Publications by authors named "Sharon Pang"

In July 2020, Hong Kong extended statutory paid maternity leave from ten weeks to fourteen weeks to align with International Labour Organization standards. We used the policy enactment as an observational natural experiment to assess the mental health implications of this policy change on probable postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores of 10 or higher) and postpartum emotional well-being. Using an opportunistic observational study design, we recruited 1,414 survey respondents with births before (August 1-December 10, 2020) and after (December 11, 2020-July 18, 2022) policy implementation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Vertebral compression fractures are common in older adults, and this study compares the effectiveness and safety of three surgical treatments: balloon kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, and SpineJack vertebral implant.
  • A multi-institutional review analyzed outcomes from 344 procedures, focusing on pain relief, restoration of vertebral body height, and changes in spinal curvature, assessing complications within 90 days post-surgery.
  • Results showed significant pain improvement across all treatments, but the SpineJack implant led to better outcomes in terms of worst pain, vertebral height restoration, and alignment than both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.
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Purpose: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of percutaneous biliary endoscopy (PBE) performed on patients ineligible for surgery or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review was conducted for all patients who underwent PBE at a single academic institution between June 2013 and February 2020; 39 patients underwent 58 choledochoscopy sessions, and 21 patients underwent 48 cholecystoscopy sessions. Choledochoscopy indications included stone removal (23 of 39 patients) or biliary stenosis evaluation (19 of 39 patients).

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Background: Asian American (AsAm) representation is lacking in conversations surrounding cultural humility in healthcare. We aimed to investigate US medical student perspectives on AsAm patient inclusion in cultural humility training in medical education.

Methods: This qualitative study analyzed free-text responses to an optional, open-ended question presented at the conclusion of an online survey assessing medical student experiences with and perceptions regarding AsAm patients in their medical education.

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This study examined the efficacy of internet-delivered cognitive and behavioural interventions for adults with chronic pain AND explored the role of clinical and study characteristics as moderators of treatment effects. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched to identify randomized controlled trials published up to October 2021. A meta-analysis of 36 studies (5778 participants) was conducted, which found small effect sizes for interference/disability (Hedges' g = 0.

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Background Caregivers provide critical support for patients with chronic diseases, including heart disease, but often experience caregiver stress that negatively impacts their health, quality of life, and patient outcomes. We aimed to inform health care teams on an evidence-based approach to supporting the caregivers of patients with heart disease. Methods and Results We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials written in English that evaluated interventions to support caregivers of patients with heart disease.

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Background: A small subset of patients with presumed idiopathic intracranial hypertension are found to have isolated internal jugular vein stenosis (IJVS).

Objective: To review the current interventions used in patients who present with intracranial hypertension secondary to IJVS.

Methods: In December 2020, we performed a literature search on Pubmed/Medline and Scopus databases for original articles studying surgical and endovascular interventions used for intracranial hypertension in the setting of internal jugular vein stenosis.

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Purpose: To evaluate trends in consulting fees from industry to US-based interventional radiologists from 2014 to 2018.

Methods: Payments to interventional radiologists from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018, were analyzed from the CMS Open Payments Database. Payment type, total consulting fee payments per year and total payment per physician, and aggregate payments per company were analyzed before and after adjustment for outliers.

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Transnasal swab testing for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 is well established. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocates swabbing either of the anterior nares, middle turbinate, or nasopharynx for specimen collection depending on available local resources. The purpose of this review is to investigate complications related to transnasal SARS-CoV-2 testing with specific attention to specimen collection site and swab approach.

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Bcl-xL, an antiapoptotic protein, is frequently overexpressed in cancer to promote survival of tumor cells. However, we have previously shown that Bcl-xL promotes migration, invasion, and metastasis independent of its antiapoptotic function in mitochondria. The pro-metastatic function of Bcl-xL may require its translocation into the nucleus.

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The SpineJack implant system was recently FDA approved for treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCF), however United States-based outcomes data is lacking. We sought to examine the safety and clinical outcomes following vertebral augmentation using the SpineJack implant for treatment of VCF in a U.S.

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Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) are a long-held legacy institution in academic medicine that enable medical providers and hospital administrators to learn from systemic and individual errors, thereby leading to improved medical care. Originally, this forum had 1 major role-education. The MMC evolved and a second key role was added: quality improvement.

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The receptor for hyaluronic acid-mediated motility (RHAMM) is upregulated in various cancers. We previously screened genes upregulated in human hepatocellular carcinomas for their metastatic function in a mouse model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) and identified that human RHAMM promoted liver metastasis. It was unknown whether RHAMM is upregulated in pancreatic cancer or contributes to its progression.

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In human studies and mouse models, the contributions of p53 and p16/p19 loss are well established in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Although loss of functional p53 pathway and loss of Ink4a/Arf in human pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PanNET) are identified, their direct roles in tumorigenesis of PACC and PanNET remain to be determined. Using transgenic mouse models expressing the viral oncogene polyoma middle T antigen (PyMT), we demonstrate that p53 loss in pancreatic Pdx1+ progenitor cells results in aggressive PACC, whereas Ink4a/Arf loss results in PanNETs.

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Aim: To identify omissions in hand hygiene practice and glove use among hospital workers in Hong Kong.

Background: Hospital-acquired infection is the commonest complication affecting hospitalised patients. Even though research evidence suggests that hand hygiene and proper glove use are the most important ways to prevent the spread of disease and infection, compliance with both are reported to be unacceptably low.

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