Territory wide study of patients with dystrophinopathy in Hong Kong

Poster PresentationThis journal issues entitled: 18th International Congress of The World Muscle SocietyThis is a first territory wide study in Hong Kong on Chinese patients with dystrophinopathy on their genetic mutation, motor performance, use of steroid, and the interventions they received. This study is participated by all the paediatric departments in the eleven hospitals in Hong Kong. Clinical data was systemically collected ...postprin

Impact of serial therapeutic LP on shunt requirement in patients with aneurysmal SAH: short term result

Conference Theme: Brain Attack: A New EraOral Poster Presentation 1: paper no. FP1-02Hydrocephalus is a common complication after aneuryamal subarachnoid hemorrhage. In the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen hospital (HKU-SZH), we routinely perform serial lumbar puncture to reduce the rate of hydrocephalus and vasospasm. In Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), lumbar puncture is not routinely performed on patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. We present here our results on patients managed in our unit between 2014 and 2015 ...postprin

Evaluation of a resilience-based intervention to improve psycho-social wellbeing and quality of life among people living with HIV in rural China

The International Conference of 4th Asian Congress of Health Psychology, Taipei, Taiwan, 27-31 August 2010

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: a single institute experience

Poster Presentation: no. P210Conference Theme: Controversies in Neurosurger

The Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment for the Visually Impaired (HKMoCA-VI) : proposed cut-off and cognitive functioning survey of visually impaired elderly in residential homes

202407_adaVersion of RecordSelf-fundedPublishedC

Spinal lipoma of the filum terminale: review of 30 patients in Queen Mary Hospital

Poster Presentation 1: no. P113Conference Theme: Controversies in Neurosurger

Suicidal ideation among HIV+ former blood and/or plasma donors in rural China

Special Issue: AIDSImpact, 9th International Conference; Special Issue Gaborone, BotswanaSuicidal ideation is life-threatening and is prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH). A dearth of such studies was conducted in China. This study investigated the prevalence of suicidal ideation and associated factors among PLWH who were former blood and/or plasma donors (FBPD) in a rural county in central China. Prospective respondents were randomly selected from a local registry; 176 PLWH who were FBPD joined the study. With informed consent, these PLWH and their spouse were interviewed separately and anonymously. Respectively, 34 and 8% of the sampled (index) PLWH self-reported having suicidal ideation and making a suicidal attempt in the last year. The multivariate analyses results showed that the index PLWH's Physical Function subscale score of the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey scale (Odds ratio (OR)=6.67, 95% CI=1.69-26.27, ≤25 percentiles against >75 percentiles), the Depression subscale score of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS; OR=9.26, 95% CI=1.32-64.77), and the spouse's Depression subscale score of the DASS (OR=7.64, 95% CI=1.37-42.77) were independently associated with the index PLWH's suicidal ideation. HIV-related variables (e.g., duration of diagnosis, treatment and side effects) and perceived discrimination of the index PLWH, and HIV status of the PLWH's spouse, were not significant factors. Depression is a risk factor for suicides. Moreover, depression may be contagious and the depression status of the spouse also matters. Treatments for depression and prevention intervention for suicides targeting PLWH in rural China are not readily available. Such services are greatly warranted and need to be provided to both the PLWH and his/her spouse. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Interaction effect of HIV-related fate and general fate on depression among people living with HIV in rural China

Poster Session V - 077With a random sample of 198 people living with HIV recruited in rural China, this study examined the relationship of depression and two types of fate belief (i.e., specific to HIV infection, general life). The results showed that the effect of HIV-related fate on depression was moderated by general fate.The 22nd Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), Boston, MA., 27-30 May 2010

Risk and protective factors in association with mental health problems among people living with HIV who were former plasma/blood donors in rural China

A random sample of 271 people living with HIV (PLWH) who were former plasma/blood donors and a convenience sample of 67 HIV negative villagers were anonymously interviewed. Compared with the non-PLWH, PLWH reported higher prevalence of symptoms of depression (adjusted OR = 2.53, p=0.001), anxiety (adjusted OR = 1.85, p=0.04), and stress (adjusted OR = 1.77, p=0.06). Of the PLWH respondents, 81.7% received Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART); 32.1% of whom reported some side effects. Respectively 13.7%, 37.4%, and 38.4% PLWH perceived discrimination from their family members, relatives/friends, and neighbors. Absence of HAART, poor physical function, perceived discrimination from relatives and friends, and low level of resilience were associated with depression (stepwise regression; = - 0.28-0.17, R-square = 0.22), anxiety and stress (R-square = 0.32 and 0.16, respectively). The majority of respondents (70.1%) desired group intervention as a means for providing psychological support services. Relevant programs should both remove risk factors (e.g., absence of medical treatment, HIV-related discrimination) and promote protective factors (e.g., resilience). Support group is one of the potentially useful approaches to provide psychological support services.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

NF-κB targets miR-16 and miR-21 in gastric cancer: Involvement of prostaglandin E receptors

Cigarette smoke is one of the risk factors for gastric cancer and nicotine has been reported to promote tumor growth. Deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions are hallmarks of many cancers including gastric cancer. Here, we used an miRNA array platform covering a panel of 95 human miRNAs to examine the expression profile in nicotine-treated gastric cancer cells. We found that miR-16 and miR-21 were upregulated upon nicotine stimulation, transfection with anti-miR-16 or anti-miR-21 significantly abrogated cell proliferation. In contrast, ectopic miR-16 or miR-21 expression exhibited a similar stimulatory effect on cell proliferation as nicotine. Nicotine-mediated IkappaBα degradation and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) translocation dose-dependently. Knockdown of NF-κB by short interfering RNA (siRNA) or specific inhibitor (Bay-11-7085) markedly suppressed nicotine-induced cell proliferation and upregulation of miR-16 and miR-21. Interestingly, NF-κB-binding sites were located in both miR-16 and miR-21 gene transcriptional elements and we showed that nicotine enhanced the binding of NF-κB to the promoters of miR-16 and miR-21. Furthermore, activation of COX-2/prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) signaling in response to nicotine was mediated by the action of prostaglandin E receptors (EP2 and EP4). EP2 or EP4 siRNA or antagonists impaired the nicotine-mediated NF-κB activity, upregulation of miR-16 and miR-21 and cell proliferation. Taken together, these results suggest that miR-16 and miR-21 are directly regulated by the transcription factor NF-κB and yet nicotine-promoted cell proliferation is mediated via EP2/4 receptors. Perhaps this study may shed light on the development of anticancer drugs to improve the chemosensitivity in smokers. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex