Through their eyes: Chinese immigrant emerging adults, acculturation, and mental health

This study was designed to investigate the acculturation experiences and mental health service usage of Chinese immigrant emerging adults (ages 18-25) in Saskatchewan along with their suggestions to improve service usage. Research in Saskatchewan has been sparse, and limits our understanding of how Chinese immigrants in less ethnically diverse urban centres adapt to their newer environments. This study followed a general qualitative study approach wherein the researcher acts as the instrument to inductively make meaning of the participants’ experience (Merriam, 2002). Individuals up to age 30 were invited to take part in the study as they had either recently exited emerging adulthood or, as age is only a rough indicator may still be in emerging adulthood. Five participants between ages 19-29 were recruited through referral sampling and advertising on a university message board. Participants took part in two in-depth one hour interviews one to two weeks apart. Berry’s (1997) acculturative framework was used as a foundation to understand acculturation experiences and the existence of acculturative stress. The findings of this study suggest that acculturative stress and its connection to mental health concerns is complex and appeared to be mediated by family dynamics and communication. Further, this study provided contextualised information for mental health professionals in central Canada or less diverse urban centres to improve the life outcomes of Chinese immigrant emerging adults, including reaching out to normalise help-seeking for mental concerns, and encouraging Chinese to talk about their struggles. Results suggest that mental health professionals need to pay close attention to their multicultural competency when working with Chinese immigrant emerging adults

A thermal model for static current characteristics of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors including self-heating effect

2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Research advances on the anti-aging profile of Fructus lycii: An ancient Chinese herbal medicine

Fructus lycii is a common Chinese herbal medicine used in China for nearly 2000 years. It has beneficial effects on eyes, liver and kidneys; and it has long been considered to be an anti-aging herb in ancient Chinese medicine. Modern studies have partially probed the magic anti-aging property of F. lycii. The beneficial effects of F. lycii on aging are largely attributed to its bioactive components such as polysaccharides, carotenoids and flavonoids. This review focuses on the anti-aging aspect of F. lycii, elaborating the bioactive ingredients accounting for the property, anti-aging pharmacology in terms of its antioxidation capacity, immunomodulative effect and neuroprotective activity. Copyright ©2008 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

Regulatory role of miRNA-1246 and Wnt/β-catenin pathway interaction in CD133+ liver cancer stem cells-driven hepatocellular carcinoma

This journal suppl. entitled: Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CAHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main type of liver cancer in human, is one of the most prevalent and deadly malignancies in the world. Despite advances in therapy, prognosis remains dismal, largely attributed to our limited understanding on information related to the progressive development of the disease, particularly in their cancer-initiating and stem cell-like properties. There is increasing evidence in recent years to support the role of miRNAs in the regulation of cancer stem cell (CSC) maintenance. However, miRNAs in hepatic CSCs remain understudied. Our group has previously identified a functional subset of liver CSCs marked by the CD133 phenotype (1-2). Utilizing a comprehensive transcriptome sequencing approach, we recently ...postprin

C-terminal truncated hepatitis B virus X protein promotes hepatocellular carcinogenesis through induction of cancer and stem cell-like properties

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Regulatory role of miR-142-3p on the functional hepatic cancer stem cell marker CD133

This journal suppl. entitled: Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CATumor relapse after therapy typifies hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is believed to be attributable to residual cancer stem cells (CSCs) that survive initial treatment. We have previously identified a CSC population derived from HCC that is characterized by the expression of the transmembrane glycoprotein, CD133. Despite our growing knowledge of the importance of a functional CD133+ liver CSC subset in driving HCC, the regulatory mechanism of CD133 is not known. Epigenetic changes are believed to be essential in the control of cancer and stem cells. We report here the dynamic epigenetic regulation of the functional liver CSC marker CD133 by promoter methylation and miR-142-3p regulation. Unlike in other tumor types, we found DNA methylation to only play a minor role in the control of CD133 expression in HCC. More importantly, our results revealed that miR-142-3p plays an integral part in the direct targeting of ...postprin

Protective effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on experimental Sjogren's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome (SS), usually described as a chronic inflammation which results in xerostomia (dry mouth) and xerophthalmia (dry eyes). According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, body fluid impairment causes the dryness, inducing water secretion deficiency. Discovery of a family of water-specific membrane channel proteins, the aquaporins, provides an interesting molecular mechanism of water permeability and transportation which were found abnormal in tissues of SS patients. Thus, this dryness may lead to the dysfunction in organs as various systematic manifestations. We established an autoallergic mouse model in vivo, and human salivary gland cell line A-253 in vitro. Polysaccharides of Dendrobium officinale (DP) were administrated as treatment, which was described to nourish yin and promote the body fluid. Results showed that immunization with SG autoantigen induced decrease of body weight and increased water intake, decreased AQP5 expression in a series of organs related to body fluid. Sera from model mice induced apoptosis of A-253 cells with activation of caspase-3. Administration of DP could reverse these pathological changes in both the animal and cell model. Thus, DP may be a promising candidate for the treatment of SS by up-regulating the expression of AQP-5 and protecting cells from apoptosis. © 2010 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

A prospective randomized, open-label trial comparing the safety and efficacy of dose sparing intradermal 2010/2011 trivalent influenza vaccine delivered by two different devices

Poster Abstract Session - Influenza Vaccines: no. 533BACKGROUND: We performed intradermal 2010/11 trivalent influenza vaccination (TIV) in adult subjects delivered by two different intradermal (ID) devices, using 20% and 60% of the standard dose and compared the immunogenicity and safety with full dose intramuscular (IM) immunization. METHODS: This is a prospective randomized trial conducted from December 2010 to March 2011, comprising chronically ill adults. Subjects were randomly assigned …postprin

Protective effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on experimental Sjogren's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome (SS), usually described as a chronic inflammation which results in xerostomia (dry mouth) and xerophthalmia (dry eyes). According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, body fluid impairment causes the dryness, inducing water secretion deficiency. Discovery of a family of water-specific membrane channel proteins, the aquaporins, provides an interesting molecular mechanism of water permeability and transportation which were found abnormal in tissues of SS patients. Thus, this dryness may lead to the dysfunction in organs as various systematic manifestations. We established an autoallergic mouse model in vivo, and human salivary gland cell line A-253 in vitro. Polysaccharides of Dendrobium officinale (DP) were administrated as treatment, which was described to nourish yin and promote the body fluid. Results showed that immunization with SG autoantigen induced decrease of body weight and increased water intake, decreased AQP5 expression in a series of organs related to body fluid. Sera from model mice induced apoptosis of A-253 cells with activation of caspase-3. Administration of DP could reverse these pathological changes in both the animal and cell model. Thus, DP may be a promising candidate for the treatment of SS by up-regulating the expression of AQP-5 and protecting cells from apoptosis. © 2010 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio