Non-mitotic proliferation of malignant cancer cells revealed through live-cell imaging of primary and cell-line cultures.

Introduction: Anti-mitosis has been a key strategy of anti-cancer therapies, targeting at a fundamental property of cancer cells, their non-controllable proliferation due to overactive mitotic divisions. For improved anti-cancer therapies, it is important to find out whether cancer cells can proliferate independent of mitosis and become resistant to anti-mitotic agents.

Results: In this study, live-cell imaging was applied to both primary-cultures of tumor cells, and immortalized cancer cell lines, to detect aberrant proliferations.

Exploiting dietary fibre and the gut microbiota in pelvic radiotherapy patients.

With an ageing population, there is an urgent need to find alternatives to current standard-of-care chemoradiation schedules in the treatment of pelvic malignancies. The gut microbiota may be exploitable, having shown a valuable role in improving patient outcomes in anticancer immunotherapy. These bacteria feed on dietary fibres, which reach the large intestine intact, resulting in the production of beneficial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids.

Combined effects of artificial dermis and vascular endothelial growth factor concentration gradient on wound healing in diabetic porcine model.

Wounds in patients with diabetes mellitus are one of the most prevalent impaired wounds in the world. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important proangiogenic mediators. Artificial dermal (AD) such as Pelnac has been shown, in humans and animal models, a great therapeutic potential in full-thickness skin wounds.

Applying the pre-intentional phase of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) Model to investigate factors associated with intention on consistent condom use with various types of female sex partners among males who inject drugs in China.

Both drug injection and sexual transmission are the primary drivers of the HIV epidemic in China. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of intention of consistent condom use during sexual intercourse with female regular partners (RP), non-regular partners (NRP) and sex workers (FSW) among male people who inject drugs (PWID)in China. A total of 529 male non-institutionalized PWID aged 18-45 years with negative/unknown HIV status were recruited by multiple methods in Dazhou and Hengyang, China.

Mechanism of Action of Two Flavone Isomers Targeting Cancer Cells with Varying Cell Differentiation Status.

Apoptosis can be triggered in two different ways, through the intrinsic or the extrinsic pathway. The intrinsic pathway is mediated by the mitochondria via the release of cytochrome C while the extrinsic pathway is prompted by death receptor signals and bypasses the mitochondria. These two pathways are closely related to cell proliferation and survival signaling cascades, which thereby constitute possible targets for cancer therapy.

Relationship between sexual compulsivity and sexual risk behaviors among Chinese sexually active males.

Compulsivity is defined as "an insistent, repetitive, intrusive, and unwanted urge to perform specific acts often in ritualized or routinized fashions." Sexual compulsivity has been shown to be associated with some high risk sexual behaviors related to HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI). In some Western countries, the 10-item Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) has been developed to assess people's sexual compulsivity but no Chinese version has been validated.

Condoms used but sex not well protected.

Condom use is often equated to safer sex. The prevalence of condom use during sex work among female sex workers (FSW) in China is high. Condom use, however, co-exists with condom failure and improper use and hence risk of HIV transmission.

Development and validation of the Chinese Attitudes to Starting Insulin Questionnaire (Ch-ASIQ) for primary care patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese questionnaire which assesses the barriers and enablers to commencing insulin in primary care patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Method: Questionnaire items were identified using literature review. Content validation was performed and items were further refined using an expert panel.

Coverage and parental perceptions of influenza vaccination among parents of children aged 6 to 23 months in Hong Kong.

Background: The impact of influenza on young children can be severe and even fatal. Influenza vaccination (IV) has been shown to be effective in reducing complications of influenza among children. This study investigated the prevalence and factors of IV among children aged 6-23 months in Hong Kong.

Prevalence and associated factors of intention to participate in HIV voluntary counseling and testing for the first time among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong, China.

Objective: We investigated the prevalence and associated factors of men who have sex with men (MSM) and had never participated in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) but intended to do so in the next six months.

Method: An anonymous cross-sectional survey interviewed 577 MSM in Hong Kong, China, face-to-face or through an electronic questionnaire.

Results: We identified 245 MSM who had never participated in VCT (never-testers), among whom 12.

World Cup's impact on mental health and lifestyle behaviors in the general population: comparing results of 2 serial population-based surveys.

Objectives: This study compares the prevalence of health-related behaviors and mental health well-being in the Hong Kong general male population before and after the 2006 World Cup finals.

Study Design: Two anonymous, serial, comparable cross-sectional surveys.

Methods: A total of 500 and 530 adult Chinese men, respectively, were interviewed in 2 telephone surveys before and after the finals.

A pilot clustered randomized control trial evaluating the efficacy of a network-based HIV peer-education intervention targeting men who have sex with men in Hong Kong, China.

HIV is a serious health threat among men who have sex with men (MSM). A 2-month pilot network-based peer intervention was conducted among Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. Eight MSM peer educators were randomized into the Intervention or the Control Groups and recruited 36 and 33 peers to join the program, respectively.

Awareness and acceptability of female condoms among monogamous Hong Kong Chinese female sexually transmitted infection patients.

Female condom is an effective means of HIV prevention. Monogamous female sexually transmitted infection (STI) patients are exposed indirectly to high risk of contracting HIV/STI via their sole male sex partners. There are few interventions to protect such women whilst female condom use is a potential means of self-protection.

Prevalence and factors associated with condom use among Chinese monogamous female patients with sexually transmitted infection in Hong Kong.

Introduction: Monogamous female sexually transmitted infection (STI) patients are at high risk of recurrent STI, but there is no study investigating their risk behaviors.

Aim: We investigated the prevalence of male condom use and associated factors among monogamous STI female patients.

Main Outcome Measures: Independent variables included socio-demographic characteristics, STI history, nature of relationship, and cognitions (Health Belief Model).

Prevalence and associated factors of condom use during commercial sex by female sex workers who were or were not injecting drug users in China.

Objectives: We compared the prevalence of inconsistent condom use during commercial sex between female sex workers (FSWs) who did or did not inject drugs (FSW-IDUs and FSW-NIDUs) and investigated factors associated with this inconsistent use within these two groups.

Methods: Some 158 FSW-NIDUs recruited from sex work venues and 218 FSW-IDUs recruited via the snowball sampling method were interviewed anonymously.

Results: Only 16.

Prevalence and determinants of influenza vaccination in the Hong Kong Chinese adult population.

Background: The study examined the prevalence and associated factors of influenza vaccination (IV) among the general adult population in Hong Kong.

Methods: A population-based, random telephone survey interviewed 1,102 Hong Kong Chinese adults aged 18-64 years old in 2006.

Results: Of all study participants, 95.

Prevalence of seasonal influenza vaccination and associated factors in people with chronic diseases in Hong Kong.

Chronic disease patients are at high risk of developing serious influenza-related complications. This study investigated the prevalence of seasonal influenza vaccination (IV) and associated factors in such patients. A random sample of 704 Chinese adults with chronic disease was anonymously interviewed by telephone; 35·8% of them had ever taken up IV and 22·7% did so during the last flu season.

A simple new method to triangulate self-reported risk behavior data--the bean method.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted disease (STD)-related interventions rely on self-reported risk behavioral data, which are biased toward social desirability. It is warranted to develop methods for data triangulation.

Methods: Some questions on HIV/STD-related behaviors that were asked in 5 face-to-face (FTF) surveys were repeated at the end of the surveys, using the newly developed bean method (BM), which requested participants to transfer a bean of a particular color from a large jar to a smaller one, depending on whether the answer was affirmative (yellow, white, green, or red) or not (black); both jars contained 500 mixed-up colored beans.