Publications by authors named "Kwan C"

L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) remains the main treatment for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, chronic use is associated with the development of complications such as L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. We previously demonstrated that LY-487,379, a highly selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) positive allosteric modulator (PAM), reduces the severity of L-DOPA-induced abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of PD, without interfering with the anti-parkinsonian action of L-DOPA.

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Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination could reduce HPV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM), but the published statistics on HPV vaccination uptake in MSM were scarce globally. This study estimated the uptake and profiled the service preferences of HPV vaccination of Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. Adult MSM were recruited through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and online channels for completing an online baseline survey.

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Purpose: To develop and pilot-test a novel training programme for nurses in acute care settings to improve their decision-making support skills, knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in conducting advance care planning (ACP).

Methods: A single-group repeated measures design was employed. This study was conducted in two phases.

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  • Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is an esophageal disorder with a high integrated relaxation pressure, and while symptoms are usually self-limiting, this study investigates factors that affect symptom resolution.
  • A cohort study of 53 patients revealed that while dysphagia and atypical chest pain were common symptoms, obesity was a significant risk factor for persistent symptoms, with only 37.5% of obese patients seeing resolution compared to 87.2% of non-obese patients.
  • The study emphasizes that addressing obesity may be crucial for improving outcomes in patients with functional EGJOO, as it significantly impacts the likelihood of symptom resolution.
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  • 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.
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Objective: This study examined the views of secondary school students on sexuality and sexual health education in Hong Kong, China.

Methods: A total of 818 secondary school students (mean age = 15.3 years, SD = 1.

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The Resident Support Network (RSN) is a formal network of residents and medical faculty, with additional training and resources in resident wellness. RSN is accessible to residents to approach with their wellness concerns. It aims to support residents during a period of medical training that is associated with high trainee burnout rates.

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A 1,8-naphthalimide-based tripodal fluorescent ligand (L3) was synthesized through the copper (I) catalyzed Huisgen azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction of 2-(2-azidoethyl)-6-morpholino-1 H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2 H)-dione with triproparagylamine. Naphthalimide acts as the fluorophore while the triazole and amine nitrogens chelate the metal ion. L3 showed a selective fluorescence turn-off for Cu(II) over other metal ions in aqueous acetonitrile solution.

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Objective: The objective is to describe the experiences and perceptions of caregivers who participated in a community systems navigator intervention that addressed unmet social needs.

Design, Setting And Patients: A qualitative descriptive study with caregivers of children enrolled in a clinical trial addressing unmet social needs of families with children cared for in a tertiary pediatric weight management clinic, through community systems navigation. Participants were asked open-ended questions related to perceptions of social needs screening in clinical settings.

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Background: Neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB) is a distressing condition in stroke. Existing neurogenic OAB management is expensive, unstandardized regimens, or invasive. Evaluating the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) remains crucial.

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Purpose: To compare outcomes of ab-interno canaloplasty and trabeculotomy of the superior versus inferior angle.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective, non-randomized, interventional comparison study done at the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Long Beach, California. All patients underwent cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation combined with ab-interno canaloplasty and trabeculotomy with the OMNI Surgical System (SightSciences, Menlo Park, CA, USA), either superiorly or inferiorly.

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  • Activation of metabotropic glutamate 2 (mGlu) receptors shows promise as a new treatment for parkinsonism, with the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) LY-487,379 demonstrating effectiveness in primates.
  • The study tested a different mGlu PAM, BINA, and found that it significantly reduced parkinsonism symptoms in MPTP-lesioned marmosets, achieving comparable results to high doses of L-DOPA.
  • BINA not only decreased parkinsonism but also significantly reduced dyskinesia and psychosis-like behaviors, indicating that mGlu modulation could provide anti-parkinsonian benefits independent of specific chemical structures.
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  • The study investigates the effects of specific metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists and modulators when used alongside L-DOPA in marmosets with Parkinson's disease symptoms.
  • Results showed that LY-404,039 and CBiPES significantly reduced bradykinesia and improved posture, while also enhancing alertness compared to other treatments.
  • These findings suggest that targeting mGluR may offer new therapeutic options for improving Parkinson's symptoms when used in conjunction with L-DOPA.
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The two-dimensional (2-D) Janus and amphiphilic molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheet with opposite optical activities on each side (amphichiral) is synthesized by modifying sandwich-like bulk MoS with tannic acid and cholesterol through biphasic emulsion method. This new type of amphichiral Janus MoS nanosheet consists of a hydrophilic and positive optical activity tannic acid side as well as a hydrophobic and negative optical activity cholesterol side thereby characterized by circular dichroism. Surface-directed orientational differentiation assemblies are performed for the as-synthesized 2D material and are characterized by contact angle, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron, and circular dichroism spectroscopies.

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There is mounting evidence that positive allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate type 2 receptors (mGluR) is an efficacious approach to reduce the severity of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia, psychosis-like behaviours (PLBs), while conferring additional anti-parkinsonian benefit. However, the mGluR positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) tested so far, LY-487,379 and CBiPES, share a similar chemical scaffold. Here, we sought to assess whether similar benefits would be conferred by a structurally-distinct mGluR PAM, biphenylindanone A (BINA).

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Background: Excessive use of short-acting β2 agonists (SABA) in patients with asthma continues to be a notable concern due to its link to higher mortality rates. Global relevance of SABA overuse in asthma management cannot be understated, it poses significant health risk to patients with asthma and imposes burden on healthcare systems. This study, as part of global SABINA progamme, aimed to describe the prescribing patterns and clinical outcomes associated with SABA use in the Chinese population.

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The genetic mechanisms of reproductive isolation have been widely investigated within Asian cultivated rice (); however, relevant genes between diverged species have been in sighted rather less. Herein, a gene showing selfish behavior was discovered in hybrids between the distantly related rice species and . The selfish allele in the locus impaired male fertility, discriminately eliminating pollens containing the allele from in heterozygotes (/).

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LY-404,039 is an orthosteric agonist at metabotropic glutamate 2 and 3 (mGlu 2/3 ) receptors, with a possible additional agonist effect at dopamine D 2 receptors. LY-404,039 and its pro-drug, LY-2140023, have previously been tested in clinical trials for psychiatric indications and could therefore be repurposed if they were shown to be efficacious in other conditions. We have recently demonstrated that the mGlu 2/3 orthosteric agonist LY-354,740 alleviated L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)-induced abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat without hampering the anti-parkinsonian action of L-DOPA.

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L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is the main treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) but with long term administration, motor complications such as dyskinesia are induced. Glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibition was shown to produce an anti-dyskinetic effect in parkinsonian rats and primates, coupled with an improvement in the anti-parkinsonian action of L-DOPA. The expression of GlyT1 in the brain in the dyskinetic state remains to be investigated.

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Article Synopsis
  • A unique case report details an unusual occurrence where fluid flowed backward from the nasopharynx to the eye area during surgery while the patient was under general anesthesia and in a specific body position.
  • The patient had no prior medical issues related to sinuses or eye ducts, highlighting the rarity of the incident.
  • This situation emphasizes the need for careful monitoring during surgery to prevent potential complications, even when no immediate problems arise.
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Purpose: There are limited data regarding outcomes after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for femur metastases, which was an exclusion criteria for the Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for the Comprehensive Treatment of Oligometastatic Cancers (SABR-COMET) trial. We aimed to characterize clinical outcomes from a large single institution experience.

Methods And Materials: Forty-eight patients with 53 lesions were consecutively treated with femur SBRT from May 2017 to June 2022.

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MRI-based prognostic evaluation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has historically used markers of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and feature tracking (FT)-derived left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS). Early data indicate that FT-derived left atrial strain (LAS) parameters, including reservoir, conduit, and booster, may also have prognostic roles in such patients. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the prognostic utility of LAS parameters, derived from MRI FT, in patients with ischemic or nonischemic DCM, including in comparison with the traditional parameters of LGE and LVGLS.

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Purpose: To evaluate outcomes of new adopters of the OMNI Surgical System (Sight Sciences, Inc.) by prospectively evaluating intermediate-term outcomes of patients operated by trainees.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective study of surgeries performed by trainees on patients with open angle glaucoma undergoing simultaneous cataract surgery and ab interno canaloplasty and trabeculotomy using the OMNI Surgical System.

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