Understanding the barriers to using oral anticoagulants among long-term aspirin users with atrial fibrillation - a qualitative study.

Background: Despite international treatment guidelines currently advocating oral anticoagulants (OACs) as the only appropriate stroke prevention therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and evidence that OACs can greatly reduce the risk of stroke with similar risk of bleeding compared with aspirin, the underuse of OACs in patients with AF is common globally, especially in Asia. This study aimed to identify the barriers to prescribing and using OACs among long-term aspirin users with AF.

Method: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with fourteen eligible patients with AF using a semi-structured interview guide.

Effect of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 Genotypes on the Efficacy of Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Southern Chinese Patients With Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, and age is strongly associated with the incidence of AD. This study aimed to investigate the association between the genotypes of CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP2C9 genes to the clinical efficacy and tolerability of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) in Chinese patients with AD. One hundred seventy-nine patients with AD with newly prescribed with ChEIs were recruited.

A study of constraint-induced movement therapy in subacute stroke patients in Hong Kong.

Objective: To investigate the beneficial effect of constraint-induced movement therapy in improving the function of hemiplegic upper extremity in the early subacute stroke patients.

Design: A prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study comparing the effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy or control treatment at post intervention and 12 weeks follow-up.

Subjects: The inclusion criteria were 2-16 weeks after stroke, hemiparesis of the affected limb, minimal function of > or =20 degrees wrist extension and > or =10 degrees extension of all digits and Mini-Mental State Examination score > or =17.