Publications by authors named "Ka Leung"

Recognizing and addressing vulnerability during the first thousand days of life can prevent health inequities. It is necessary to determine the best data for predicting multidimensional vulnerability (i.e.

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Introduction: To minimise adverse health events among older adults, physical activity (PA) is considered one of the most fundamental and effective forms of lifestyle. Therefore, an urgent effort to promote a physically active lifestyle among our older adults is needed, in which walking could be a better choice, especially for mass promotion. Besides, the types of PA interventions were also shown to affect their effectiveness on older adults' psychosocial outcomes.

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Introduction: Urine cytology is robust for the diagnosis of urothelial lesions, but data on the detection rates of prostatic adenocarcinoma in urine cytology is limited. In this study, a multicenter review was performed to define the clinical role of urine cytology in diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Cytologic diagnoses of lower tract urine cytology specimens with histology-proven prostatic adenocarcinoma from three institutions, from a period of over two decades, were reviewed.

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  • The study investigates the presence of an electric field in twisted-bilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS) and its connection to local polar domains using advanced imaging techniques and computational methods.
  • It uncovers the formation of in-plane topological vortices in structured patterns at different twist angles, particularly at small angles and a 30° twist, which generates intricate chiral vortex designs.
  • The research emphasizes that manipulating the twist in 2D bilayers opens up new possibilities for controlling electric polar vortices at a very small scale.
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  • This systematic review evaluates the role of intraperitoneal pressure measurements in predicting complications and gastrointestinal symptoms in Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients suffering from End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD).
  • A total of 12 studies were analyzed, revealing a positive correlation between intraperitoneal pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Surface Area (BSA), but less consistent results related to age and other factors.
  • While the findings suggest a potential link between higher intraperitoneal pressure and BMI/BSA, the impact on non-infectious complications remains unclear, with noted limitations in the studies analyzed.
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  • A two-year study in the South China Sea has deepened knowledge about marine microbes, revealing their adaptability and complex interactions through metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.
  • Seasonal changes significantly affect microbial communities, with cyanobacteria dominating in warmer months and photosynthetic protists in colder ones, while photosynthesis processes remain active year-round despite these shifts.
  • The study highlights how environmental factors, especially temperature and salinity, shape microbial dynamics, and identifies 37 phytoplankton metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) showcasing their genetic diversity and metabolic capabilities tailored to changing environments.
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Background And Objectives: Social frailty is an emerging concept characterized by state of vulnerability due to the lack or absence of social resources that enable health and well-being, particularly among older people. However, there is no consensus on how to accurately measure and assess social frailty, given the broad coverage of social dimensions affecting older individuals. This scoping review aimed to identify the existing tools and scales used to measure social frailty in older people.

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The emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the ecosystem are global public health concerns. One Health emphasizes the interconnectivity between different habitats and seeks to optimize animal, human, and environmental health. However, information on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within complex microbiomes in natural habitats is scarce.

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Reactive oxygen species (ROS) including the superoxide anion (O) are typically studied in cell cultures using fluorescent dyes, which provide only discrete single-point measurements. These methods lack the capabilities for assessing O kinetics and release in a quantitative manner over long monitoring times. Herein, we present the fabrication and application of an electrochemical biosensor that enables real-time continuous monitoring of O release in cell cultures for extended periods (> 8 h) using an O specific microelectrode.

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COVID-19 continues to spread around the world. This is mainly because new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge due to genomic mutations, evade the immune system and result in the effectiveness of current therapeutics being reduced. We previously established a series of detection platforms, comprising computational docking analysis, S-protein-based ELISA, pseudovirus entry, and 3CL protease activity assays, which allow us to screen a large library of phytochemicals from natural products and to determine their potential in blocking the entry of SARS-CoV-2.

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The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the largest global epidemic in recent time. Chinese medicine has been recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for COVID-19, but there is still a lack of high-quality randomized, double-blind trials using placebo as the control to support its application, which may hinder its further promotion locally and internationally. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yinqiao Powder-Maxing Ganshi Decoction with variation in relieving major symptoms of mild and moderate COVID-19 by telemedicine.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, contact tracing was used to identify individuals who had been in contact with a confirmed case so that these contacted individuals could be tested and quarantined to prevent further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Many countries developed mobile apps to find these contacted individuals faster. We evaluate the epidemiological effectiveness of the Dutch app CoronaMelder, where we measure effectiveness as the reduction of the reproduction number R.

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  • - The study assessed barriers faced by healthcare workers in British Columbia that hinder their adherence to infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a web survey conducted with 2,488 respondents.
  • - Key obstacles identified included inadequate staffing (58%), limited space in staff rooms (57%), multibed room setups (51%), and unclear messaging regarding IPAC protocols (51%).
  • - Suggestions for improvement included increased support from IPAC leadership and better communication about IPAC requirements, which aim to enhance safety measures for both patients and staff in healthcare settings.
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PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression, yet their molecular functions in neurobiology are unclear. While investigating neurodegeneration mechanisms using human α-syn(A53T) and Aβ;α-syn(A53T) pan-neuronal overexpressing strains, we unexpectedly observed dysregulation of piRNAs. RNAi screening revealed that knock down of piRNA biogenesis genes improved thrashing behavior; further, a tofu-1 gene deletion ameliorated phenotypic deficits in α-syn(A53T) and Aβ;α-syn(A53T) transgenic strains.

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Although glucose intolerance is prevalent in Macau, it is rarely assessed during pregnancy. This study examined short-term maternal and neonatal outcomes at different maternal glucose levels in Macau. A total of 2388 pregnant women who received antenatal care at Health Centers and delivered at the Centro Hospitalar Conde de São Januário between June 2018 and December 2019 were included in this study.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted long-term care and assisted living (LTC/AL) facilities in Canada, where infection prevention and control (IPAC) programs had been suboptimal. We aimed to identify barriers affecting healthcare workers' (HCW) adherence to IPAC practices during the pandemic in British Columbia in LTC/AL compared to acute care settings.

Methods: We conducted a web-based survey of direct care providers and IPAC professionals across BC from August to September 2021, focused on knowledge and attitudes toward IPAC within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and barriers that affected respondents' abilities to follow IPAC practices throughout the pandemic.

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Emerging non-noble metal 2D catalysts, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS), hold great promise in hydrogen evolution reactions. The sulfur vacancy is recognized as a key defect type that can activate the inert basal plane to improve the catalytic performance. Unfortunately, the method of introducing sulfur vacancies is limited and requires costly post-treatment processes.

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Introduction: While occupational therapy home assessments are effective to identify environmental falls risk factors, patients may not receive these services due to workforce distribution and geographical distances. Technology may offer a new way for occupational therapists to conduct home assessments to identify environmental fall risks.

Objectives: To (i) explore the feasability of identifying environmental risk factors using smartphone technology, (ii) develop and pilot a suite of procedures for taking smartphone images and (iii) examine the inter-rater reliability and content validity between occupational therapists when assessing smartphone images using a standardised assessment tool.

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Aim: We aimed to report the epidemiology of OHCA, bystander CPR pattern and other Utstein factors in a region in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we studied the relationship between COVID-19 incidence, OHCA incidence and survival outcome.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that used data from our registry to compare features of OHCA during pre-pandemic (Jan 2018 to Dec 2019), low-incidence pandemic (Jan 2020 to Dec 2021) and high-incidence pandemic (Jan to Mar 2022).

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Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the current global pandemic of which residual symptoms exhibited by post-acute, rehabilitating patients include fatigue, dyspnoea, and insomnia. Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used in China to treat different stages of COVID-19. While there are a significant number of clinical studies suggesting its efficacy and safety in its use during acute stage, there are very few randomized controlled trials focusing on the rehabilitation stage.

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The scalable 2D device fabrication and integration demand either the large-area synthesis or the post-synthesis transfer of 2D layers. While the direct synthesis of 2D materials on most targeted surfaces remains challenging, the transfer approach from the growth substrate onto the targeted surfaces offers an alternative pathway for applications and integrations. However, the current transfer techniques for 2D materials predominantly involve polymers and organic solvents, which are liable to contaminate or deform the ultrasensitive atomic layers.

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COVID-19, derived from SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in millions of deaths and caused unprecedented socioeconomic damage since its outbreak in 2019. Although the vaccines developed against SARS-CoV-2 provide some protection, they have unexpected side effects in some people. Furthermore, new viral mutations reduce the effectiveness of the current vaccines.

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Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an upper airways chronic inflammatory disease mediated by IgE, which affects 10%-20% of the population. The mainstay for allergic rhinitis nowadays include steroids and antihistamines, but their effects are less than ideal. Many patients therefore seek Chinese medicine for treatment and Yupingfeng Powder is one of the most common formulae prescribed.

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Background: This prospective study assesses symptoms 3 months after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection compared to test-negative and population controls, and the effect of vaccination prior to infection.

Methods: Participants enrolled after a positive (cases) or negative (test-negative controls) SARS-CoV-2 test, or after invitation from the general population (population controls). After 3 months, participants indicated presence of 41 symptoms and severity of 4 symptoms.

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