The prevalence of metabolic syndrome amongst patients with severe mental illness in the community in Hong Kong--a cross sectional study

Background: Patients with severe mental illness are at increased risk of developing metabolic disorders. The risk of metabolic syndrome in the Hong Kong general population is lower than that observed in western countries; however the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with severe mental illness in Hong Kong is unknown. Method: This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with severe mental illness in Hong Kong and to identify the relationships between metabolic syndrome and socio-demographic, clinical and lifestyle factors. Results: A total of 139 patients with a diagnosis of severe mental illness participated in the study. The unadjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 35%. The relative risk of metabolic syndrome in comparison with the general Hong Kong population was 2.008 (95% CI 1.59-2.53, p < 0.001). In a logistic regression model sleep disruption and being prescribed first generation antipsychotics were significantly associated with the syndrome, whilst eating less than 3 portions of fruit/vegetables per day and being married were weakly associated. Conclusion The results demonstrate that metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent and that physical health inequalities in patients with severe mental illness in Hong Kong are similar to those observed in western countries. The results provide sufficient evidence to support the need for intervention studies in this setting and reinforce the requirement to conduct regular physical health checks for all patients with severe mental illness

尋求新路向 :《海光文藝》研究 = In search of new direction : research on Hai Guang Literature

要了解香港文學的發展，除了研究文學作品以外，其他如文藝雜誌、出版機構、作家社團等，都對作品的產生和流傳有重要的影響。不同出版機構編印的刊物，往往因應不同編輯方針而呈現相異的風貌，創作風格相類的作家，也容易因投稿或辦刊物的關係，凝聚成不同的社團或文學流派，這些文學作品以外的現象，與文學發展有千絲萬縷的聯繫。因此，筆者嘗試以一份文藝雜誌、——《海光文藝》為切入點，探討雜誌與文藝思潮發展的關係。由於本文以文藝雜誌為研究對象，因此不擬在文中作詳細的作品分析，筆者會集中討論刊物的整體特色，探討其創辦動機及編輯方針如何影響刊物的風格，再透過與其他同期刊物比較，看它在香港文學發展歷程中的地位和影響，希望透過《海光文藝》，看一九六〇年代中後期香港文學發展的一個側面

Adherence therapy versus routine psychiatric care for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders : a randomised controlled trial

2015-2016 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Governance capacity and collaborative action in Hong Kong : the structure and dynamics of district level community building

published_or_final_versionPolitics and Public AdministrationMasterMaster of Public Administratio

How students cope with part-time study

This study provides a qualitative test and illustration of a model of how students cope with the demands of part-time study. The model shows that students who are successful in finding the time to complete the requirements of part-time courses do so by adopting three mechanisms; sacrifice, support and the negotiation of arrangements. All three mechanisms operate in four domains, namely work, family, social lives and the self. The mechanisms and domains were related together in a three by four matrix. Data to verify and illuminate the model were gathered by the researchers through an on-line forum discussion on the topic of coping with part-time study. The researchers themselves were studying part-time in a course called Adult Education and Professional Development. Analysis of the data showed that the work domain was very important but little adaptation was possible. The family was seen as the most important domain and all three mechanisms were used. Time was commonly found for part-time study by sacrificing social lives. The self-domain was interpreted as important in establishing motivation and self-determination

Lower risks of new-onset acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer in sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors: A propensity score-matched study with competing risk analysis

Background Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4I) may be associated with higher risks of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. This study compared the risks of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer between sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2I) and DPP4I users. Methods This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus on either SGLT2I or DPP4I between January 1st, 2015, and December 31st 2020 in Hong Kong. The primary outcome was new-onset acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Propensity score matching (1:1 ratio) using the nearest neighbour search was performed. Univariable and multivariable Cox regressions were applied to identify significant predictors. Results This cohort included 31609 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients (median age: 67.4 years old [SD: 12.5]; 53.36% males). 6479 patients (20.49%) used SGLT2I, and 25130 patients (70.50%) used DPP4I. After matching, the rate of acute pancreatitis was significantly lower in SGLT2I users compared to DPP4I users. Multivariable Cox regression showed that SGLT2I use was associated with lower risks of acute pancreatitis (Hazard ratio, HR: 0.11; 95% Confidence interval, CI: 0.02-0.51; P=0.0017) and pancreatic cancer (HR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.039-0.378; P=0.0003). The results were consistent using competing risk models and different propensity score approaches. Conclusions SGLT2I use was associated with lower risks of new-onset acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer after propensity score matching and multivariable adjustment, underscoring the need for further evaluation in the randomised controlled trial setting

Enhanced physical health screening for people with severe mental illness in Hong Kong: results from a one-year prospective case series study

Background People with severe mental illness have significantly poorer physical health compared to the general population; previous health screening studies conducted outside Asian countries have demonstrated the potential in addressing this issue. This case series aimed to explore the effects and utility of integrating an enhanced physical health screening programme for community dwelling patients with severe mental illness into routine clinical practice in Hong Kong. Method This study utilises a consecutive prospective case series design. The serious mental illness Health Improvement Profile (HIP) was used as a screening tool at baseline and repeated at 12 months follow-up. Results A total of 148 community-based patients with severe mental illness completed the study. At one year follow-up analysis showed a significant improvement in self-reported levels of exercise and a reduction in the numbers of patients prescribed medications for diabetes However, mean waist circumference increased at follow-up. In addition to the statistically significant results some general trends were observed, including: a lack of deterioration in most areas of cardiovascular risk; a reduction in medicines prescribed for physical health problems; and general improvements in health behaviours over the 12 month period. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that using the HIP is feasible and acceptable in Hong Kong. The results of the enhanced physical health-screening programme are promising, but require further testing using a randomised controlled trial design in order to more confidently attribute the improvements in well-being and health behaviours to the HIP. Trial registration Clinical trial registration number: ISRCTN1258247

DNA helicase and helicase–nuclease enzymes with a conserved iron–sulfur cluster

Conserved Iron–Sulfur (Fe–S) clusters are found in a growing family of metalloproteins that are implicated in prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA replication and repair. Among these are DNA helicase and helicase–nuclease enzymes that preserve chromosomal stability and are genetically linked to diseases characterized by DNA repair defects and/or a poor response to replication stress. Insight to the structural and functional importance of the conserved Fe–S domain in DNA helicases has been gleaned from structural studies of the purified proteins and characterization of Fe–S cluster site-directed mutants. In this review, we will provide a current perspective of what is known about the Fe–S cluster helicases, with an emphasis on how the conserved redox active domain may facilitate mechanistic aspects of helicase function. We will discuss testable models for how the conserved Fe–S cluster might operate in helicase and helicase–nuclease enzymes to conduct their specialized functions that help to preserve the integrity of the genome

Enhanced physical health screening for people with severe mental illness in Hong Kong: results from a one-year prospective case series study

Background People with severe mental illness have significantly poorer physical health compared to the general population; previous health screening studies conducted outside Asian countries have demonstrated the potential in addressing this issue. This case series aimed to explore the effects and utility of integrating an enhanced physical health screening programme for community dwelling patients with severe mental illness into routine clinical practice in Hong Kong. Method This study utilises a consecutive prospective case series design. The serious mental illness Health Improvement Profile (HIP) was used as a screening tool at baseline and repeated at 12 months follow-up. Results A total of 148 community-based patients with severe mental illness completed the study. At one year follow-up analysis showed a significant improvement in self-reported levels of exercise and a reduction in the numbers of patients prescribed medications for diabetes However, mean waist circumference increased at follow-up. In addition to the statistically significant results some general trends were observed, including: a lack of deterioration in most areas of cardiovascular risk; a reduction in medicines prescribed for physical health problems; and general improvements in health behaviours over the 12 month period. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that using the HIP is feasible and acceptable in Hong Kong. The results of the enhanced physical health-screening programme are promising, but require further testing using a randomised controlled trial design in order to more confidently attribute the improvements in well-being and health behaviours to the HIP. Trial registration Clinical trial registration number: ISRCTN1258247