Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Position Statement on the Use of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in the Management of Aortic Stenosis.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been established as an effective treatment modality in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and the uptake of TAVI is rapidly growing in the Asia-Pacific region. However, there exist a heterogeneity in the management of aortic stenosis and the use of TAVI among countries in the region. Reasons for these differences include anatomic variations, disparity in healthcare resources and infrastructure, and the lack of consensus on the optimal management of AS in the Asia-Pacific region.

Correction: Media representations of China's inclusive education: A corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Fostering holistic eye care for children with special educational needs: an interprofessional education program bridging optometry and education.

Purpose: This study outlines the initiation of an interprofessional education (IPE) program designed for optometry and education students. The program aimed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and improve the management of eye health in children with special educational needs (SEN) - a vulnerable and underserved group.

Methods: This program incorporated lectures and workshops to impart essential knowledge about SEN and to develop the necessary attitudes and skills for conducting eye examinations.

Music therapy improves engagement and initiation for autistic children with mild intellectual disabilities: A randomized controlled study.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy (MT) for children with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) and explore whether pre-intervention quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) responses can predict outcomes. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 33 children receiving MT and 34 receiving an active control therapy. Participants received either MT or a non-musical social skills intervention for 45 min weekly over 12 weeks.

Parents differ in their sensitivity to the environment: An investigation of the relationship between socioeconomic status, social support, and child maltreatment risks.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) and social support are widely examined factors of child maltreatment. However, it remains unclear whether these factors influence all parents equally.

Objective: Guided by the environmental sensitivity framework, we examined whether environmental sensitivity, a personality trait describing individuals' susceptibility to external environments, moderates the direct associations of SES and social support with maltreatment risks and their indirect associations via financial stress and psychological distress.

Building and testing of a robotic intervention framework to enhancing the social engagement of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Purpose: Humanoid robot intervention programmes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are being developed rapidly. This study aimed to develop and test a robotic intervention framework for children with ASD to ensure best practice.

Methods: In Phase I of this study, an initial framework was built based on a scoping review.

Facet joint septic arthritis: A review of cases.

Facet joint septic arthritis is a rare; yet, severe spinal infection often misdiagnosed due to its non-specific clinical presentation and radiological mimickers. This case series illustrates various clinical presentations, imaging features, and outcomes of patients with facet joint septic arthritis. We demonstrate different disease stages to aid clinicians and radiologists in recognizing this condition.

Exploring the effects of web-based psychological capitals training on teachers' PsyCap development, emotional stability, and support: Evidence from Chinese inclusive education.

Inclusive education for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has increasingly received attention nationwide in China. Schools realize that teachers are under stress and lack the skills to handle daily interactions with these students. So far, few studies have directed efforts to provide a remedy for teachers to improve their daily work.

Assessing the Relationship Between Teacher Inclusive Beliefs, Behaviors, and Competences of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

This study examined the associations between teachers' beliefs and behaviors related to inclusive education (IE) and their evaluations of social and academic competences in students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - important indicators of IE. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the research investigated how teachers' intentions to implement IE and their supportive practices affected the social and academic competences of students with ASD. The study involved 267 teachers from 78 mainstream secondary schools in Hong Kong.

Long-term mortality after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting and risk factors for mortality.

Background: Patients requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have multiple co-morbidities which need to be considered in totality when determining surgical risks. The objective of this study is to evaluate short-term and long-term mortality rates of CABG surgery, as well as to identify the most significant risk factors for mortality after isolated CABG.

Methods: All patients with complete dataset who underwent isolated CABG between January 2008 and December 2017 were included.

Effectiveness of a self-determination theory-based smoking cessation intervention plus instant messaging via mobile application for smokers with cancer: Protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Despite evidence that patients living with cancer who continue to smoke after diagnosis are at higher risk for all-cause mortality and reduced treatment efficacy, many cancer patients continue to smoke. This protocol is for a study to test the effectiveness of a self-determination theory-based intervention (quit immediately or progressively) plus instant messaging (WhatsApp or WeChat) to help smokers with cancer to quit smoking.

Design: This will be a multi-centre, two-arm (1:1), single-blind, pragmatic, individually randomized controlled trial.

Effects of loading positions on the activation of trunk and hip muscles during flywheel and dumbbell single-leg Romanian deadlift exercises.

The study compared the activities of the surface electromyography (sEMG) of trunk and hip muscles during single-leg Romanian deadlift (SLRDL) exercises using a flywheel and dumbbell with different loading positions (ipsilateral and contralateral). Twelve active male subjects with at least 2 years of strength training experience (age: 26.7 ± 3.

Remote learning and mental health during the societal lockdown: a study of primary school students and parents in times of COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges to families around the world. The prolonged school closures in Hong Kong have forced young students to stay at home and adapt to remote learning for over a year, putting their mental health conditions at risk. Focusing on primary school students and their parents, the main objective of our research is to investigate the socioemotional factors and their associations with mental health conditions.

Sex-Related Differences in Medically Treated Moderate Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Recent data showed poor long-term survival in patients with moderate AS. Although sex differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling and outcome are well described in severe AS, it has not been evaluated in moderate AS.

Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, patients with a first diagnosis of moderate AS diagnosed between 2001 and 2019 were identified.

Self-dehumanization and other-dehumanization toward students with special educational needs: examining their prevalence, consequences and identifying solutions-a study protocol.

Background: Students with special educational needs (SEN) often face dehumanization, which negatively impacts their mental health, daily functioning, and educational outcomes. This study seeks to address the research gap in dehumanization literature by examining the prevalence, dynamics, and consequences of self-dehumanization and other-dehumanization among SEN students. Moreover, by utilizing psychological experiments, the study aims to identify potential intervention strategies and make recommendations to minimize the negative psychological consequences derived from the dual model of dehumanization.

Hospital Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Hong Kong - The Trend from 2006 to 2014.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause for hospital admission. This study aims to review the hospital burden of COPD in Hong Kong (HK) and the trend from year 2006 to 2014.

Methods: A multi-center, retrospective study of the characteristics of COPD patients discharged from the public hospitals of HK from year 2006 to 2014.

Assessing factor structure and reliability of the career adaptability scale in students with special educational needs.

Despite the importance of career guidance and life planning education in helping students' career development, considerably limited research has been done to provide a good educational assessment to identify SEN students' strengths and weaknesses of career adaptability. This study aimed to assess the factor structure of the career adaptability scale in mainstream secondary students with special educational needs. The results support adequate reliabilities of the total scale and subscales of the CAAS-SF among over 200 SEN students.

A Multi-Center Study of the Prevalence and Characteristics of Eosinophilic Phenotype and High IgE Levels Among Chinese Patients with Severe Asthma.

Background: Patients with severe asthma have higher total- and asthma-related health burden than those whose disease is not severe. Recent medical advances in biologic therapies allow better control of asthma characterized by type 2 inflammation.

Objective: To study the prevalence of eosinophilic phenotype and IgE levels in Chinese with severe asthma, and the relationship of these type 2 characteristics with asthma control, exacerbations and lung function.

Does Generalized Joint Laxity Affect Postoperative Alignment and Clinical Outcomes Following Medial Opening-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy?

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether generalized joint laxity affects the postoperative alignment and clinical outcomes of medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO).

Methods: A total of 198 patients who underwent MOWHTO was divided into two groups according to absence or presence of generalized joint laxity. Generalized joint laxity was measured using the Beighton and Horan criteria, and a score of 4 or more out of 9 was defined as generalized joint laxity.

Implementation of evidence on management of pleural diseases: insights from a territory-wide survey of clinicians in Hong Kong.

Background: Major advances in management of common pleural diseases have taken place in the past decade. However, pleural diseases are often managed by physicians of diverse training background and research on implementation of new knowledge is scanty. We aim to evaluate the practice pattern in pleural medicine among physicians in Hong Kong, for identification of possible gaps for clinical service improvement.

Factors Affecting Rate of Progression of Aortic Stenosis and Its Impact on Outcomes.

The rate of aortic stenosis (AS) progression in patients with moderate AS is unclear. This study examined the risk factors of progression from moderate to severe AS and its impact on clinical outcomes. A total of 954 patients with moderate AS (valve area >1.