MyMedR

Asia-Pacific Leukemia Consortium: An innovative and collaborative initiative to improve care of leukemia and related diseases in the Asia-Pacific region

Lao Z, Tse EWC, Chuncharunee S, Kwong YL, Wei A, Ko BS, et al.

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol, 2023 Dec;19(6):655-663.

PMID: 37259880 DOI: 10.1111/ajco.13970

The burden of leukemia and related diseases is rapidly growing in Asia. Currently, there is a paucity of regional collaborative groups/initiatives that focus exclusively on the management of leukemia in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The Asia-Pacific Leukemia Consortium (APLC) was established on the 8 September 2021 to understand the status quo, unmet needs, and ways to improve the management of leukemia and related diseases in the APAC region. The APLC working group set up a group of experts from various countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Australia) to discuss on the status of: (i) clinical trials; (ii) disease registry database; (iii) genetic and tissue repository; (iv) patient advocacy and care; and (v) disease prevention and education in the APAC region. Low levels of awareness about leukemia amongst the public, lack of financial support, and limited access to newly approved therapies were identified as barriers to the implementation of effective leukemia management in low- or mid-income Asian countries. Patients often enroll in clinical trials to gain access to novel/approved therapies. The APLC group aims to address the growing threat of leukemia through a collaborative approach to advance disease prevention, research, clinical trials, and education.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Fulltext Efficacy and safety of paliperidone palmitate 6-monthly long-acting injectable in reduction of relapses in patients with schizophrenia: An Asian subgroup analysis of phase 3, randomized study

Richarz U, Han J, Bai YM, Yu-Hai Chen E, Chung YC, Jhanwar VG, et al.

Medicine (Baltimore), 2023 Aug 25;102(34):e34623.

PMID: 37653768 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034623

BACKGROUND: Evaluate efficacy and safety of paliperidone palmitate 6-monthly (PP6M) for patients with schizophrenia in the Asian subgroup of a global, multicenter, noninferiority phase-3 study (NCT03345342).

METHODS: Patients received paliperidone palmitate 1-monthly (PP1M, 100/150 mg eq.) or paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly (PP3M, 350/525 mg eq.) during the maintenance phase and entered a 12-month double-blind (DB) phase, wherein they were randomized (2:1) to PP6M (700/1000 mg. eq.) or PP3M (350/525 mg eq.). Subgroup analysis was performed for 90 (12.7%) patients from Asia region (India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Korea). Primary endpoint was time-to-relapse during DB phase (Kaplan-Meier estimates). Secondary endpoints were changes from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale, Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale score.

RESULTS: In Asian subgroup, 91.9% (82/90) of patients completed DB phase (PP6M: 54/62 [87%]; PP3M: 28/28 [100%]). Median time-to-relapse was "not-estimable" due to low relapse rates in both groups. Estimated difference (95% confidence interval [CI]) between relapse-free patients in PP6M and PP3M groups of Asian subgroup was -0.1% [-8.5%, 8.4%] (global study population: -2.9% [-6.8%, 1.1%]). Mean change from baseline in secondary efficacy parameters was comparable between both groups, similar to the global study population. The incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was higher in the Asian subgroup than in the global study population.

CONCLUSION: Consistent with the global study population, PP6M was noninferior to PP3M in preventing relapse in patients with schizophrenia from the Asia region. Findings suggest the possibility of switching from PP1M/PP3M to twice-yearly PP6M without loss of efficacy and with no unexpected safety concerns.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Pre-travel health preparation for malaria prevention among Hong Kong travellers

Hung KK, Lin AK, Cheng CK, Chan EY, Graham CA

Postgrad Med J, 2015 Mar;91(1073):127-31.

PMID: 25673799 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-133126

Malaria remains a significant cause of travel-related mortality and morbidity. Asians are known to have higher risks because they are less careful in pre-travel health preparations. This study reports on a cohort of travellers to malaria-prone regions examined in a previous study, which explored general levels of pre-travel health preparation.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong/epidemiology

Measurement Invariance of the Internet Addiction Test Among Hong Kong, Japanese, and Malaysian Adolescents

Lai CM, Mak KK, Cheng C, Watanabe H, Nomachi S, Bahar N, et al.

Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw, 2015 Oct;18(10):609-17.

PMID: 26468915 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2015.0069

There has been increased research examining the psychometric properties on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) in different populations. This population-based study examined the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the IAT in adolescents from three Asian countries. In the Asian Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey (AARBS), 2,535 secondary school students (55.9% girls) aged 12-18 years from Hong Kong (n=844), Japan (n=744), and Malaysia (n=947) completed a survey in 2012-2013 school year. A nested hierarchy of hypotheses concerning the IAT cross-country invariance was tested using multigroup confirmatory factor analyses. Replicating past findings in Hong Kong adolescents, the construct of the IAT is best represented by a second-order three-factor structure in Malaysian and Japanese adolescents. Configural, metric, scalar, and partial strict factorial invariance was established across the three samples. No cross-country differences on Internet addiction were detected at the latent mean level. This study provided empirical support for the IAT as a reliable and factorially stable instrument, and valid to be used across Asian adolescent populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Fulltext High diversity of picornaviruses in rats from different continents revealed by deep sequencing

Hansen TA, Mollerup S, Nguyen NP, White NE, Coghlan M, Alquezar-Planas DE, et al.

Emerg Microbes Infect, 2016 Aug 17;5(8):e90.

PMID: 27530749 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2016.90

Outbreaks of zoonotic diseases in humans and livestock are not uncommon, and an important component in containment of such emerging viral diseases is rapid and reliable diagnostics. Such methods are often PCR-based and hence require the availability of sequence data from the pathogen. Rattus norvegicus (R. norvegicus) is a known reservoir for important zoonotic pathogens. Transmission may be direct via contact with the animal, for example, through exposure to its faecal matter, or indirectly mediated by arthropod vectors. Here we investigated the viral content in rat faecal matter (n=29) collected from two continents by analyzing 2.2 billion next-generation sequencing reads derived from both DNA and RNA. Among other virus families, we found sequences from members of the Picornaviridae to be abundant in the microbiome of all the samples. Here we describe the diversity of the picornavirus-like contigs including near-full-length genomes closely related to the Boone cardiovirus and Theiler's encephalomyelitis virus. From this study, we conclude that picornaviruses within R. norvegicus are more diverse than previously recognized. The virome of R. norvegicus should be investigated further to assess the full potential for zoonotic virus transmission.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong/epidemiology

Which somatic symptoms are associated with an unfavorable course in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder?

Novick D, Montgomery WS, Aguado J, Peng X, Brugnoli R, Haro JM

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2015 Dec;7(4):427-35.

PMID: 26047023 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12189

This was an analysis of the impact of somatic symptoms on the severity and course of depression in Chinese patients treated for an acute episode of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

The distribution of blood genetic markers in immigrant Chinese populations

Hawkins BR

Acta Genet Med Gemellol (Roma), 1973;22:139-66.

PMID: 4790793

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Parabrachiella jarai sp. nov. (Crustacea: Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) parasitic on Sillago sihama (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Sillaginidae)

Piasecki W, Młynarczyk M, Hayward CJ

Exp Parasitol, 2010 May;125(1):55-62.

PMID: 19850037 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.10.001

The presently reported study provides a detailed morphological description of the female and the male of a new species of the genus Parabrachiella-Parabrachiella jarai sp. nov. The parasites were sampled from marine fish, silver sillago, Sillago sihama (Perciformes: Sillaginidae), captured in Malaysia in 1994 and Hong Kong in 1995. The new species bears some resemblance to Parabrachiella lata (Song et Chen, 1976) but differs from it in details of second antenna, mandible, and maxilliped. The genus Parabrachiella currently covers 67 species including those recently transferred from Neobrachiella Kabata, 1979. An amended generic diagnosis is proposed for Parabrachiella and Thysanote. Some members of Parabrachiella are herewith transferred to Thysanote and some Thysanote are now placed in Parabrachiella.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Developments in family planning overseas. 2

Hewitt P

Aust Nurses J, 1978 Jun;7(11):34-7.

PMID: 249268

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Insights, attitudes and perceptions about asthma and its treatment: findings from a multinational survey of patients from 8 Asia-Pacific countries and Hong Kong

Thompson PJ, Salvi S, Lin J, Cho YJ, Eng P, Abdul Manap R, et al.

Respirology, 2013 Aug;18(6):957-67.

PMID: 23730953 DOI: 10.1111/resp.12137

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) survey was conducted in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America to characterize patients' insights, attitudes and perceptions about their asthma and its treatment. We report findings from the Asia-Pacific survey.
METHODS: Asthma patients (≥12 years) from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand were surveyed. Patients answered 53 questions exploring general health, diagnosis/history, symptoms, exacerbations, patient burden, disease management, medications/treatments and patient's attitudes. The Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines were used to assess asthma control. The survey was conducted by random digit telephone dialling (Australia, China and Hong Kong) or by random face-to-face interviews (India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand).
RESULTS: There were 80 761 households screened. Data from 3630 patients were collected. Wide disparity existed between objective measures of control and patient perception. Reported exacerbations during the previous year ranged from 19% (Hong Kong) to 67% (India). Reported unscheduled urgent/emergency visits to a doctor's office/hospital/clinic in the previous year ranged from 15% (Hong Kong) to 46% (Taiwan). Patients who reported having controlled asthma in the previous month ranged from 27% (South Korea) to 84% (Taiwan). Substantial functional and emotional limitations due to asthma were identified by 13% (South Korea) to 78% (India) of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Asthma has a profound impact on patients' well-being despite the availability of effective treatments and evidence-based management guidelines. Substantial differences across the surveyed countries exist, suggesting unmet, country-specific cultural and educational needs. A large proportion of asthma patients overestimate their level of control.
Study site: random digit telephone dialling or by random face-to-face interviews at pre-selected locations.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong/epidemiology

Asthma, allergy, and atopy in three south-east Asian populations

Leung R, Ho P

Thorax, 1994 Dec;49(12):1205-10.

PMID: 7878553

Whilst many recent reports have suggested a rise in the prevalence of asthma and allergic disease in Western countries, little is known about the epidemiology of these common conditions in south-east Asia. This study compared the prevalence of asthma and allergic disease amongst secondary school students in three south-east Asian populations--Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, and San Bu in China--and investigated the associations with atopy and family history.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong/epidemiology

Fulltext Response to Wu et al. - Cost-effectiveness analysis of infant pneumococcal vaccination in Malaysia and Hong Kong

Varghese L, Mungall B, Zhang XH, Hoet B

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2016 10 02;12(10):2675-2680.

PMID: 27459265 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1192738

A recently published paper that assessed the comparative cost-effectiveness of the 2 pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in Malaysia and Hong Kong reported that the 13-valent PCV vaccine (PCV13) is a better choice compared to the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV or PCV10) from both a payer and societal perspective as well as under various scenarios. However, the analysis relied on a large number of assumptions that were either erroneous or did not take into account the most recent body of evidence available. A rigorous evaluation of the underlying assumptions is necessary to present a fair and balanced analysis for decision-making.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Fulltext Reply to Varghese et al.'s response to Wu et al. - "Cost effectiveness analysis of infant pneumococcal vaccination in Malaysia and Hong Kong"

Wu DB, Lee KK, Lee VW, Hong LW

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2016 Oct 02;12(10):2681-2684.

PMID: 27715474 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1209279

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

The age structure of selected countries in the ESCAP region

Hong S

Popul Res Leads, 1982.

PMID: 12264851

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Fulltext Emergency medicine as a specialty in Asia

Pek JH, Lim SH, Ho HF, Ramakrishnan TV, Jamaluddin SF, Mesa-Gaerlan FJC, et al.

Acute medicine & surgery, 2016 04;3(2):65-73.

PMID: 29123755 DOI: 10.1002/ams2.154

Aim: We aim to examine the similarities and differences in areas of EM development, workload, workforce, and capabilities and support in the Asia region. Emerging challenges faced by our EM community are also discussed.

Methods: The National Societies for Emergency Medicine of Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey participated in the joint Japanese Association of Acute Medicine (JAAM) and Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Special Symposium held in October 2013 at Tokyo, Japan. The findings are reviewed in this paper.

Results: Emergency medicine (EM) has over the years evolved into a distinct and recognized medical discipline requiring a unique set of cognitive, administrative and technical skills for managing all types of patients with acute illness or injury. EM has contributed to healthcare by providing effective, safe, efficient and cost-effective patient care. Integrated systems have developed to allow continuity of emergency care from the community into emergency departments. Structured training curriculum for undergraduates, and specialty training programs for postgraduates are in place to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills required for the unique practice of EM.

Conclusion: The practice of EM still varies among the Asian countries. However, as a region, we strive to continue in our efforts to develop the specialty and improve the delivery of EM.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

From the ideal to the real world: a phenomenological inquiry into student sojourners' reentry adaptation

Hsiao F

J Music Ther, 2011;48(4):420-39.

PMID: 22506298

This phenomenological study examines the thematic structure of reentry transition for international music therapy graduates who have returned home after studying in the United States. Emphasis is placed upon career development. Standardized open-ended interviews were used to obtain rich and in-depth descriptions of the participants' experiences. Ten music therapists from six countries participated in the study. The themes that emerged from the data include moving from the ideal to the real world, shifting from the role of student to professional, confronting reality and working through challenges, and achieving personal growth and self-transformation. The dynamics of cross-cultural comparison, confronting the home culture, and redefining music therapy and professional identities within the local cultural context are illustrated via quotations from the participants. Implications and recommendations for music therapy education and career preparation for international graduates are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Fulltext Assessing the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 during the first five months in the Western Pacific Region

Yeoh EK, Chong KC, Chiew CJ, Lee VJ, Ng CW, Hashimoto H, et al.

One Health, 2021 Jun;12:100213.

PMID: 33506086 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100213

While most countries in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) had similar trajectories of COVID-19 from January to May, their implementations of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) differed by transmission stages. To offer a better understanding for an implementation of multidisciplinary policies in COVID-19 control, we compared the impact of NPIs by assessing the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 in different phases of the epidemic during the first five months in WPR. In this study, we estimated the piecewise instantaneous reproduction number (R
t
) and the reporting delay-adjusted case-fatality ratio (dCFR) of COVID-19 in seven WPR jurisdictions: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan, Malaysia, Shanghai, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. According to the results, implementing NPIs was associated with an apparent reduction of the piecewise R
t
in two epidemic waves in general. However, large cluster outbreaks raised the piecewise R
t
to a high level. We also observed relaxing the NPIs could result in an increase of R
t
. The estimated dCFR ranged from 0.09% to 1.59% among the jurisdictions, except in Japan where an estimate of 5.31% might be due to low testing efforts. To conclude, in conjunction with border control measures to reduce influx of imported cases which might cause local outbreaks, other NPIs including social distancing measures along with case finding by rapid tests are also necessary to prevent potential large cluster outbreaks and transmissions from undetected cases. A comparatively lower CFR may reflect the health system capacity of these jurisdictions. In order to keep track of sustained disease transmission due to resumption of economic activities, a close monitoring of disease transmissibility is recommended in the relaxation phase. The report of transmission of SARS CoV-2 to pets in Hong Kong and to mink in farm outbreaks highlight for the control of COVID-19 and emerging infectious disease, the One Health approach is critical in understanding and accounting for how human, animals and environment health are intricately connected.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Neonatal infections in China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand

Al-Taiar A, Hammoud MS, Cuiqing L, Lee JK, Lui KM, Nakwan N, et al.

Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., 2013 May;98(3):F249-55.

PMID: 22942104 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-301767

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of neonatal deaths in Asia but data remain scarce. We aimed to investigate the causative organisms and antibiotic resistance in neonatal care units in China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong/epidemiology

2018 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Hepatitis C in Chronic Kidney Disease Guideline Implementation: Asia Summit Conference Report

Li PK, Bavanandan S, Mohamed R, Szeto CC, Wong VW, Chow KM, et al.

Kidney Int Rep, 2020 Aug;5(8):1129-1138.

PMID: 32775812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2020.05.001

In 2018, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) published a clinical practice guideline on the prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The guideline synthesized recent advances, especially in HCV therapeutics and diagnostics, and provided clinical recommendations and suggestions to aid healthcare providers and improve care for CKD patients with HCV. To gain insight into the extent that the 2018 guideline has been adopted in Asia, KDIGO convened an HCV Implementation Summit in Hong Kong. Participants included nephrologists, hepatologists, and nurse consultants from 8 Southeast Asian countries or regions with comparable high-to-middle economic ranking by the World Bank: mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Through presentations and discussions, meeting participants described regional practice patterns related to the KDIGO HCV in CKD guideline, identified barriers to implementing the guideline, and developed strategies for overcoming the barriers in Asia and around the world.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Surveillance of antibiotic resistance in South East Asia

Williams JD, Moosdeen F, Teoh-Chan CH, Lim VK, Jayanetra P

Eur J Epidemiol, 1989 Jun;5(2):207-13.

PMID: 2504618

Antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Salmonella and Shigella, requires surveillance worldwide. This study describes results of surveys in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. All strains were isolated in hospitals which have large community catchment areas in addition to specialised hospital units. The prevalence of resistant strains was high in all areas. Gram-negative bacteria such as Enterobacter associated with hospital infections were resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins, with gentamicin resistance ranging from about 20% in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, to 35% in Bangkok. Ninety-seven percent of Shigella isolated in Thailand were resistant to ampicillin. About 10% of Salmonella were resistant to chloramphenicol in all three centres.

Matched MeSH terms: Hong Kong

Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 212 in total