Publications by authors named "Gladys Lai-Ying Cheing"
Article Synopsis
- The study explored how chest wall mobilization affects exercise capacity and respiratory muscle function in men with severe COPD.
- Participants (30 males, average age 75) were divided into a chest wall mobilization group and a control group, both receiving exercise education, but only the CWMG received additional mobilization treatments.
- Results showed that the CWMG had significantly improved exercise tolerance, reduced muscle activity during tests, and maintained these benefits three months after the program, highlighting the potential advantages of chest wall mobilization in COPD rehabilitation.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to compare macular thickness measurements using two imaging methods (OCT and OCTA) in diabetic patients.
- Despite similar macular thickness readings in most areas, the OCTA method provided quicker scans with less fixation deviation compared to OCT.
- Using OCTA may enhance patient comfort and streamline clinical processes by reducing the need for additional scanning methods.
Article Synopsis
- The study validated the Knee Osteoarthritis Fears and Beliefs Questionnaire (KOFBeQ) for Chinese patients, focusing on understanding fear-avoidance behaviors.
- A sample of 241 participants (mostly women, average age 68) was analyzed, resulting in an 11-item questionnaire with three subscales related to fears about doctors and disease, daily activities, and leisure/sports.
- The KOFBeQ demonstrated strong internal consistency, high reliability, and good model fit, making it a valuable tool for improving care and rehabilitation for knee osteoarthritis patients in China.
Role of exosomes and exosomal microRNA in muscle-Kidney crosstalk in chronic kidney disease.
Front Cell Dev Biol
September 2022
Article Synopsis
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to kidney damage that impairs blood filtration and can cause life-threatening complications, including skeletal muscle wasting.
- Exosomes, which are small vesicles released by cells, may play a role in the communication between kidneys and skeletal muscle in CKD, but this relationship is not fully understood.
- Recent research highlights the potential of exosomes as therapeutic targets for CKD, emphasizing the need to explore their contents and release mechanisms.
Indentation Stiffness Measurement by an Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Air-Jet Indentation System Can Reflect Type I Collagen Abundance and Organisation in Diabetic Wounds.
Harry Ming Chun Choi Alex Kwok-Kuen Cheung Michelle Chun Har Ng Yongping Zheng Yih-Kuen Jan Gladys Lai Ying Cheing
Front Bioeng Biotechnol
March 2021
Article Synopsis
- There is a need for effective and non-invasive tools to assess diabetic foot ulcers.
- The study found a relationship between indentation stiffness measured in diabetic wounds and the abundance and organization of type I collagen, which is crucial for wound healing.
- Results indicate that optical coherence tomography-based air-jet indentation could provide a valuable method for monitoring diabetic wound healing in clinical and research settings.
Effect of EMG-biofeedback robotic-assisted body weight supported treadmill training on walking ability and cardiopulmonary function on people with subacute spinal cord injuries - a randomized controlled trial.
Eddy Yu Yeung Cheung Kevin Ka Ki Yu Rachel Lai Chu Kwan Carmen Ka Man Ng Rosanna Mei Wa Chau Gladys Lai Ying Cheing
BMC Neurol
June 2019
Article Synopsis
- Body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) is commonly used for helping people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) regain their walking abilities, but traditional methods can be limited due to therapist and patient fatigue.
- A study involving 16 individuals with incomplete SCI tested the effectiveness of robotic-assisted BWSTT (RABWSTT) combined with an EMG biofeedback system, leading to significant improvements in walking and cardiopulmonary functions compared to a control group.
- The findings suggest that the addition of EMG-biofeedback to RABWSTT not only enhances walking performance but also boosts cardiovascular health in individuals with SCI.
Article Synopsis
- Recent studies indicate pulsed electromagnetic field (EMF) therapy may benefit dementia, but its biological impacts are not well understood; this study evaluated its effects on dementia in rats.
- Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, saline (sham), STZ-injected, and STZ injected with pulsed EMF; cognitive abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze, and IGF gene expressions were measured.
- Results showed a significant improvement in learning and memory in rats exposed to pulsed EMF, indicating a potential therapeutic role for pulsed EMF in cognitive impairment, linked to changes in IGF-2 gene expression.
Article Synopsis
- The study reviewed the effectiveness of various biophysical energies (BPEs) in treating diabetic foot ulcers by analyzing published cell studies and animal experiments from 1966 to 2018.
- Among the BPEs examined were electrical stimulation (ES), pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), extracorporeal shockwave (ECSW), photo energies, and ultrasound (US), with a total of 82 studies selected for analysis.
- Findings indicated that PEMF and low-level laser therapy (LLL) significantly reduced original wound size compared to controls, while ultrasound showed no significant effect; however, the researchers call for more rigorous, well-designed studies to validate these results due to the variability in existing trials.
Article Synopsis
- A study evaluated the effectiveness of an exercise program aimed at improving postural control and mobility in older adults aged 65 and above with type 2 diabetes, involving 93 participants.
- The intervention group engaged in ankle strengthening and mobility exercises twice a week for 10 weeks, resulting in significantly better scores in various balance tests compared to the control group.
- The findings suggest that targeted ankle exercises can enhance postural stability and potentially improve balance and mobility in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on blood circulation in the skin of patients with diabetes and healthy individuals.
- PEMFs significantly increased blood flow velocity in the smallest veins compared to sham treatment, suggesting a positive effect on microcirculation.
- However, no significant changes were observed in vein diameter or overall microcirculation between the two groups, indicating that while PEMFs may enhance circulation, their effects might not be uniform across all measures.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) affect collagen fiber in diabetic wound healing.
- 40 male diabetic rats were used in the experiment, with one group receiving PEMF treatment and the other serving as a control, to observe changes over a set period.
- Results showed that PEMF significantly increased the amount of type I collagen fibers at day 7, linked to a higher presence of myofibroblasts, although no differences were noted in collagen alignment or orientation over time.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the impact of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on healing chronic diabetic foot ulcers and improving microcirculation.
- A clinical trial involving 13 patients with type 2 diabetes divided into active PEMF and control groups showed that the PEMF group had greater reductions in wound size and enhanced blood flow compared to the control group.
- Results indicated that PEMF therapy not only accelerated healing (18% wound size reduction vs. 10%) but also significantly improved microcirculation, suggesting it is a beneficial treatment option for diabetic foot ulcers.
Article Synopsis
- The study tested a new ultrasound foot scanner to measure the thickness and stiffness of soft tissue in healthy individuals while they were sitting and standing.
- Results showed high reliability in measurements, with significant changes in thickness (10-14% thinner) and stiffness (123-164% stiffer) when moving from sitting to standing.
- The device could be useful in clinical settings to assess foot health, particularly for the elderly or diabetic patients at risk for foot complications.
Article Synopsis
- Older adults with type 2 diabetes show poorer mobility compared to those without diabetes, linked to weaker ankle muscle strength and reduced joint range.
- The study involved 85 older adults assessing their mobility using tests like the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and measuring ankle characteristics such as proprioception and strength.
- Key findings revealed that factors like age, body mass index, ankle strength, and proprioception greatly influence mobility, accounting for nearly 60% of the variance in mobility performance.
Article Synopsis
- Reduced collagen deposition in diabetic wounds slows their recovery, but myofibroblasts aid in closure and collagen synthesis during healing.
- Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) treatment was examined for its effects on wound healing in diabetic rats, where it significantly improved wound closure and re-epithelialization by increasing myofibroblast presence.
- The study found that while PEMF treatment showed benefits in the early stages of wound healing, these effects diminished as the healing process continued, suggesting a potential role of myofibroblasts in enhancing recovery.
Article Synopsis
- Vascular complications in diabetes increase over time, prompting a study to compare peripheral blood flow among individuals with short (≤10 years) and long (>10 years) diabetes histories against healthy controls.
- Thirty-two type 2 diabetes patients and thirty-eight healthy volunteers participated, with blood flow measured using ultrasound biomicroscopy and Laser Doppler Flowmetry.
- Although no significant differences were found among the groups in terms of blood flow, those with a long history of diabetes showed a trend toward reduced blood flow compared to healthy controls, suggesting that noticeable angiopathy may start around the ten-year mark of diabetes.
Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain in Hong Kong, and to identify factors associated with work resumption.
Methods: 57 men and 8 women aged 20 to 56 (mean, 39) years who had a more than 3-month history of low back pain and were unresponsive to more than 6 months of conventional treatment participated in a 14-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme involving physical conditioning, work conditioning, and work readiness. Training protocols entailed flexibility and endurance training, hydrotherapy, weight lifting, and work stimulation.
The effect of aging on the biomechanical properties of plantar soft tissues.
Clin Biomech (Bristol)
July 2010
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how the biomechanical properties of plantar soft tissues change with age in healthy adults aged 41 to 83.
- The researchers used ultrasound to measure the thickness and stiffness of these tissues at various points on the foot and found that both stiffness and thickness generally increased with age.
- The findings suggest that increased stiffness in the plantar soft tissues may contribute to more foot problems in older adults, indicating potential areas for preventive care.
The use of auricular examination for screening hepatic disorders.
J Acupunct Meridian Stud
March 2009
Article Synopsis
- This study explored the effectiveness of auricular examination (AE) as a diagnostic tool for detecting liver disorders.
- Twenty patients with liver dysfunction and 25 healthy controls were evaluated using three AE methods: visual inspection, electrical skin resistance measurement, and tenderness testing.
- Significant differences were noted in visual inspection and electrical skin resistance between the two groups, suggesting that abnormal ear characteristics may indicate liver issues.
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the effectiveness of 904-nm low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in treating lateral epicondylitis, a condition causing pain and reduced grip strength in the elbow.
- Thirty-nine patients participated, receiving either active laser treatment or a placebo across nine sessions, with various outcomes measured like pain levels and grip strength.
- Results indicated that those receiving LLLT showed significantly greater improvements in pain relief and grip strength, suggesting it is an effective treatment option alongside exercise for this condition.