Hugus 哈格斯

Hugus is a pair of fluffy dolls designed for two parties who need to spend extended time periods separated by distance. Each of the parties owns one of the dolls. To connect the Hugus, all the parties have to do is to link up their smartphones with the Hugus App via Bluetooth, and set up a reunion date with a pairing code... 哈格斯是一對兩隻的毛毛玩偶，專為長期分隔異地的人而設計。二人雙方各擁一隻哈格斯玩偶，以智能手機透過藍芽接入哈格斯應用程式，再以配對碼設定相聚的日期，就能連結彼此的哈格斯... Award: Merit奬項: 優異

Deleted in Liver Cancer 2 (DLC2) Was Dispensable for Development and Its Deficiency Did Not Aggravate Hepatocarcinogenesis

DLC2 (deleted in liver cancer 2), a Rho GTPase-activating protein, was previously shown to be underexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma and has tumor suppressor functions in cell culture models. We generated DLC2-deficient mice to investigate the tumor suppressor role of DLC2 in hepatocarcinogenesis and the function of DLC2 in vivo. In this study, we found that, unlike homologous DLC1, which is essential for embryonic development, DLC2 was dispensable for embryonic development and DLC2-deficient mice could survive to adulthood. We also did not observe a higher incidence of liver tumor formation or diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in DLC2-deficient mice. However, we observed that DLC2-deficient mice were smaller and had less adipose tissue than the wild type mice. These phenotypes were not due to reduction of cell size or defect in adipogenesis, as observed in the 190B RhoGAP-deficient mouse model. Together, these results suggest that deficiency in DLC2 alone does not enhance hepatocarcinogenesis

Association between employer’s knowledge and attitude towards smoking cessation and voluntary promotion in workplace: a survey study

Background Workplace smoking cessation (SC) intervention is effective in increasing quit rate but little was known about the factors associated with voluntary SC promotion. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation, including banning smoking in all indoor area of workplaces, has been enforced in Hong Kong. This survey investigated the prevalence of company’s compliance with smoke-free legislation and examined the relation between voluntary SC promotion in workplace and employer’s knowledge of and attitude towards smoking and SC. Material and Methods Half (50.3%, n = 292) of a convenience sample of companies completed a self-administered questionnaire on company’s voluntary SC promotion in the workplace. Factors investigated included company’s characteristics (size, type, and number of smoking employees); employers’ knowledge of smoking, second-hand smoke and SC effects on health; perceived responsibility in assisting employees to quit smoking and smoking prohibition in workplace (smoke free policy). Logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for voluntary SC promotion. Results A notable proportion of companies (14.7%) showed non-compliance with the smoke free workplace ordinance and only 10% voluntarily promoted SC. Perceived greater negative impact of smoking on the company (adjusted odds ratio[aOR] 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-3.20) and better knowledge of smoking (aOR 1.40, 95%CI 1.00-1.94) were associated with voluntary SC promotion. Positive but non-significant associations were observed between perceived responsibility of assisting employees to quit, workplace smoke free policy and voluntary SC promotion. Company characteristics were generally not associated with voluntary SC promotion except white collar companies were less likely to promote SC (aOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85). Conclusions This is the first survey on company’s SC promotion in the Chinese population. A notable proportion of companies was not compliant with the smoke-free workplace ordinance. Employers with a higher level of knowledge and perceived impact of smoking on companies and from blue-collar companies were more likely to promote SC in workplace. The findings inform future workplace intervention design and policy

Factors contributing to the low physical activity level for Hong Kong Chinese children hospitalised with cancer: an exploratory study

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Aims and objectives: To explore the factors contributing to the low physical activity level for Hong Kong Chinese children hospitalised with cancer. Background: Notwithstanding the fact that regular physical activity can ameliorate cancer-related fatigue and other adverse effect of cancer treatment on children's physical and psychological well-being, physical inactivity is a common problem among children undergoing cancer treatment. Understanding the factors that affect their physical activity level is an important step towards planning and evaluating an appropriate intervention that promotes the adoption and maintenance of regular physical activity. Design: A phenomenological design was used in this qualitative study. Methods: A purposive sample of 25 children with cancer was recruited in a paediatric oncology unit of an acute care public hospital in Hong Kong. They were asked to participate in a semistructured interview by their bedside lasting about 30 minutes. All the interviews were tape-recorded and immediately transcribed. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Results: The findings revealed that the patientsâ physical condition, misunderstanding about physical activity by children, parents and healthcare professionals, emotional disturbances and social influences are four important factors impeding children from engaging in regular physical activity during cancer treatment. Conclusion: This study addresses a gap in the literature by identifying the factors that negatively influence the physical activity levels of Hong Kong Chinese children hospitalised with cancer. Relevance to clinical practice: Understanding these factors, nurses can explore interventions that target on correcting the misunderstanding and providing relevant information about the importance of physical activity, eventually promoting the adoption and maintenance of regular physical activity and enhancing the quality of life.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Psychometric evaluation of the traditional Chinese version of the Resilience Scale-14 and assessment of resilience in Hong Kong adolescents

Background: A reliable and valid instrument that accurately measures resilience is crucial for the development of interventions to enhance the resilience of adolescents and promote their positive mental well-being. However, there is a lack of adolescent resilience assessment tools with good psychometric properties suitable for use with Hong Kong participants. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the traditional Chinese version of the Resilience Scale-14. Methods: Between October 2017 and January 2018, a stratified random sample of 1816 Grade 7 (aged 11–15 years) students from all 18 districts of Hong Kong were invited to participate in the study. Subjects were asked to respond to the traditional Chinese version of the Resilience Scale-14, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for children, and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. The psychometric properties, including the internal consistency, content validity, convergent and discriminant validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and test–retest reliability of the Resilience Scale-14 were assessed. Results: The translated scale demonstrated good internal consistency and test–retest reliability, excellent content validity, and appropriate convergent and discriminant validity. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-factor structure of the traditional Chinese version of the Resilience Scale-14. Conclusions: Results suggest that the translated scale is a reliable and valid tool to assess the resilience of young Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. Healthcare professionals could use the newly translated scale to assess resilience levels among Hong Kong adolescents and develop interventions that can help them combat mental health problems and lead healthier lives

A descriptive study of a Smoke-free Teens Programme to promote smoke-free culture in schools and the community in Hong Kong

Abstract Background Youth smoking continues to be a significant global public health concern. To ensure healthier lives for youths, healthcare professionals need to increase awareness among the youth of the health risks and addictive nature of smoking, strengthen their ability to resist negative peer influence and curiosity, and help those who smoked to quit. The Smoke-free Teens Programme was launched in 2012 to equip youngsters with up-to-date information about smoking and global trends in tobacco control and to encourage them to play a pioneering role in tobacco control. This paper describes the process and outcomes of this programme for youths in Hong Kong. Methods The Smoke-free Teens Programme contained three major components: (i) a 2-day-1-night training camp; (ii) creative activities to promote smoke-free messages in schools and the community; and (iii) an award presentation ceremony to recognize the efforts of outstanding Smoke-free Teens in establishing a smoke-free culture. All secondary school students or teenagers aged 14 to 18 years from secondary schools, youth centres and uniform groups were invited to join the programme. The outcome measures were changes in (1) knowledge about smoking hazards; (2) attitudes towards smoking, tobacco control, and smoking cessation; and (3) practices for promoting smoking cessation. Results A total of 856 teenagers were recruited during the study period (July 2014 to March 2017). The results showed statistically significant changes in participants’ knowledge about smoking hazards, attitudes towards tobacco control, and practice for promoting smoking cessation. Conclusions The Smoke-free Teens Programme demonstrated effectiveness in equipping youngsters with up-to-date information about smoking and global trends in tobacco control and in encouraging them to play a pioneering role in tobacco control. The trained Smoke-free Teens not only promoted the smoke-free messages among their schoolmates, friends, and families, but also gathered community support for a smoke-free Hong Kong. The programme has been instrumental in fostering a new batch of Smoke-free Teens to advocate smoke-free culture and protect public health. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT03291132 (retrospectively registered on September 19, 2017)

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurements in Myopia: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study

PURPOSE. To evaluate the relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the axial length/refractive error of the eye. METHODS. A total of 115 eyes of 115 healthy subjects, comprising 75 eyes with high myopia (spherical equivalent [SE] Ͻ Ϫ6.0 D) and 40 eyes with low to moderate myopia (SE between Ϫ6.0 D and Ϫ0.5D), were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. Total average and mean clock hour RNFL thicknesses were measured by OCT and compared between the two myopia groups. Associations between RNFL measurements and axial length and spherical equivalent were evaluated by linear regression analysis. RESULTS. The RNFL measurements were significantly lower in the high myopia group compared with those of the low-tomoderate myopia group at 12, 1, and 7 o'clock (right eye orientation). Apart from the temporal clock hours, significant correlations were evident between RNFL measurements and the axial length and spherical equivalent. The average RNFL thickness decreased with increasing axial length (r ϭ Ϫ0.314, P ϭ 0.001) and negative refractive power (r ϭ 0.291, P ϭ 0.002). A significant proportion of myopic eyes were classified as outside normal limits, with reference to the normative database. The most frequently abnormal sector was at 2 o'clock, where 16.5% of myopic eyes were outside normal limits. CONCLUSIONS. RNFL measurements vary with the axial length/ refractive error of the eye. Analysis of RNFL thickness in the evaluation of glaucoma should always be interpreted with reference to the refractive status. Although the normative database provided by OCT has been helpful in identifying ocular diseases involving the RNFL, it may not be reliable in the analysis of myopic eyes. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;47: 5171-5176