Cellular signaling pathways of matrix metalloproteinase gene expression by Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected human bronchial epithelial cells

Research Dissemination Reports - supported by funds (Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases)published_or_final_versio

Olfactomedin1 (Olfm1) in fallopian tube may modulate tubal ectopic pregnancy in humans: evidence from Immunohistochemistry and an in vitro coculture model

Conference Theme: The Intersection Between Genetics, Genomics, and Reproductive BiologyOlfactomedins are secretary glycoprotein constituted in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of various cell types. Recent studies suggested that Olfm-1 is down-regulated during the window of implantation (WOI) in the human endometrium and up-regulated in pathological condition like endometriosis and recurrent spontaneous abortions. Ectopic pregnancy is a gynaecological emergency and fertility threatening phenomenon which occurs in 1-2% of normal pregnancies and shows an increasing trend. Yet, tubal ectopic pregnancy accounts for more than 98% of the cases ...postprintThe 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Preproduction (SSR), Milwaukee, WI., 30 July-3 August 2010. In Biology of Reproduction, 2010, v. 83 n. Meeting abstracts, p. 27-28, abstract no. 13

Socioeconomic Gradient in Childhood Obesity and Hypertension: A Multilevel Population-Based Study in a Chinese Community

published_or_final_versio

Association of High Myopia with Crystallin Beta A4 (CRYBA4) Gene Polymorphisms in the Linkage-Identified MYP6 Locus

Background: Myopia is the most common ocular disorder worldwide and imposes tremendous burden on the society. It is a complex disease. The MYP6 locus at 22 q12 is of particular interest because many studies have detected linkage signals at this interval. The MYP6 locus is likely to contain susceptibility gene(s) for myopia, but none has yet been identified. Methodology/Principal Findings: Two independent subject groups of southern Chinese in Hong Kong participated in the study an initial study using a discovery sample set of 342 cases and 342 controls, and a follow-up study using a replication sample set of 316 cases and 313 controls. Cases with high myopia were defined by spherical equivalent ⠤ -8 dioptres and emmetropic controls by spherical equivalent within ±1.00 dioptre for both eyes. Manual candidate gene selection from the MYP6 locus was supported by objective in silico prioritization. DNA samples of discovery sample set were genotyped for 178 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 26 genes. For replication, 25 SNPs (tagging or located at predicted transcription factor or microRNA binding sites) from 4 genes were subsequently examined using the replication sample set. Fisher P value was calculated for all SNPs and overall association results were summarized by meta-analysis. Based on initial and replication studies, rs2009066 located in the crystallin beta A4 (CRYBA4) gene was identified to be the most significantly associated with high myopia (initial study: P = 0.02; replication study: P = 1.88e-4; meta-analysis: P = 1.54e-5) among all the SNPs tested. The association result survived correction for multiple comparisons. Under the allelic genetic model for the combined sample set, the odds ratio of the minor allele G was 1.41 (95% confidence intervals, 1.21-1.64). Conclusions/Significance: A novel susceptibility gene (CRYBA4) was discovered for high myopia. Our study also signified the potential importance of appropriate gene prioritization in candidate selection. © 2012 Ho et al.published_or_final_versio

Serum superoxide dismutase levels correlate with disease activity markers in stable bronchiectasis

published_or_final_versio

Hormonal regulation of endometrial olfactomedin expression and its suppressive effect on spheroid attachment onto endometrial epithelial cells

Background Olfactomedin (Olfm) is a member of a diverse group of extracellular matrix proteins important for neuronal growth. Recent microarray studies identified Olfm as one of the down-regulated transcripts in receptive endometrium at the time of embryo attachment and implantation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern Olfm expression and its effect on embryo attachment and implantation remain unknown. Methods The expression of Olfm in the human endometrium was investigated by real-time PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry on human endometrial biopsies from natural and ovarian stimulated cycles. To investigate the function of Olfm in trophoblastendometrial cell attachment, an in vitro spheroid-endometrial cell co-culture study was performed. Results Human endometrial Olfactomedin-1 and -2(Olfm-1 and -2) transcripts decreased significantly from the proliferative to the secretory phases of the menstrual cycle. Olfm protein was strongly expressed in the luminal and glandular epithelium and moderately in the stromal cells of human endometria. Ovarian stimulation significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the expression of endometrial Olfm-1 and -2 transcripts in patients receiving IVF treatment when compared with those in the natural cycle. Importantly, recombinant Olfm-1 suppressed JAr spheroid attachment onto Ishikawa cells and this was not associated with changes of β-catenin and E-cadherin expression in trophoblast and endometrial cells. Conclusions Decreased expression of Olfm during the receptive phase of the endometrium may allow successful trophoblast attachment for implantation. © 2010 The Author.postprin

Differential regulation of cytokine-and phorbol ester-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin in human airway epithelial cells

published_or_final_versio

Overprotection and the psychological states of cerebral palsy patients and their caretakers in Hong Kong: A preliminary report

Objective: To examine the relation between perceived overprotection and the psychological states of cerebral palsy patients and their primary caretakers in Hong Kong. Design: Cross-sectional survey, in which data of 14 pairs of cerebral palsy patients and their caretakers were analysed. Setting: Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital, Hong Kong. Participants: Cerebral palsy patients and their primary caretakers in Hong Kong. Main outcome measures: Perceived overprotection and psychological states. Results: Nearly two thirds of the 14 patients (mean age of 15 years) and 86% of the 14 primary caretakers (mean age of 47 years) perceived various levels of overprotection. For both patients and caretakers, perceived overprotection was positively associated with anxiety and unhappiness. The patients' and caretakers' psychological states and perception of overprotection were not related to the actual motor ability of the patients. Perceived overprotection of the patients was not related to that of the caretakers. Conclusion: Caretakers should be mindful that a well-meaning move may have undesirable consequences. More support and child-rearing education should be considered for caretakers.published_or_final_versio

Acupressure, reflexology, and auricular acupressure for insomnia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that acupuncture may be efficacious for insomnia. Instead of needling, acupressure, reflexology, and auricular acupressure are procedures involving physical pressure on acupoints or reflex areas. These variants of acupuncture are gaining popularity, perhaps due to their non-invasive nature. A systematic review has therefore been conducted to examine their efficacy and safety for insomnia. Two independent researchers searched five English and 10 Chinese databases from inception to May 2010. Forty RCTs were identified for analysis. Only 10 studies used sham controls, four used double-blind design, nine studies scored three or more by the Jadad scale, and all had at least one domain with high risk of bias. Meta-analyses of the moderate-quality RCTs found that acupressure as monotherapy fared marginally better than sham control. Studies that compared auricular acupressure and sham control showed equivocal results. It was also found that acupressure, reflexology, or auricular acupressure as monotherapy or combined with routine care was significantly more efficacious than routine care or no treatment. Owing to the methodological limitations of the studies and equivocal results, the current evidence does not allow a clear conclusion on the benefits of acupressure, reflexology, and auricular acupressure for insomnia. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.postprin