Study protocol of a sequential, multiple assignment, randomised trial using an adaptive intervention to reduce loneliness among Chinese older adults in Hong Kong.

Background: Loneliness is a prevalent and alarming issue among older adults that requires effective interventions. While randomised controlled trials have been commonly undertaken to explore reduction in loneliness, there is a growing recognition that a comprehensive treatment strategy involving multiple interventions may yield better outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to develop and identify a two-stage adaptive intervention that combines telephone-delivered behavioural activation (Tele-BA) and mindfulness techniques (Tele-MF) to reduce loneliness in older adults in Hong Kong.

Effects of Wisdom-Enhancement Narrative-Therapy and Empathy-Focused interventions on loneliness over 4 weeks among older adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: In this three-armed RCT, we tested the effects of a telephone-delivered wisdom enhancement narrative therapy-based intervention (Tele-NT) and a telephone-delivered empathy-focused intervention (Tele-EP) in reducing loneliness against an active control group that received regular call (ACG) at the 4-week follow-up assessment.

Design, Setting, Intervention, And Participants: To evaluate the effects of the interventions on loneliness, we randomized 287 older adults based in Hong Kong, ages 65 to 90, into Tele-NT (N = 97), Tele-EP (N = 95), or ACG (N = 95).

Measurement: The primary outcome was loneliness, calculated using the De Jong Gierveld Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale.

Individualised Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Targeting of the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for Enhancing Cognition: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been demonstrated to produce cognitive enhancing effects across different neuropsychiatric disorders; however, so far, these effects have been limited. This trial investigated the efficacy of using a novel individualised approach to target the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) for enhancing cognitive flexibility based on performance on a cognitive task. First, forty healthy participants had their single target site at the L-DLPFC determined based on each individual's performance on a random letter generation task.

Outcomes of Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis Treated with Arthroscopic Fusion.

 The thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) osteoarthritis is one of the most common pathologies in the hand with controversial treatment options.  Describe the use of arthroscopic technique for thumb CMCJ arthrodesis and the clinical outcome.  Cases with Eaton III thumb CMCJ osteoarthritis treated with arthroscopic arthrodesis were reviewed.

Cognitive Effects Following Offline High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (HF-rTMS) in Healthy Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) is a commonly used form of rTMS to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that 'offline' HF-rTMS may have cognitive enhancing effects, although the magnitude and moderators of these effects remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the cognitive effects of offline HF-rTMS in healthy individuals.

Actor-partner effects of wellbeing, hope and self-esteem on depression in stroke survivor-caregiver dyads: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Stroke is a disabling, long-term condition that challenges the mental and physical health of stroke-survivors concurrently with their primary family-caregivers (dyad). However, there has been a lack of emphasis on this dyadic need. Thus, this study aims to investigate the impacts of two interventions on hope, self-esteem and hedonic wellbeing on depression among the stroke-survivor-caregiver dyad.

Fingertip Injuries in Mask Factory Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic increase in the demand of face masks. The aim of this study is to look into the demographics, clinical details, clinical outcome and the risk factors for fingertip injuries in mask manufacturing factory workers. This is a retrospective review of all patients admitted to a regional hospital following a fingertip injury sustained at a mask making factory over a 6-month period from March 2020 to August 2020.

Positive life stories of Stroke-Survivor's spousal caregiving in Hong Kong: Lessons for policy and practice.

Background: Advances in medical-care for immediately post-stroke mean that many stroke-survivors now live a normal lifespan, although they may suffer residual disability. They are often cared for at home by their spouse, who may be ill-prepared for this task, and may also have health concerns. As demands on formal services increase with population aging in Hong Kong, equipping spousal-caregivers with positive effective caring strategies is increasingly important.

Narrative Group Intervention to Rediscover Life Wisdom Among Hong Kong Chinese Older Adults: A Single-Blind Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial.

Background And Objectives: We developed a new group practice using strength- and meaning-based narrative therapy (NT) for older Chinese living in Hong Kong (HK), to enhance their life wisdom. This paper reports on the intervention and its short- and longer-term effectiveness.

Research Design And Methods: A randomized waitlist-controlled trial was conducted.

Treatment of Dangling-Type Thumb Polydactyly: Suture Ligation vs. Surgical Excision.

To review the cases of dangling-type thumb polydactyly treated with suture ligation vs surgical excision. Cases of dangling-type thumb polydactyly treated in 2 different hospitals from 1994 to 2014 were recruited. Group 1 includes cases treated with suture ligation in hospital 1; Group 2 includes cases treated with surgical excision in hospital 2.

Three Cases of Translunate Perilunate Injury Treated with Wrist Arthroscopy.

 An acute fracture of the lunate is an uncommon injury with the reported incidence ranging from 0.5 to 1% of all carpal bone fractures. The combination of lunate fracture and perilunate injury is even rarer and Bain et al first introduced the "translunate arc concept" in 2008.

Neurovascular Island Flap for Pulp and Nail Augmentation in Thumb Duplication Reconstruction: A Surgical Method With Long-Term Follow-Up.

Purpose: Pulp and nail atrophy and asymmetry are commonly seen in thumb duplication. In hypoplasia of both digits, conventional reconstruction or Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure and its modifications may not be possible or may lead to a poor cosmetic outcome. The purpose of the study was to review a reconstruction technique with a neurovascular island flap developed to improve the aesthetic and functional results of treatment.

Effects of strength-based intervention on health outcomes of family caregivers of persons with dementia: A study protocol.

Aims: This study aims at identifying the health effects of a strength-based intervention on family caregivers of persons with dementia and to explore the underlying mechanism. The perception of family caregivers on the strength-based intervention will also be explored.

Design: This sequential mixed-method study comprises a double-blind randomized controlled trial and a descriptive qualitative study.

Type IIIB and IV hypoplastic thumb reconstruction with non-vascularized fourth metatarsal.

We treated 16 patients with 17 hypoplastic thumbs (eight Type IIIB and nine Type IV) using a non-vascularized fourth metatarsal transfer with a rotational flap and multi-staged reconstruction. The average age at the first operation was 24 months. The average follow-up time was 46 months.

Functional Outcome for Arthroscopic Treatment of Septic Arthritis of the Wrist.

 Septic arthritis is a potentially joint-destructing condition if not treated properly. Septic wrist accounts for ∼5% of all septic arthritis. Arthroscopic lavage is a well-documented treatment for septic arthritis of the knee, hip, or shoulder only.

Development and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of a Brief Wisdom Development Scale.

This study was to develop an 18-item Brief Wisdom Development Scale, based on the original 66-item Wisdom Development Scale, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the proposed scale using a sample of older adults. This longitudinal study recruited 153 community-dwelling adults (mean = 72.55 years old; SD = 8.

Development and validation of a brief self-assessed wisdom scale.

Background: This longitudinal study aimed to develop a nine-item Brief Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (BSAWS) derived from the original 40-item Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS).

Methods: The psychometric properties of the shortened scale were evaluated based on a sample of 157 older adults. The factor structure and dimensionality of the original SAWS were examined using confirmatory factor analysis.

The role of meaning in life: mediating the effects of perceived knowledge of stroke on depression and life satisfaction among stroke survivors.

Objective: Meaning-making is a way of coping when facing adverse events. A paucity of literature suggests other possible factors (e.g.

Digital ischaemia: a rare but severe complication of jellyfish sting.

We report a case of digital ischaemia in a 31-year-old man who presented with sudden hand numbness, swelling, and cyanosis 4 days after a jellyfish sting. This is a rare complication of jellyfish sting, characterised by a delayed but rapid downhill course. Despite serial monitoring with prompt fasciotomy and repeated debridement, he developed progressive ischaemia in multiple digits with gangrenous change.

Narrative therapy an evaluated intervention to improve stroke survivors' social and emotional adaptation.

Objective: To describe a theoretical and practical framework of using a train metaphor in narrative therapy for stroke rehabilitation in group practice.

Background: There is a paucity of literature on the application of narrative therapy in meeting the psycho-social-spiritual needs of stroke survivors in rehabilitation. In the current article, the use of narrative therapy being evaluated in a formal randomized study in stroke survivors is described in detail.

Arthroscopic osteochondral grafting for radiocarpal joint defects.

Background Focal chondral lesion is a common cause of chronic wrist pain. The best treatment remains unknown. We have developed a technique of arthroscopic transplantation of an osteochondral autograft from the knee joint to the distal radius with satisfactory clinical results.

Maximizing the locum experience.

Back from holiday and my secretaries report that the locum saw patients in a timely manner, responded to messages (especially urgent requests), and filled prescriptions efficiently. Our nurses acknowledge reciprocal working relationships with the locum. My in-box is organized with abnormal test results highlighted and clarity regarding follow-up.

The relationship between psychological resources, social resources, and depression: results from older spousal caregivers in Hong Kong.

Objectives: The rapidly ageing population in Hong Kong has led to a major concern in providing care for the elderly. Due to the current social changes in Hong Kong, such as smaller family size, longer life spans, and increasing employment demands, spouses increasingly serve as the primary caregivers for older adults. To explore the mental health of older spousal caregivers, this study investigated the relationships between psychological resources, social resources, and depression.

Reciprocal influences between burnout and effectiveness in professional care for elders.

In community care, the quality of life of the care recipient and the quality of the care provider affect each other. This is a proposition derived from the dialectical perspective, which envisions the importance of promoting the quality of life of both the care recipient and provider. The proposition hinges on mediation by caring effectiveness.

Metacarpophalangeal joint arthroscopy: indications revisited.

Arthroscopic surgery has become the gold standard for the diagnosis and treatment of major joint disorders. With advancement in arthroscopic technique, arthroscopy has become feasible in most human joints, even those as small as the finger joints. The metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) can become spacious with simple traction, the intra-articular anatomy is simple, and its major structures can be easily visualized and identified.