External validation of the Hong Kong Chinese non-laboratory risk models and scoring algorithm for case finding of prediabetes and diabetes mellitus in primary care.

Aims/introduction: Two Hong Kong Chinese non-laboratory-based prediabetes/diabetes mellitus (pre-DM/DM) risk models were developed using logistic regression (LR) and machine learning, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the models' validity in case finding of pre-DM/DM in a Chinese primary care (PC) population. We also evaluated the validity of a risk-scoring algorithm derived from the LR model.

Optimizing the frequency of physician encounters in follow - up care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

Background: Decisions on the frequency of physician encounters for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have significant impacts on both patients' health outcomes and burden on health systems, whereas definitive intervals for physician encounters are still lacking in most clinical guidelines. This study systematically reviewed the existing evidence evaluating different frequencies of physician encounters among T2DM patients.

Methods: Systematic search of studies evaluating different visit frequencies for follow - up care in T2DM patients was performed in MEDLINE Ovid, Embase Ovid, and Cochrane library from database inception to 25 March 2022.

Patient enablement and health-related quality of life for patients with chronic back and knee pain: a cross-sectional study in primary care.

Background: Chronic back and knee pain impairs health- related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient enablement can improve HRQoL.

Aim: To determine whether enablement was a moderator of the effect of chronic back and knee pain on HRQoL.

Design And Setting: A cross-sectional study of Chinese patients with chronic back and knee problems in public primary care clinics in Hong Kong.

IgE antibody responses in cerebrospinal fluids relate to the brain pathologic injury of hosts with Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

Background: The immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection increases in the host. This study analyzed the IgG and IgE responses detected in different body fluids of A. cantonensis-infected mice.

Protein engineering of a nanoCLAMP antibody mimetic scaffold as a platform for producing bioprocess-compatible affinity capture ligands.

Protein A affinity chromatography is widely used for the large-scale purification of antibodies because of its high yield, selectivity, and compatibility with NaOH sanitation. A general platform to produce robust affinity capture ligands for proteins beyond antibodies would improve bioprocessing efficiency. We previously developed nanoCLAMPs (nano Clostridial Antibody Mimetic Proteins), a class of antibody mimetic proteins useful as lab-scale affinity capture reagents.

Assessment of Hypertension Complications and Health Service Use 5 Years After Implementation of a Multicomponent Intervention.

Importance: There is a lack of information regarding the impact of implementing a protocol-driven, team-based, multicomponent intervention in public primary care settings on hypertension-related complications and health care burden over the long term.

Objective: To compare hypertension-related complications and health service use at 5 years among patients managed with Risk Assessment and Management Program for Hypertension (RAMP-HT) vs usual care.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this population-based prospective matched cohort study, patients were followed up until the date of all-cause mortality, an outcome event, or last follow-up appointment before October 2017, whichever occurred first.

The indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and without COVID-19 infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effect directly from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on health and fatality has received considerable attention, particularly among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, evidence on the indirect impact of disrupted healthcare services during the pandemic on people with T2DM is limited. This systematic review aims to assess the indirect impact of the pandemic on the metabolic management of T2DM people without a history of COVID-19 infection.

Stratification of PD-1 blockade response in melanoma using pre- and post-treatment immunophenotyping of peripheral blood.

Efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor therapies in cancer varies greatly, with some patients showing complete responses while others do not respond and experience progressive disease. We aimed to identify correlates of response and progression following PD-1-directed therapy by immunophenotyping peripheral blood samples from 20 patients with advanced malignant melanoma before and after treatment with the PD-1 blocking antibody pembrolizumab. Our data reveal that individuals responding to PD-1 blockade were characterised by increased CD8 T cell proliferation following treatment, while progression was associated with an increase in CTLA-4-expressing Treg.

Age-specific associations between the number of co-morbidities, all-cause mortality and public direct medical costs in patients with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: To evaluate the association between the number of co-morbidities, all-cause mortality and public health system expenditure in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) across different age groups.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective observational study of T2D patients using electronic health records in Hong Kong was conducted. Patients were stratified by age (< 50, 50-64, 65-79, ≥ 80 years) and the number of co-morbidities (0, 1, 2, 3, ≥ 4), defined using the Charlson Comorbidity Index and prevalent chronic diseases identified in local surveys.

Long-term spill-over impact of COVID-19 on health and healthcare of people with non-communicable diseases: a study protocol for a population-based cohort and health economic study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant spill-over effect on people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the long term, beyond the direct effect of COVID-19 infection. Evaluating changes in health outcomes, health service use and costs can provide evidence to optimise care for people with NCDs during and after the pandemic, and to better prepare outbreak responses in the future.

Methods And Analysis: This is a population-based cohort study using electronic health records of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) CMS, economic modelling and serial cross-sectional surveys on health service use.

Ten-Year Effectiveness of the Multidisciplinary Risk Assessment and Management Programme-Diabetes Mellitus (RAMP-DM) on Macrovascular and Microvascular Complications and All-Cause Mortality: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: The Risk Assessment and Management Programme-Diabetes Mellitus (RAMP-DM) is a protocol-driven, risk-stratified, and individualized management program offered by a multidisciplinary team in addition to usual care for primary care patients with diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of RAMP-DM for preventing complications and mortality over 10 years.

Research Design And Methods: A population-based, prospective cohort study of adult patients with type 2 diabetes managed in the Hong Kong public primary health care system between 2009 and 2010 was conducted.

Morbidity Patterns in Primary Care in Hong Kong: Protocol for a Practice-Based Morbidity Survey.

Background: Up-to-date and accurate information about the health problems encountered by primary care doctors is essential to understanding the morbidity pattern of the community to better inform health care policy and practice. Morbidity surveys of doctors allow documentation of actual consultations, reflecting the patient's reason for seeking care as well as the doctor's diagnostic interpretation of the illness and management approach. Such surveys are particularly critical in the absence of a centralized primary care electronic medical record database.

Development and validation of a diabetes mellitus and prediabetes risk prediction function for case finding in primary care in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional study and a prospective study protocol paper.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major non-communicable disease with an increasing prevalence. Undiagnosed DM is not uncommon and can lead to severe complications and mortality. Identifying high-risk individuals at an earlier disease stage, that is, pre-diabetes (pre-DM), is crucial in delaying progression.

The effect of bubble nucleation on the performance of a wickless heat pipe in microgravity.

Bubble nucleation was investigated in a 20-mm-long, wickless heat pipe on the International Space Station. Over 20 h of running experiments using pentane as the working fluid, more than 100 nucleation events were observed. Bubble nucleation at the heater end temporarily boosted peak pressures and vapor temperatures in the device.

Prognostic value of nocturnal blood pressure dipping on cardiovascular outcomes in Chinese patients with hypertension in primary care.

Meta-analyses showed that non-dipping of nocturnal blood pressure on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was associated with adverse cardiovascular prognosis. However, these prognostic studies were mainly conducted in Caucasian and Japanese populations. Whether this association applies to Chinese patients remained uninvestigated.

Retrospective cohort study to investigate the 10-year trajectories of disease patterns in patients with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus on subsequent cardiovascular outcomes and health service utilisation: a study protocol.

Introduction: Hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and are major disease burdens in all healthcare systems. Given their high impact on morbidity, premature death and direct medical costs, we need to optimise effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of primary care for patients with HT/DM. This study aims to find out the association of trajectories in disease patterns and treatment of patients with HT/DM including multimorbidity and continuity of care with disease outcomes and service utilisation over 10 years in order to identify better approaches to delivering primary care services.

Screening for diabetic retinopathy with different levels of financial incentive in a randomized controlled trial.

Aims/introduction: To examine the impact of different levels of financial incentive in terms of fee subsidization on diabetic retinopathy screening in the private primary care setting in Hong Kong.

Materials And Methods: All general practitioners working in the private sector and registered in two electronic public databases were invited to participate. Consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus were then recruited by the participating practitioners.

Effectiveness of routine measurement of health-related quality of life in improving the outcomes of patients with musculoskeletal problems-a cluster randomised controlled trial: protocol paper.

Introduction: Managing chronic musculoskeletal problems usually focuses on pain control using medications, but outcomes are often unsatisfactory and sometimes harmful. Information on a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) may trigger a doctor to tailor management improving quality of life. The aim of this trial is to find out whether routine measurement and reporting of a patient's EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) HRQOL data using an electronic platform can improve HRQOL and pain in patients with chronic knee or back problems in primary care.

Prediction models and nomograms for 10-year risk of end-stage renal disease in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in primary care.

Aims: To develop and validate 10-year risk prediction models, nomograms and charts for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in primary care, in order to guide individualized treatment.

Materials And Methods: This was a 10-year population-based observational cohort study. A total of 141 516 Chinese T2DM patients without history of cardiovascular disease or ESRD who were managed in public primary care clinics in 2008 were included and followed up until December 2017.