Publications by authors named "Carol Ho Yi Fong"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effects of combining pioglitazone, GLP1RA, and SGLT2i on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- Results from 888 patients showed that using more of these medications correlated with significant improvements in liver health, as measured by changes in the FAST score over a median follow-up of 3.9 years.
- Specifically, the combination of SGLT2i and pioglitazone was associated with the highest likelihood of achieving better FAST score outcomes, suggesting a promising approach for managing MASH in diabetic patients.
Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more susceptible to severe respiratory viral infections, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that patients with T2D and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, and influenza-infected T2D mice, exhibit defective T helper 1 (Th1) responses, which are an essential component of anti-viral immunity. This defect stems from intrinsic metabolic perturbations in CD4 T cells driven by hyperglycemia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave®) has shown efficacy and safety in large randomised controlled trials, predominantly comprising Caucasians. Data are limited in Asian populations. We carried out a retrospective matched cohort study of Chinese patients with obesity to evaluate the efficacy and safety of naltrexone-bupropion in real-world clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The 2022 WHO classification of pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNET) refines the diagnosis by emphasizing transcription factors, building on the previous 2017 classification.
- - A study involving 113 non-functioning NF-PitNET patients showed that the majority were SF-1 lineage tumours, with distinct differences in disease-free survival rates across subtypes identified by the new classification.
- - The findings suggest that the 2022 WHO classification provides valuable clinical insight, as certain subtypes and tumour volume serve as independent predictors of disease recurrence or complications.
Backgruound: We evaluated changes in glycemic status, over 1 year, of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors with dysglycemia in acute COVID-19.
Methods: COVID-19 survivors who had dysglycemia (defined by glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] 5.7% to 6.
Objective: Baseline circulating thrombospondin-2 (TSP2) level was identified as a potential novel hepatic fibrosis biomarker that associates with development and progression of hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Here, we investigated whether circulating TSP2 levels changed with improvement in liver stiffness (LS), which reflects liver fibrosis on transient elastography.
Design: Serum TSP2 levels were measured in participants from a randomized, open-label intervention study, at baseline and after 24-weeks treatment of either dapagliflozin 10 mg (N = 30) or sitagliptin 100 mg daily (N = 30).
Purpose: We described the clinical and densitometric characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients who developed atypical femoral fractures (AFF) while on bisphosphonate for osteoporosis.
Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study including all adults aged ≥50 years who developed AFF while on bisphosphonates between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2020, and subsequently managed in the Osteoporosis Centre at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong. A control group of patients who developed fragility hip fractures while on bisphosphonates in the same period was included for comparison.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to determine if adding piroxicam, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, to levonorgestrel (a common emergency contraception) would enhance its effectiveness after ovulation.
- - Conducted in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 860 women, the results showed that the combination of levonorgestrel and piroxicam significantly reduced the pregnancy rate compared to levonorgestrel alone (94.7% vs. 63.4% effectiveness).
- - The addition of piroxicam did not lead to significant differences in menstrual cycle changes or adverse effects, suggesting it is a safe and effective enhancement to emergency contraception.
Background: We previously showed that higher SARS-CoV-2 viral load correlated with smaller thyroid volumes among COVID-19 survivors at 2 months after acute COVID-19. Our current follow-up study evaluated the evolution of thyroid volumes and thyroiditis features within the same group of patients 6 months later.
Methods: Adult COVID-19 survivors who underwent thyroid ultrasonography 2 months after infection (USG1) were recruited for follow-up USG 6 months later (USG2).
Background: Thrombospondin-2 (TSP2) is a matricellular protein with tissue expression induced by hyperglycaemia. TSP2 has been implicated in non-diabetic renal injury in preclinical studies and high circulating levels were associated with worse kidney function in cross-sectional clinical studies. Therefore, we investigated the prospective associations of circulating TSP2 level with kidney function decline and the trajectories of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in type 2 diabetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContext: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) are 3 diabetes-related biomarkers whose circulating levels had been shown to associate with nephropathy progression in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.
Objective: Here, we evaluated and compared their prospective associations with the development of sight-threatening DR (STDR), another important diabetic microvascular complication.
Methods: Baseline serum AFABP, PEDF, and FGF21 levels were measured in 4760 Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes and without STDR at baseline.
Background: Non-diabetic overweight/obese metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) represents the largest subgroup with heterogeneous liver fibrosis risk. Metabolic dysfunction promotes liver fibrosis. Here, we investigated whether incorporating additional metabolic risk factors into clinical evaluation improved liver fibrosis risk stratification among individuals with non-diabetic overweight/obese MAFLD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: We evaluated the evolution of thyroid function and autoimmunity among COVID-19 survivors over 6 months in relation to interferon beta-1b treatment and long COVID.
Methods: We included COVID-19 survivors managed in a major COVID-19 centre between July 2020 and May 2021 who were reassessed three and/or six months after acute COVID-19. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) and anti-thyroid antibody titres were measured at acute COVID-19, 3-month and 6-month.
Context: Reports of thyroid dysfunction following COVID-19 vaccination included cases of relapse of Graves' disease and worsening of pre-existing Graves' disease. Little is known about the thyroid-specific outcomes among patients treated for hyperthyroidism who have received COVID-19 vaccination.
Objective: Among patients treated for hyperthyroidism, we evaluated factors associated with not receiving the COVID-19 vaccination and whether COVID-19 vaccination was associated with thyroid function instability.
Acquiring protective immunity through vaccination is essential, especially for patients with type 2 diabetes who are vulnerable for adverse clinical outcomes during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with immune dysfunction. Here, we evaluated the impact of T2D on the immunological responses induced by mRNA (BNT162b2) and inactivated (CoronaVac) vaccines, the two most commonly used COVID-19 vaccines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Objectives: Operations are a major precipitating factor for sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i)-associated diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This study aimed to investigate the risks of SGLT2i-associated postoperative DKA.
Methods: We analysed a population-based cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent operations during 2015-2020.
Objective: Patients with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for fracture risk because of attenuated bone turnover and impaired bone microarchitecture. The comparative effect of warfarin over non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) on incident fractures among patients with type 2 diabetes comorbid with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains to be elucidated.
Research Design And Methods: This was a retrospective, propensity score-weighted, population-based cohort study of adults with type 2 diabetes and AF who were started on warfarin or NOAC between 2005 and 2019 identified from an electronic database of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.
Context: There are concerns for COVID-19 vaccination in triggering thyroid autoimmunity and causing thyroid dysfunction. Also, data on the effect of preexisting thyroid autoimmunity on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination are limited.
Objectives: We evaluated the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on thyroid function and antibodies, and the influence of preexisting thyroid autoimmunity on neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses.
Background: Insulin-treated patients with long duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk of ketoacidosis related to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). The extent of circulating ketone elevation in these patients remains unknown. We conducted this study to compare the serum ketone response between dapagliflozin, an SGLT2i, and sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, among insulin-treated T2DM patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: We carried out this prospective study of predominantly non-severe COVID-19 patients, to evaluate the influence of glycaemic status on clinical outcomes and neutralising antibody (Nab) responses, potentially relevant to the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Methods: We included consecutive adults admitted to Queen Mary Hospital for COVID-19 from July 2020-May 2021. Glycaemic status was defined by admission HbA1c.
Background: Both lymphopenia and thyroid dysfunction are commonly observed among COVID-19 patients. Whether thyroid function independently correlates with lymphocyte counts (LYM) remains to be elucidated.
Methods: We included consecutive adults without known thyroid disorder admitted to Queen Mary Hospital for COVID-19 from July 2020 to April 2021 who had thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3) and LYM measured on admission.
Objective: Peptidase M20 domain containing 1 (PM20D1), a secreted enzyme catalysing condensation of fatty acids and amino acids into the bioactive lipids N-acyl amino acids (NAAA), induces uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-independent adaptive thermogenesis in brown/beige adipocytes in mice. This study aimed to explore the associations of the circulating levels of PM20D1 and major NAAA with obesity-related metabolic complications in humans.
Design And Methods: Serum concentrations of PM20D1 and NAAA (C18:1-Leu and C18:1-Phe) in 256 Chinese subjects, including 78 lean and 178 overweight/obese individuals with or without diabetes, were measured with immunoassays and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively.
Background: Some studies have indicated that interferon (IFN) may be valuable in COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate the impact of short-term IFN on incident thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity among COVID-19 survivors.
Methods: We included consecutive adults without known thyroid disorder admitted to Queen Mary Hospital for COVID-19 from July 2020 to January 2021 who had thyroid function tests (TFTs) and anti-thyroid antibodies measured both on admission and at three months.
Purpose: Thyroid dysfunction, including thyroiditis, is well recognized in COVID-19 patients. We evaluated thyroid ultrasonographic features among COVID-19 survivors, which are less well known.
Methods: Adult COVID-19 survivors without known thyroid disorders who attended dedicated COVID-19 clinic underwent thyroid ultrasonography and assessment of thyroid function and autoimmunity.