Combined Quantitative amyloid-β PET and Structural MRI Features Improve Alzheimer's Disease Classification in Random Forest Model - A Multicenter Study.

Rationale And Objectives: Prior to clinical presentations of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), neuropathological changes, such as amyloid-β and brain atrophy, have accumulated at the earlier stages of the disease. The combination of such biomarkers assessed by multiple modalities commonly improves the likelihood of AD etiology. We aimed to explore the discriminative ability of Aβ PET features and whether combining Aβ PET and structural MRI features can improve the classification performance of the machine learning model in older healthy control (OHC) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from AD.

The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations signals related to amyloid uptake in high-risk populations-A pilot fMRI study.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) have a higher risk to develop Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Resting-state-functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was used to document neurological involvement in the two groups from the aspect of brain dysfunction. Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) starts decades ago before the onset of clinical symptoms and may already have been associated with brain function in high-risk populations.

Incremental diagnostic value of 18F-Fluetemetamol PET in differential diagnoses of Alzheimer's Disease-related neurodegenerative diseases from an unselected memory clinic cohort.

To evaluate the incremental diagnostic value of 18F-Flutemetamol PET following MRI measurements on an unselected prospective cohort collected from a memory clinic. A total of 84 participants was included in this study. A stepwise study design was performed including initial analysis (based on clinical assessments), interim analysis (revision of initial analysis post-MRI) and final analysis (revision of interim analysis post-18F-Flutemetamol PET).

A mHealth-Supported Volunteer-Assisted Spiritual Well-Being Intervention for Discharged Older Patients: A Tripartite Collaboration.

Spiritual well-being (SWB) is a key construct in a holistic health model. This study applied a theory-driven mobile health-supported volunteer-assisted self-help (mVS) intervention to enhance SWB for discharged older patients through a medical-social-academia tripartite collaboration. This study followed a quasi-experimental design, conducted from 2017 to 2019.

Effectiveness of a Two-Tier Family-Oriented Intervention in Enhancing the Family Functioning and Care Capacity of the Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Stroke has profound impacts on families. Often, family members, including stroke survivors and the person who takes up the role of the primary caregiver, would encounter demands on finances, rehabilitation arrangement, and even conflicts. Hence, a family-oriented intervention is expected to enable families to rebuild internal and external resources to achieve optimal rehabilitation and community reintegration.

Heterogeneity of Amyloid Binding in Cognitively Impaired Patients Consecutively Recruited from a Memory Clinic: Evaluating the Utility of Quantitative 18F-Flutemetamol PET-CT in Discrimination of Mild Cognitive Impairment from Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.

Background: With the more widespread use of 18F-radioligand-based amyloid-β (Aβ) PET-CT imaging, we evaluated Aβ binding and the utility of neocortical 18F-Flutemetamol standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) as a biomarker.

Objective: 18F-Flutemetamol SUVR was used to differentiate 1) mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 2) MCI from other non-AD dementias (OD).

Methods: 109 patients consecutively recruited from a University memory clinic underwent clinical evaluation, neuropsychological test, MRI and 18F-Flutemetamol PET-CT.

Prevalence of cognitive impairment among peritoneal dialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), but it is under-recognized and systematic review on its prevalence and impact across different geographical locations or patient characteristics is lacking.

Methods: A search of the literature on CI in PD patients published between 1 Jan 1980 and 25April 2019 was conducted. Meta-analysis using a random effects model was performed to determine the pooled estimate of the prevalence of CI.

Prevalence and risk factors of delirium and subsyndromal delirium in Chinese older adults.

Aim: To study the prevalence and risk factors of delirium and subsyndromal delirium (SSD) in Chinese older adults with acute medical illnesses.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out in acute general medical wards in a university-affiliated hospital in Hong Kong. Patients were assessed by the confusion assessment method by geriatricians within 6 h after admission and classified into three mutually exclusive groups, namely delirium, SSD and those without both conditions.

Self-Care Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with Cognitive Impairment Have a Higher Risk of Peritonitis in the Second Year.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is common among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). We hypothesize that cognitive impairment has a negative impact on the outcome of patients on PD, especially with regard to peritonitis.

Methods: This was a single-center 2-year prospective cohort study involving 206 patients at 1 PD unit.

Immunogenicity and safety of intradermal trivalent influenza vaccination in nursing home older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the immunogenicity and safety between full-dose (15 μg) intramuscular (i.m.) and full-dose (15 μg) intradermal (i.

Proactive infection control measures to prevent nosocomial transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in Hong Kong.

Background/purpose: The study describes a proactive infection control approach to prevent nosocomial transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and tests if this approach is effective for controlling multiple-drug resistant organisms in a nonendemic setting.

Methods: In response to the increasing prevalence of VRE in Hong Kong since 2011, we adopted a multifaceted assertive approach in our health care network. This included active surveillance culture, extensive contact tracing, directly observed hand hygiene in conscious patients before they received meals and medications, stringent hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness, and an immediate feedback antimicrobial stewardship program.

Association between body mass index and cause-specific mortality as well as hospitalization in frail Chinese older adults.

Aim: A U-shaped relationship between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality has been reported, but there are few studies examining the association between BMI and cause-specific mortality and hospitalization. We carried out a longitudinal study to examine these associations in Chinese older adults with multiple comorbidities, which could provide a reference for the recommended BMI in this population.

Methods: From 2004 to 2013, a retrospective cohort of Chinese older adults was selected from a geriatric day hospital in Hong Kong.

Effectiveness of influenza vaccination in institutionalized older adults: a systematic review.

Introduction: Influenza infection is common among institutionalized older adults. Many nonrandomized observational studies on influenza vaccination suggested that it could reduce influenza-related hospitalizations and mortality in institutionalized older adults. Criticism regarding the effectiveness of influenza vaccine estimated by nonrandomized observational studies include the frailty selection bias and use of nonspecific outcome, such as all-cause mortality.

Development and validation of the Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Chronic Care.

This study aims to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Chronic Care (CHLCC). This is a methodological study with a sample of 262 patients 65 years of age and older who had chronic illnesses. Pearson's correlation, independent sample t tests, and analyses of variance were used.

Validation study of Charlson Comorbidity Index in predicting mortality in Chinese older adults.

Aim: The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is commonly studied for predicting mortality, but there is no validation study of it in Chinese older adults. The objective of the present study was to validate the use of CCI in Chinese older adults for predicting mortality.

Method: We carried out a retrospective cohort study from 2004 to 2013 for patients discharged from a geriatric day hospital in Hong Kong.

Efficacy of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination in reducing mortality and hospitalization in Chinese nursing home older adults.

Objective: To examine the clinical efficacy of the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination among Chinese older adults residing in a nursing home.

Design: A 12-month prospective cohort study. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on their own choice on vaccination of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine: vaccinated group and unvaccinated group.