A pro-drug of the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) prevents differentiated SH-SY5Y cells from toxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine

Regular consumption of green tea benefits people in prevention from cardiovascular disorders, obesity as well as neurodegenerative diseases. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is regarded as the most biologically active catechin in green tea. However, the stability and bioavailability of EGCG are restricted. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether a pro-drug, a fully acetylated EGCG (pEGCG), could be more effective in neuroprotection in Parkinsonism mimic cellular model. Retinoic acid (RA)-differentiated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of EGCG and pEGCG for 30 min and followed by incubation of 25 μM 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) for 24 h. We found that a broad dosage range of pEGCG (from 0.1 to 10 μM) could significantly reduce lactate dehydrogenase release. Likewise, 10 μM of pEGCG was effective in reducing caspase-3 activity, while EGCG at all concentrations tested in the model failed to attenuate caspase-3 activity induced by 6-OHDA. Furthermore, Western-blot analysis showed that Akt could be one of the specific signaling pathways stimulated by pEGCG in neuroprotection. It was demonstrated that 25 μM of 6-OHDA significantly suppressed the phosphorylation level of Akt. Only pEGCG at 10 μM markedly increased its phosphorylation level compared to 6-OHDA alone. Taken together, as pEGCG has higher stability and bioavailbility for further investigation, it could be a potential neuroprotective agent and our current findings may offer certain clues for optimizing its application in future. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.postprin

Seven-Year Treatment Outcome of Entecavir in a Real-World Cohort: Effects on Clinical Parameters, HBsAg and HBcrAg Levels

published_or_final_versio

Building an integrated model of tobacco control education in the nursing curriculum: Findings of a students' survey

This study examined the outcome of a 2-hour introductory lecture on tobacco and health in improving the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students toward smoking and tobacco control. A group of 78 first-year undergraduate nursing students of a major university in Hong Kong were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire before and after the lecture. The findings indicated a significant improvement in knowledge of and attitudes about tobacco control. The study suggests that education about smoking and tobacco control should be introduced into the nursing curriculum at an early stage so appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills can be subsequently strengthened to prepare students to lead an effective role in delivering tobacco control nursing interventions. Finally, a model of integrating tobacco control content in the undergraduate nursing curriculum was recommended.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Serum Hepatitis B surface antigen levels during five years Entecavir Therapy In Asian Chronic Hepatitis B patients

Poster Session - 07C. Viral Hepatitis B & D: Clinical (Therapy, New Compounds, Resistance)Background: Change in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels during long-term nucleoside analogue therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has not been well investigated. Aim: To determine the serologic, biochemical, virologic responses and resistance profile of continuous entecavir up to 5 years. Methods: 222 (70.7% male, median age 45 years) CHB patients started on entecavir between July 2005 and November 2007 were recruited. The rates of HBV DNA detectability, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, and entecavir signature mutations up to year 5 were determined. Serum HBV DNA and HBsAg levels were measured by Cobas Taqman and Elecsys II assay respectively. Resistance profile was determined by a line probe assay (LiPA) for patients with detectable HBV DNA. Results: 222, 188, 173, 170 and 156 patients were followed up for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years respectively. The rates of HBV DNA undetectability, HBeAg seroconversion for HBeAg-positive patients and ALT normalization (for patients with elevated baseline ALT) at year 5 were 97.4%, 55.7% and 91.4% respectively. 1 patient developed HBsAg seroclearance at year 2. 2 patients developed entecavir signature mutations at years 3 and 5 (rt180M, rt204V, rt184S/C/G/A and rt180M, rt204V, rt184I/L/F/M, rt202G, rt250V respectively), resulting in a cumulative resistance of 1.2% up to year 5. Among patients with 5 years of follow-up (n = 156), the median annual HBsAg decline was 0.116 (range −0.176 to 0.980) log IU/mL/year with HBeAg-positive patients having a greater median HBsAg decline when compared to HBeAg-negative patients (0.141 and 0.097 log IU/mL/year respectively, p = 0.021). Patients with significant HBsAg decline, defined as >0.25 log IU/mL/year (n = 31), when compared to patients without significant HBsAg decline, was associated with younger median age (43.5 and 49.3 years respectively, p = 0.014), HBeAg-positivity (54.8% and 34.7% respectively, p = 0.039), and higher median baseline HBV DNA levels (7.99 and 6.22 log IU/mL respectively, p<0.001). Conclusion: Entecavir for 5 years achieved excellent rates of virologic suppression and low rates of resistance. Serum HBsAg levels decreased gradually during treatment, with a higher rate of decline seen in younger HBeAg-positive patients. Acknowledgement: This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Different adenoma recurrence rates on surveillance colonoscopy in patients with right- or left-sided colonic cancer after curative colectomy

Background: Patients with history of colorectal cancer (CRC) are at increased risk of developing metachronous adenoma even after colectomy. We aim to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the development of adenoma on surveillance colonoscopy in patients with previous colonic resection for CRC. Methods: Consecutive patients with CRC who had undergone surgical resection in our hospital between January 2001 and December 2002 were identified. Patients were included for analysis only if they had undergone surgery for curative intent and had a clearing colonoscopy either performed before surgery or within 6 months after the operation. Patients with familial colorectal cancer syndrome (familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome), subtotal or total colectomy, and inflammatory bowel syndrome were excluded. Patient's baseline characteristics, tumor locatio ns, type of surgical intervention, drug use (aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)) and surveillance colonoscopy findings were retrieved. Right-sided CRC (R-CRC) was defined as cancer proximal to the splenic flexure and left-sided CRC (L-CRC} included all other distal cancers. Results: 592 patients underwent surgical resection for CRC during the study period and 329 patients (92 patients with R-CRC and 237 with L-CRC) fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Among them, 63 (68.5%} patients with baseline R·CRC and 174 (73.4%) patients with baseline L-CRC had at least one surveillance colonoscopy after bowel resection, with a total of 330 colonoscopies performed. The rates of metachronous lesions amongst those who had surveillance colonoscopy were shown in Table. Multivariate analysis showed that the following factors were independently associated with met achronous adenoma: L-CRC at baseline (OR: 3.52, 95% Cl, 1.42-8.73, p<0.01), patient's age (OR: 1.05, 95% Cl1.02-1.09; p<O.Ol) and male sex (OR 2.95, 95% Cl 1.40-6.22; p<O.Ol). Conclusion: Patients who had surgery for L-CRC have a higher chance of developing metachronous polyps and adenoma than those with R-CRC. Our findings may imply a need to have a different surveillance strategy for patients with L-CRC or R-CRC.link_to_OA_fulltex

Ten day sequential versus 10 day modified bismuth quadruple therapy as empirical firstline and secondline treatment for Helicobacter pylori in Chinese patients: an open label, randomised, crossover trial

OBJECTIVE: Treatments with sequential therapy (SEQ) or bismuth quadruple (QUAD) therapy have been proposed as empirical firstline regimens for Helicobacter pylori. We compared the efficacy and tolerability of 10 day SEQ with 10 day modified QUAD as both firstline and secondline treatments for H pylori in a randomised crossover study. DESIGN: H pylori positive and treatment naive patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 day SEQ (esomeprazole for 10 days, amoxicillin for an initial 5 days, followed by clarithromycin and metronidazole for a subsequent 5 days) or modified QUAD (esomeprazole, bismuth subcitrate, tetracycline and metronidazole). H pylori eradication was confirmed by urea breath test at 8 weeks. Patients who failed the initial assigned treatment were crossed over to receive the alternate regimen. The primary outcome was eradication rates of firstline treatment by intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. RESULTS: 357 patients were randomised to receive either SEQ or QUAD. The PP eradication rates of the SEQ and QUAD groups were 95.2% and 98.8%, respectively (p=0.10). Based on ITT analysis, the corresponding eradication rates were 89.4% and 92.7%, respectively (p=0.36). Eight (4.8%) patients in the SEQ and two (1.2%) patients in the QUAD who failed the firstline treatment were crossed over to the alternate regimen with 100% retreatment success. The overall incidence of adverse events was higher in the QUAD (16.7%) than in the SEQ (8.1%; p=0.032) group. CONCLUSIONS: Ten day sequential and modified bismuth quadruple therapies are both highly effective as empirical firstline therapies for H pylori in Chinese patients. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT 01760824

Gender-dependent differences in the neural responses to fear acquisition: a voxel-based Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Study

Poster no. 2

Acupuncture and related interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome: systematic review

© The Author(s) 2019. Objective: To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for primary carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data Sources: Nine databases were searched for potential RCTs from their inception till July 2019. Review Methods: RCTs which reported at least one of the three outcomes were included: symptom severity, functional status and pain. Included RCTs were appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results: A total of 10 RCTs (728 participants) were included. Majority were at high risk of bias for blinding of participants, personnel and outcome assessors. When compared to conventional medications, manual acupuncture showed significant superior effect in reducing symptom than ibuprofen (mean difference (MD) on Symptom Severity Scale (SSS)) = –5.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): −7.95 to −3.65) and prednisolone (MD = −6.50, 95% CI: −10.1, −2.86). Electroacupuncture plus splinting was more effective in reducing symptom severity than splinting alone (SSS score: MD = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.03). Manual acupuncture showed significantly superior effect than ibuprofen in improving functional status (Functional Status Scale (FSS): MD = −1.84, 95% CI: −2.66 to −1.02). The combination of electroacupuncture and splinting showed more improvement in functional status compared to splinting alone (FSS: MD = −6.22, 95%CI: −10.7 to −1.71). Triple treatment of acupuncture, magnetic spectrum heat lamp and splinting showed stronger pain relief than splinting alone. Conclusion: For both symptom relief and function improvement, manual acupuncture is superior to ibuprofen while electroacupuncture plus splinting outperforms splinting alone. Limited evidence showed electroacupuncture’s potential role in pain reduction

The application and evaluation of advanced simulation for experiential learning in developing student’s critical thinking dispositions and skills

Oral Presentation - Education in clinical practice: O102The 3rd International Nurse Education Conference (NETNEP 2010). Sydney, Australia, 11-14 April 2010