Development and evaluation of a train-the-trainer workshop for Hong Kong community social service agency staff

published_or_final_versio

Exploring community stakeholders? Perceptions of the enhancing family well-being project in Hong Kong: A qualitative study

published_or_final_versio

Combined LRRK2 mutation, aging and chronic low dose oral rotenone as a model of Parkinson’s disease

published_or_final_versio

Simple Non-laboratory- and Laboratory-based Risk Assessment Algorithms and Nomogram for Detecting Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus

Background: To develop a simple nomogram which can be used to predict the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) in asymptomatic non-diabetic general population based on non-laboratory-based and laboratory-based risk algorithms. Methods: Anthropometric data, plasma fasting glucose, full lipid profile, exercise habit and family history of DM were collected from Chinese non-diabetic subjects aged 18-70. Logistic regression analysis was performed on the data of a random sample of 2518 subjects to construct non-laboratory-based and laboratory-based risk assessment algorithms for the detection of undiagnosed DM; both algorithms were validated on the data of the remaining sample (n=839). Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 statistic and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) were employed to assess the calibration and discrimination of the different DM risk algorithms. Results: Of 3357 subjects recruited, 271 (8.1%) had undiagnosed DM defined by fasting glucose≥7.0mmol/L or 2-hour post-load plasma glucose≥11.1mmol/L after oral glucose tolerance test. The non-laboratory-based risk algorithm, with score ranging from 0 to 33, included age, body mass index, family history of DM, regular exercise and uncontrolled blood pressure; the laboratory-based risk algorithm, with score ranging from 0 to 37, added triglyceride level to the risk factors. Both algorithms demonstrated acceptable calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: P=0.229 and P=0.483, respectively) and discrimination (AUC: 0.709 and 0.711, respectively) for the detection of undiagnosed DM. The optimal cutoff point on the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 18 for the detection of undiagnosed DM in both algorithms. Conclusions: Simple-to-use nomogram for detecting undiagnosed DM has been developed using the validated non-laboratory-based and laboratory-based risk algorithms.postprin

A qualitative study of the views of patients with long-term conditions on family doctors in Hong Kong

<b>Background</b> Primary care based management of long-term conditions (LTCs) is high on the international healthcare agenda, including the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong has a 'mixed economy' healthcare system with both public and private sectors with a range of types of primary care doctors. Recent Hong Kong Government policy aims to enhance the management of LTCs in primary care possibly based on a 'family doctor' model. Patients' views on this are not well documented and the aim of the present study was to explore the views of patients with LTCs on family doctors in Hong Kong.<p></p> <b>Methods</b> The views of patients (with a variety of LTCs) on family doctors in Hong Kong were explored. Two groups of participants were interviewed; a) those who considered themselves as having a family doctor, b) those who considered themselves as not having a family doctor (either with a regular primary care doctor but not a family doctor or with no regular primary care doctor). In-depth individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with 28 participants (10 with a family doctor, 10 with a regular doctor, and 8 with no regular doctor) and analysed using the constant comparative method.<p></p> <b>Results</b> Participants who did not have a family doctor were familiar with the concept but regarded it as a 'luxury item' for the rich within the private healthcare system. Those with a regular family doctor (all private) regarded having one as important to their and their family's health. Participants in both groups felt that as well as the more usual family medicine specialist or general practitioner, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners also had the potential to be family doctors. However most participants attended the public healthcare system for management of their LTCs whether they had a family doctor or not. Cost, perceived need, quality, trust, and choice were all barriers to the use of family doctors for the management of their LTCs.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> Important barriers to the adoption of a 'family doctor' model of management of LTCs exist in Hong Kong. Effective policy implementation seems unlikely unless these complex barriers are addressed

Analysis of mobile commerce market in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the cities with the highest penetration rate of mobile devices in the world. There is the potential for Hong Kong to be a leader of mobile commerce. Recently, the six local mobile network operators stimulated usage of SMS to promote mobile Internet markets. In addition, the Hongkong Post launched the mobile digital certificates for community-wide adoption of mobile commerce. However, the customers are not buying what might be expected, and mobile commerce is a relatively new concept to most of Hong Kong people. The initial consumers are fundamentally committed to new technology and like getting their hands on the latest innovations. They should be the major market segment in this early phase of development. Hong Kong is an international financial center, and the premier gateway for trade and investment moving into and out of China. This offers an opportunity that the information and news provides a valuable market to mobile commerce. This paper will discuss these factors and analyze the mobile commerce market in Hong Kong.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Photosynthetic and proteomic responses of the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana to triphenyltin exposure

Conference Theme: Learning from History and Applying Advancing Science to Build a Safer and Sustainable EnvironmentOral presentatio

A novel synthetic epitope tag and its monoclonal antibody for specific and efficient protein detection and purification

Organizer: Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI)With a rapid growth of the global protein purification and isolation market, there is a huge demand for developing new ligands and kits to facilitate rapid extraction and purification of target protein samples. Affinity tag is one of the most important tools for protein purification at high quality and purity in both research laboratories and biotechnology industries. Here we introduce a novel 18-residue epitope tag carrying the peptide sequence TKENPRSNQEESYDDNES [MW: 2142.07 g/mol; Isoelectric point: pH(I) 3.84] and its highly specific monoclonal antibody for detection and affinity purification of tagged recombinant proteins. We name this new tag system the “TrackenProbeTM” as inspired from part of its peptide sequence. This synthetic peptide is a unique epitope tag designed to give stringent specificity in detection and minimal structural perturbation to target recombinant proteins being tagged. The sequence of this tag shares no significant conformational and sequence homology to any known protein in nature, thus offering maximum immuno-specificity for antibody recognition. Moreover, the inertness of this peptide tag is unlikely to cause any significant interference with natural protein functions or activities in living cells when incorporated into its target protein. Regarding solubility, computational prediction demonstrated little ordered secondary structure of this highly hydrophilic peptide tag, with optimal solvent accessibility for antibody recognition in aqueous solution. Strong hydrophilicity also enables optimal protein hydration to minimize denaturation of the target recombinant proteins. The high specificity and efficient immuno-labeling make TrackenProbeTM-antibody system an attractive tool for a wide variety of protein detection and purification strategies, e.g. Western blotting, in situ immuno-labeling, affinity chromatography, etc. (Technical details: http://www.versitech.hku.hk/reagents/ne/). We welcome biomedical research and business partnership for advanced solutions in the field

The effectiveness of positive psychology interventions in enhancing positive behaviors and family relationships in Hong Kong: A community-based participatory research project

This paper describes a program of brief, universal, positive psychology-based interventions to increase targeted behaviors that enhance family relationships, developed and delivered to over 1500 participants using a community-based participatory approach. The cluster-randomized design combined interventions based on one of three themes (gratitude, hope, or open-mindedness) in one of two structures (intervention, or intervention with planning). The latter structure supplemented with materials and exercises derived from the Health Action Process Approach model of behavior change. Planning was more effective in increasing attitude and intention to perform behaviors, frequency of the targeted behaviors, and family health and happiness (Cohen’s ds: 0.10–0.16, p < 0.05), particularly in the theme targeting open-mindedness. Qualitative data supported effectiveness. This project was a first effort to develop a large-scale preventive psychological intervention in an understudied culture with the goal of maximizing acceptability and utilization by involving community stakeholders in every stage of the design

Impaired Stress-induced Mitophagy In Parkinsonian LRRK2(R1441G) Knockin Mutant Mice

Basic Science Abstracts - Session Title: Parkinson's Disease: Pathophysiology: abstract no. 518Objective: 1. Morphological changes and accumulation of ubiquitinated mitochondria in the striatum of aged leucine-rich-repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) R1441G knockin mutant mice (Liu et al., 2014, 2016); 2. Mechanism of LRRK2 mutation in defective mitochondria turnover in mutant mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Background: Autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome system maintain mitochondria homeostasis and turnover. Autophagic stress, a key pathological feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD), perturbs mitochondrial quality and energy homeostasis in neurons. LRRK2 mutation is the most common genetic risk of PD. Studies suggested a putative role for LRRK2 in macroautophagy. We hypothesize that LRRK2 mutation disrupts mitophagy process causing defective mitochondria accumulation in aged mutant brains. Methods: For mitochondria morphology, aged mouse striatal sections were fixed and examined under transmission electron microscopy. Total number of mitochondria were quantified and compared with wildtype (WT) controls (20 randomized photomicrographs x 3 animals). Freshly isolated striatal mitochondria were immuno-labeled by antiubiquitin antibody and MitoTracker™. The degree of ubiquitination in total mitochondria pool was determined by flow cytometry. MEF cultures isolated from LRRK2 mutant mice or their WT littermates were treated with rotenone (250uM) or FCCP (10uM) for 0, 30 and 120 min. Autophagic response was determined by levels of autophagic markers (LC3B-I/II and Lamp-1) and immunocytochemistry. Results: Smaller but higher total number of mitochondria was seen in aged LRRK2 mutant mouse striatum as compared to their age-matched WT controls. The relative proportion of ubiquitinated mitochondria was higher in the mutant mice. Abnormal perinuclear clustering of enlarged lysosomes were observed in mutant but not WT MEFs under normal culture condition. Activation of autophagy was observed in both WT and mutant MEFs after exposure to rotenone or FCCP. However, mutant MEFs have significantly lower levels of total LC3B (LC3B-I/II) than the WT controls suggesting autophagosome depletion. Conclusions: Accumulation of ubiquitinated mitochondria in aged LRRK2 mutant mice indicated impaired mitochondria turnover, possibly due to depletion of LC3B for autophagosome maturation and abnormal clustering of lysosomes