Effect of plant traits and substrate moisture on the thermal performance of different plant species in vertical greenery systems

This study evaluated the effects of plant traits and substrate moisture on the thermal performance of four herbs and four shrubs, which are the most commonly used species in vertical greenery systems (VGSs), in humid subtropical Hong Kong over a one-year period. The canopy temperature reduction on sunny days was significantly correlated with canopy coverage and leaf area index (LAI), but not with daily evapotranspiration (ET). This indicated that the shading effect of VGSs, which is related to canopy coverage and LAI, was more prominent than ET cooling. The lack of significant correlation between substrate moisture, ET and canopy temperature indicated that substrate moisture and ET did not significantly enhance the canopy cooling of VGSs. Substrate moisture notably cooled the substrate on sunny days, and warmed the substrate on rainy days, which significantly affected substrate thermal behavior, but had less effect on canopy air temperature. The use of VGSs with eight common plant species on building envelopes reduced steady-state heat conduction by 18.7–39.8%, with Ficus elastica (rubber fig) causing the greatest canopy cooling

A study on the association of the chromosome 12p13 locus with sporadic late-onset alzheimer's disease in Chinese

Recent linkage and association studies have implicated the chromosome 12p13 locus as possibly harboring genetic variants predisposed to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We attempted to replicate this association in a Chinese data set comprised of 256 AD cases and 264 age-matched normal controls. A total of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined. Single marker association revealed the two SNPs in NCAPD2 (rs7311174 and rs2072374) as showing nominal significant p values (p = 0.0491 and 0.0116, respectively). Haplotype analysis found LD block one to be significantly associated with AD (global p = 0.0250). Haplotypes CGGATG and CAGTCG were also significantly associated with AD (p = 0.0498 and p = 0.0482, respectively). These genetic analyses provide evidence that the chromosome 12p13 locus is associated with AD in Chinese. © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.postprin

A Step Toward Workplace Obesity Prevention: Evaluation of Weight Management Program for Hospital-based Health Care Providers

Background: Obesity is a worldwide problem. Healthy workplace and lifestyle are crucial in preventing obesity. A workplace weight management program could create a culture of health and facilitate weight control among health care providers. The present study aims to describe and evaluate the health outcomes of the interaction of professional practice and organizational infrastructure. Method: The hospital-based weight management program was an eight-week pilot randomized controlled study for obese health care providers. The primary outcomes were body weight and body mass index. The secondary outcomes included serum fasting glucose, fasting cholesterol, triglyceride, high- and low-density lipoprotein, body fat percentage, body mass, and quality of life. The RE-AIM framework was used to examine the intervention’s reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance at individual and organizational levels. Results: The program successfully attained the target population. Health care providers demonstrated short-term weight loss and decreased serum fasting cholesterol level after completing the program. The excellent retention rate (95%) of the study suggested that the participants were well-engaged in self-weight management. The program was implemented with adequate resource and support from the health organization. The organization may consider continuing the program in view of its long-term benefits to health care providers. Conclusion: Supportive organizational structure and culture enhanced professional practice and improved the health outcomes of the hospital-based weight management program participants

A randomised controlled trial to compare immunogenicity between intramuscular and intradermal trivalent influenza vaccination in nursing home older adults

BACKGROUND: Immunosenescence in older adults contributes to unsatisfactory immunogenicity towards influenza vaccine. Intradermal (ID) administration of influenza vaccine has been suggested to improve immunogenicity but there is no study regarding the immunogenicity of ID influenza vaccination in nursing home older adults ...postprin

Bioavailable testosterone predicts a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older men: a 1-year cohort study

Oral Presentationpublished_or_final_versionThe 15th Annual Research Conference of the Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 16 January 2010. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2010, v. 16, suppl. 1, p. 16, abstract no. 1

Polymorphisms of CR1, CLU and PICALM confer susceptibility of Alzheimer's disease in a southern Chinese population

In this case-controlled study, we tested susceptible genetic variants for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in CR1, CLU and PICALM from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in a southern Chinese population. Eight hundred twelve participants consisting of 462 late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) patients and 350 nondemented control subjects were recruited. We found by multivariate logistic regression analysis, that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CR1 (rs6656401 adjusted allelic p = 0.035; adjusted genotypic p = 0.043) and CLU (rs2279590 adjusted allelic p = 0.035; adjusted genotypic p = 0.006; rs11136000 adjusted allelic p = 0.038; adjusted genotypic p = 0.009) were significantly different between LOAD patients and nondemented controls. For PICALM, LOAD association was found only in the APOE ε4 (-) subgroup (rs3851179 adjusted allelic p = 0.028; adjusted genotypic p = 0.013). Our findings showed evidence of CR1, CLU, and PICALM and LOAD susceptibility in an independent southern Chinese population, which provides additional evidence for LOAD association apart from prior genome-wide association studies in Caucasian populations. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.postprin

Local adverse effect of intradermal administration of influenza vaccination is an indicator of satisfactory immunogenicity

BACKGROUND: There are few studies concerning the association between immunogenicity of intradermal (ID) administration of influenza vaccination and adverse effect of vaccination ...postprin

Oral health and breastfeeding promotion program for pregnant women

The aim of this project was to promote the awareness and knowledge of pregnant women and infant oral health as well as the oral benefits of breastfeeding through a multi-disciplinary approach. This pilot oral health promotion program was developed to promote oral health knowledge related to the common dental problems among pregnant women and infants, and the oral health advantages of breastfeeding for infants. The program was conducted twice during March to April 2016 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It consisted of a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation and a 15-minute small-group interactive workshop on Oral Hygiene Instructions. Evaluation forms were used to collect the feedbacks of the participants. The feedbacks for both the PowerPoint presentation and the interactive workshop were positive. Over 70% of the participants found that the contents were well-presented and the dental students were able to answer their questions. Furthermore, the participants agreed that the stated objectives of the program were met and the content of the program could be applicable in the coming future. Over 80% of the participants expressed that they understood the oral health advantages of breastfeeding after this program. To conclude, this program can effectively promote the key oral health messages about the common oral health problems of pregnant women and infants as well as the oral health advantages of breastfeeding. Also, this program can be effectively incorporated into the existing ante-natal classes. Further research can be performed to quantify the effectiveness by comparing the dental knowledge of pregnant women before and after this program. Further cooperation with a wider range of organizations, such as midwifery and nursing schools should also be explored.published_or_final_versio

Antimetastatic Effects of Norcantharidin on Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Transcriptional Inhibition of MMP-9 through Modulation of NF-kB Activity

The rate of morbidity and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Taiwan has not lessened because of difficulty in treating tumor metastasis. Norcantharidin (NCTD) is currently used as an anticancer drug for hepatoma, breast cancer, and colorectal adenocarcinoma. NCTD possesses various biological anticancer activities, including apoptosis. However, detailed effects and molecular mechanisms of NCTD on metastasis are unclear. Thus, HCC cells were subjected to treatment with NCTD and then analyzed to determine the effects of NCTD on cell metastasis.Modified Boyden chamber assays revealed that NCTD treatment inhibited cell migration and invasion capacities of HCC cells substantially. Results of zymography and western blotting showed that activities and protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) were inhibited by NCTD. Western blot analysis showed that NCTD inhibits phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Testing of mRNA level, quantitative real-time PCR, and promoter assays evaluated the inhibitory effects of NCTD on MMP-9 and u-PA expression in HCC cells. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay for analyzing the genomic DNA sequences bound to these proteins was reactive to the transcription protein nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, which was inhibited by NCTD. The expression of NF-kappa B was measured by western blot analysis, which revealed decreased nuclear-factor DNA-binding activity after NCTD treatment.NCTD inhibited MMP-9 and u-PA expression through the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and NF-kappaB signaling pathway which serves as a powerful chemopreventive agent in HCC cell metastasis