation du Québec’ through Genome Québec, and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation; the NCI Genetic Associations and Mechanisms in Oncology (GAME-ON) initiative and Discovery, Biology and Risk of Inherited Variants in Breast Cancer (DRIVE) project (NIH Grants U19 CA148065 and X01HG007492); and Cancer Research UK (C1287/A10118 and C1287/A16563). BCAC is funded by Cancer Research UK (C1287/A16563), by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement 223175 (HEALTH-F2-2009-223175) (COGS) and by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreements 633784 (B-CAST) and 634935 (BRIDGES). Genotyping of the iCOGS array was funded by the European Union (HEALTH-F2-2009-223175), Cancer Research UK (C1287/A10710), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for the ‘CIHR Team in Familial Risks of Breast Cancer’ program, and the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade of Quebec, grant PSR-SIIRI-701. Combining of the GWAS data was supported in part by The National Institute of Health (NIH) Cancer Post-Cancer GWAS initiative grant U19 CA 148065 (DRIVE, part of the GAME-ON initiative)

A longitudinal study on quality of life after gynecologic cancer treatment

Objective. The objective was to describe the pattern of quality of life (QOL) over time and to assess the impact of age, symptoms, disease parameters, and treatment on the overall QOL. Methods. A longitudinal study on patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer using individual patients as their own control was performed. The 33-item EORTC QLQ-C30(+3) was used as the QOL measure. Patients were assessed before treatment, after completion of treatment, and at 6, 12, and 24 months. Spearman's correlation analyses were performed. A mixed effect model was fitted to the data. Bonferroni pairwise comparisons were used to analyze the different variables. Results. One hundred forty-four women completed the study. Overall QOL improved after the completion of treatment but remained the same throughout the 2 years after treatment. The individual patient's QOL before treatment was insignificant while the impact of treatment on the individual patient was significant in determining QOL after treatment. There was a strong correlation for all time points in most factors, indicating that the global health status, functional scales, and symptom scales exhibit a dependent change over time. Relief in symptoms was associated with improvements in functional scales. The scores on overall QOL were lower for younger patients and for patients treated with chemotherapy than for patients treated with surgery. Conclusions. Strategies for supportive care need to focus on symptom management. Psychosocial interventions, to be effective, should include all patients and should aim to reduce the impact of treatment on the individual patient. © 2001 Academic Press.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among Chinese women: Concerns and implications

Objective: To explore Chinese women's perceptions of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and their intention to be vaccinated. Design: A cross-sectional community-based survey study. Setting: Thirteen community women's health centres of The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong. Sample: A total of 1450 ethnic Chinese women aged 18 or above who attended the health centres. Methods: Participants completed a written consent and an anonymous questionnaire onsite. Main outcome measures: Knowledge and beliefs about HPV and HPV vaccination against cervical cancer and participants' own intention to be vaccinated. Results: About 38% of the participants (n = 527) had heard of HPV and 50% (n = 697) had heard of vaccination against cervical cancer. HPV infection was perceived to be stigmatising and detrimental to intimate, family and social relationships. Despite misconceptions and a grossly inadequate knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccination, 88% of the participants (n = 1219) indicated that they would likely be vaccinated. Majority of the participants believed that sexually experienced women should be vaccinated, while 27% opposed vaccinating sexually naive women. Younger age women who perceived a disruptive impact of HPV infection on intimate relationship and their partners' approval were significantly associated with a positive intention to be HPV vaccinated. Conclusions: The easy acceptability of HPV vaccination among the mostly sexually experienced Chinese participants and their knowledge deficit on the subject may implicate potential misuse of the vaccines and a false sense of security against cervical cancer. There is a dire need for culturally sensitive and tailored education for the public, women of different ages and their partners about HPV and HPV vaccination. Emphasis must be placed on the prophylactic nature of the current vaccines, the uncertain effects when given to sexually experienced women, the importance of adolescent vaccination and the need for continued cervical screening whether vaccinated or not. © 2009 The Authors.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Joint linkage device

Inventor name used in this publication: 汤启宇Tong Kai YuInventor name used in this publication: 宋嵘Inventor name used in this publication: 林昭凯, Lam Chiu HoiInventor name used in this publication: 谭惠民, Tam Wai Man,Inventor name used in this publication: 邝国权Inventor name used in this publication: 彭民杰·彼得Inventor name used in this publication: 陈茂华, Chan Mau WahInventor name used in this publication: 梁焕方·华莱士Title in Traditional Chinese: 關節聯動裝置ChinaVersion of Recor

Multiple joint linkage device

US7854708; US7854708 B2; US7854708B2; US7,854,708; US 7,854,708 B2; 7854708; Appl. No. 11/802,273Inventor name used in this publication: Kai Yu TongInventor name used in this publication: Chiu Hoi LamInventor name used in this publication: Wai Man TamInventor name used in this publication: Kwok Kuen KwongInventor name used in this publication: Tak Chi LeeInventor name used in this publication: Mau Wah ChanInventor name used in this publication: Woon Fong Wallace LeungUSVersion of Recor

Robotic training system with multi-orientation module

Inventor name used in this publication: 汤启宇, Tong Kai YuInventor name used in this publication: 宋嵘Inventor name used in this publication: 林昭凯, Lam Chiu HoiInventor name used in this publication: 谭惠民, Tam Wai ManInventor name used in this publication: 吴树滔Inventor name used in this publication: 彭民杰Inventor name used in this publication: 梁焕方Title in Traditional Chinese: 帶多方向模塊的機器人訓練系統ChinaVersion of Recor

Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and health-related quality of life in prostate cancer survivors in the health professionals follow-up study

PURPOSE: Many prostate cancer survivors experience compromised health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a result of prostate cancer. We examined relationships between types and intensities of activity and sedentary behavior and prostate cancer-related HRQOL, overall, and by demographic, disease, and treatment characteristics. METHODS: Associations between post-diagnosis activity and sedentary behavior and HRQOL domains (urinary incontinence, urinary irritation/obstruction, bowel, sexual and vitality/hormonal) were prospectively examined in men diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (n=1917) using generalized linear models. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, higher duration of total, non-vigorous, and walking activity was associated with higher vitality/hormonal functioning scores (p-trends,< 0.0001). Effects were small (d= 0.16–0.20), but approached clinical significance for men in the highest versus lowest activity categories. Survivors who walked ≥90 minutes/week at a normal pace, or faster, reported higher hormone/vitality scores (p=0.001) than men walking <90 minutes at an easy pace. Weight lifting was associated with increased urinary incontinence (p-trend,0.02). Total activity was associated with higher hormone/vitality functioning in men who were ≥5 years post-treatment, had more advanced disease (Gleason score ≥7), and had ≥1 comorbid condition. No relationships were observed between vigorous activity or sedentary behavior and HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Increased duration of non-vigorous activity and walking post-diagnosis was positively associated with better hormone/vitality functioning. Specifically, engaging in ≥5 hours of non-vigorous activity or ≥3 hours of walking per week may be beneficial. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Encouraging men to engage in non-vigorous activity and walking may be helpful for managing prostate cancer-related HRQOL