Qigong exercise could reduce upper limb lymphedema and improve blood flow in breast cancer survivors

Poster Presentation: PO-1261This journal suppl. entitled: Abstracts: 7th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine ...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Qigong exercise on upper limb lymphedema, arterial resistance and blood flow velocity in postmastectomy breast cancer survivors. METHOD: Eleven breast cancer survivors with Qigong experience (mean age: 58.3±10.1 years) were assigned to the experimental group and 12 breast cancer survivors without Qigong experience (mean age: 53.8±4.2 years) were assigned to the control group. After baseline measurements were taken, the experimental group performed 18 Forms Tai Chi Qigong exercise for approximately 6 ...published_or_final_versio

Effects of a 6-month Tai Chi Qigong program on arterial hemodynamics and functional aerobic capacity in survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer

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Effects of Qigong training on health-related quality of life, functioning, and cancer-related symptoms in survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer: A pilot study

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Bone mineral density, balance performance, balance self-efficacy and falls in breast cancer survivors with and without Qigong training: An observational study

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Non-traditional biomarkers in the prediction of cardiovascular events among Chinese

Poster PresentationINTRODUCTION: Biomarkers of subclinical systemic chronic inflammation are increasingly recognised as a key player in atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein, measured using high-sensitivity assay (hsCRP), is the most promising inflammatory marker in predicting the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). As obesity is associated with disregulated expression of various adipokines, either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory, such adipokines may also serve as non-traditional biomarkers for the accelerated atherosclerosis associated with obesity. In this prospective cohort study, we examined the predictive value of a variety of non-traditional biomarkers for CVD among Hong Kong Chinese, and determined if they would …published_or_final_versionThe 17th Medical Research Conference, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 14 January 2012. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2012, v. 18 suppl. 1, p. 20, abstract no. 2

Shoulder mobility, muscular strength and quality of life in breast cancer survivors with and without Tai Chi Qigong training

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Effects of qigong exercise on upper limb lymphedema and blood flow in survivors of breast cancer: A pilot study

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The effects of a 6-month Tai Chi Qigong training program on temporomandibular, cervical and shoulder joint mobility and sleep problems in nasopharyngeal cancer survivors

Introduction. Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) survivors often sustain head–neck–shoulder impairments from conventional treatments, which could disturb sleep. This novel study aimed to examine the efficacy of Tai Chi (TC) Qigong in optimizing temporomandibular joint (TMJ), cervical, and shoulder joint mobility and reducing sleep problems in NPC survivors. Methods. Fifty-two NPC survivors participated in the study. The experimental group (n = 25) received 6 months of TC Qigong training (1.5 h/session; 4 sessions/wk including self-practice) while the control group (n = 27) received no training. Cervical side flexion and rotation, shoulder flexion and horizontal flexion range of motion (ROM), mouth opening capacity (interincisor distance), and sleep problems (Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale) were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (3 months), immediately after TC Qigong training, and at 6-month follow-up. Results. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed improvement in cervical side flexion ROM only (P .008) after the TC Qigong training. Deterioration was observed in shoulder flexion ROM and mouth opening capacity in the no-training controls over time (P < .008). Sleep problems also decreased in the TC Qigong group (P < .008), and this effect was most profound during the follow-up period. In addition, improvement in cervical side flexion ROM was associated with a reduction in sleep problems in the experimental group after TC Qigong training (P < .05). Conclusions. The 6-month TC Qigong intervention improved neck mobility, maintained TMJ and shoulder joint mobility, and reduced sleep problems for NPC survivors. TC Qigong could be an effective nonpharmacological intervention for managing progressive trismus, chronic neck and shoulder hypomobility, and reducing sleep problems among NPC survivors.postprin

Role of Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Measurement in Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease Among Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has demonstrated beneficial effects on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. In cross-sectional studies, an association of raised circulating FGF21 levels with coronary heart disease (CHD) was found in some but not all studies. Here we investigated prospectively whether baseline serum FGF21 levels could predict incident CHD in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and no known cardiovascular diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline serum FGF21 levels were measured in 3528 Chinese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus recruited from the Hong Kong West Diabetes Registry. The role of baseline serum FGF21 levels in predicting incident CHD over a median follow-up of 3.8 years was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Among 3528 recruited subjects without known cardiovascular diseases, 147 (4.2%) developed CHD over a mean follow-up of 4 years. Baseline serum log-transformed FGF21 levels were significantly higher in those who had incident CHD than those who did not (222.7 pg/mL [92.8-438.4] versus 151.1 pg/mL [75.6-274.6]; P<0.001). On multivariable Cox regression analysis, baseline serum FGF21 levels, using an optimal cutoff of 206.22 pg/mL derived from our study, independently predicted incident CHD (hazard ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.10-2.19; P=0.013) and significantly improved net reclassification index and integrated discrimination improvement after adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated, for the first time, that serum FGF21 level is an independent predictor of incident CHD and might be usefully utilized as a biomarker for identifying type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects with raised CHD risk, for primary prevention.published_or_final_versio

Plasma fibrinogen level as a predictor of incident metabolic syndrome in a community-based prospective study in Hong Kong Chinese

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MS) comprises a constellation of metabolic abnormalities associated with a high risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Central obesity, with related insulin resistance and inflammation are considered the core of the underlying pathogenesis of MS. Fibrinogen, an acute-phase reactant in the coagulation cascade, has been shown to play pivotal role in determining the extent of local or systemic inflammation. In this study, we examined whether plasma fibrinogen was predictive of incident MS in a community-based Chinese cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were recruited from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factors Prevalence Study (CRISPS) cohort. 2780 subjects were recruited in 1995-6 with baseline assessment performed. 1416 subjects without MS at …postprin