Publications by authors named "An Wan"

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief community-based intervention to promote physical activity (PA) and the mental well-being of adults in Hong Kong.

Methods: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 15 family service centers. The intervention group (N = 162, 8 centers) received two 2-h interventions uniquely combining "Sharing, Mind and Enjoyment (SME)," Zero-time Exercises (ZTEx), positive psychology, and simple family games.

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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with limited therapeutic targets or clinical outcome predictors. This study aimed to gain more insights into the underlying immunological pathways and prognostic biomarkers of SLE. Integrated analyses of RNA-seq data from 64 SLE and 62 healthy controls, examining 27 immune cell types to explore the key pathways and driver genes in SLE pathogenesis.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A mixed-method design was employed to assess the effectiveness of this risk management approach, utilizing a cross-sectional survey and qualitative focus group interviews with HBCCS staff from December 2021 to March 2022.
  • * Results showed that over 90% of staff felt they had adequate personal protective equipment and training, and most reported persistent support mechanisms, though only 75% felt emotionally supported by the organization, indicating areas for improvement.
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Activation of the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals has been identified as the molecular basis for the acute inflammatory response in gouty arthritis. However, MSU crystals alone are not sufficient to induce acute gouty arthritis (AGA). Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an endogenous signaling molecule involved in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

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Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been observationally associated with endometrial cancer, but the causality remains unclear. Here, we investigated for the first time the causal links between SLE and endometrial cancer risk.

Methods: Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to disentangle the causality of SLE with endometrial cancer.

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Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition that causes high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is linked to increased maternal mortality, organ malfunction, and foetal development limitation. In this view, there is a need critical to identify biomarkers for the early detection of preeclampsia.

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To design a smartphone app and evaluate its effect on promoting mental well-being and awareness of anxious symptoms in adolescents. A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with two secondary schools (390 students, mean age 13.1 years) randomized to the intervention and control groups.

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To systematically investigate the diffusion behavior of Fe/Cu bimetallic materials and the influence of the Ni element on the diffusion and mechanical properties of the Fe/Cu bimetallic interface, the diffusion distance, diffusion coefficient, and strain-stress process based on molecular dynamics (MD) calculations and experimental testing were analyzed. All simulation results indicated that the liquid Cu matrix had a higher diffusion coefficient but hardly diffused into the Fe matrix, and the solid Fe matrix had a smaller diffusion coefficient but diffused deep into the Cu matrix at the same temperature. Compared with the initial state, the addition of nickel atoms to the Cu matrix favored the improvement of the diffusion coefficient and the diffusion distance of Fe/Cu bimetallic materials.

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  • A pilot trial was conducted to evaluate a smartphone intervention called Zero-time Exercise (ZTEx), aimed at improving physical activity and fitness in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) without needing any equipment.
  • The study involved 139 Chinese patients who were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving ZTEx training or a control group focused on healthy eating and breathing exercises, with follow-ups assessing various health outcomes.
  • Results showed a high completion rate (around 80%) among participants, with the ZTEx group feeling the intervention was feasible and beneficial, although only a small percentage actively recorded their activity in the app.
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Objective: Effective and brief positive parenting interventions could be adopted widely, but evidence is limited. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a positive parenting programme in Hong Kong Chinese parents.

Methods: We conducted a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial in 2017 in 144 Hong Kong Chinese parents (84.

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In this paper, the solid-liquid composite method is used to prepare the steel-copper bimetal sample through two-stage cooling process (forced air cooling and oil cooling). The relationship between the different microstructures and friction properties of the bimetal copper layer is clarified. The results show that: the friction and wear parameters are 250 N, the speed is 1500 r/min (3.

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We conducted a cluster randomised controlled trial of parents in 56 primary schools and community service centres (clusters) to evaluate the effectiveness of a single-session workshop on promoting more fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. A total of 803 parents were randomised to the FV intervention arm (16 clusters, = 197), the more appreciation control arm (19 clusters, = 270), or the less criticism control arm (21 clusters, = 336). The FV intake of the FV arm was compared with that of the combined more appreciation or less criticism (MALC) arm.

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Background And Purpose: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 3.8 million concussions occur in the United States each year. Concussion symptoms can negatively impact the academic performance of adolescents after they return to school.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Zero-time exercise (ZTEx) program aims to incorporate quick, effective strength and stamina exercises into daily routines, evaluated through a study involving 673 participants from various family service centers in Hong Kong.
  • Participants were divided into two groups: one receiving the ZTEx intervention and the other focusing on healthy eating, with both groups undergoing several face-to-face sessions and text message support over a year.
  • Results showed that the experimental group engaged in significantly more ZTEx activities and reported improved health perceptions and family engagement compared to the control group, with some effects persisting in follow-ups at 6 and 12 months.
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Our cluster randomized controlled trial tested, respectively, 2 brief interventions to promote more appreciation and less criticism in Hong Kong Chinese parents toward their children and to enhance family well-being. We randomized 56 primary schools and community service centers (clusters of parents of primary grades 3-6 students) to the more appreciation (MA) or less criticism (LC) intervention arms, or fruit and vegetable control arm (FV). A total of 803 parents received a 2-hr workshop on increasing appreciation (19 clusters, = 270), reducing criticism (21 clusters, = 336), or increasing fruit and vegetable consumption (16 clusters, = 197) and were assessed at baseline, immediately after the workshop, at 2 weeks, and at 6 weeks.

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Plant roots in lakeshore areas can directly determine the survival of the aboveground plant parts. However, most current studies are focused on the aerial shoots, and less attention has been paid to the functions of the roots. In order to evaluate the effects of water level fluctuations (WLFs) on root architectural and morphological traits of plants in lakeshore areas, field investigations were conducted seasonally in three subtropical floodplain lakes with different types of WLFs.

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  • A community program in Hong Kong trained lay volunteers as health promoters to improve physical activity and well-being in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
  • A four-session train-the-trainer workshop introduced the Zero-time Exercise (ZTEx) intervention, which successfully equipped 28 trainees with skills to reduce sedentary behavior and enhance their health knowledge and interpersonal skills.
  • The study found positive outcomes for both trainees and community participants, with improvements in neighborhood cohesion and fitness, demonstrating the feasibility of the role modeling approach for health promotion initiatives.
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High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) exhibits extensive malignant clonal diversity with widespread but non-random patterns of disease dissemination. We investigated whether local immune microenvironment factors shape tumor progression properties at the interface of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and cancer cells. Through multi-region study of 212 samples from 38 patients with whole-genome sequencing, immunohistochemistry, histologic image analysis, gene expression profiling, and T and B cell receptor sequencing, we identified three immunologic subtypes across samples and extensive within-patient diversity.

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been widely reported to have important regulatory roles in various human tumors, including osteosarcoma (OS). The aim of this study was to focus on the role of less well-known miRNA-567 (miR-567) in OS. We found the expression of miR-567 was significantly reduced in OS tissues and cell lines (MG-63, U2OS and Saos-2) compared with the adjacent normal tissues and normal osteoblastic cells (hFOB), respectively.

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The Yangtze finless porpoise is a subspecies of narrow-ridged finless porpoise endemic to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the adjoining Poyang and Dongting Lakes. With the depletion of fish stocks in the Yangtze River in recent decades, food availability has become the most important factor affecting the survival of this subspecies. Despite this, the relationships between fish community and occurrences of porpoise are far from being fully understood.

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Background: Germline truncating mutations in DICER1, an endoribonuclease in the RNase III family that is essential for processing microRNAs, have been observed in families with the pleuropulmonary blastoma-family tumor and dysplasia syndrome. Mutation carriers are at risk for nonepithelial ovarian tumors, notably sex cord-stromal tumors.

Methods: We sequenced the whole transcriptomes or exomes of 14 nonepithelial ovarian tumors and noted closely clustered mutations in the region of DICER1 encoding the RNase IIIb domain of DICER1 in four samples.

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Aspergillus fumigatus is the leading cause of invasive mold infection and is a serious problem in immunocompromised populations worldwide. We have previously shown that survival of A. fumigatus in serum may be related to secretion of siderophores.

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Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungus that can cause a life-threatening systemic mycosis in immunocompromised patients. We have studied the growth of A. fumigatus inside cultured cells, and the extracellular growth requirements (in serum).

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