Telehealth-delivered parent-based sleep-focused intervention for insomnia in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled study.

Sleep problems are common in children with autism spectrum disorder. Although the effects of parent-based sleep intervention were shown to be promising, previous research was limited to the face-to-face service model, which might limit accessibility. This study examined a sleep-focused parent training group delivered via telehealth for treating insomnia in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder, which allowed parents to join the intervention remotely.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations associated with influenza A(H3N2) in Hong Kong children aged 9 months to 17 years, June-November 2023.

A test negative study was carried out from 13 June through to 15 November 2023 enrolling 3183 children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness in Hong Kong. Influenza A and B viruses were detected in 528 (16.6%) children, among which 419 (79.

Mental Health of Children With Special Educational Needs and the Return to In-Person Learning After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance: There is limited evidence on whether the quality of life and behavior of children with special educational needs (SEN) have improved or worsened since schools reopened after COVID-19-related school closures.

Objective: To describe the changes in the mental well-being of children and adolescents with SEN during the initial 6 months of resuming in-person learning after COVID-19-related school closures.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This repeated cross-sectional study reported data from surveys completed by parents and caregivers of children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years with SEN studying at special schools in Hong Kong.

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Influenza-Associated Hospitalization in Hong Kong Children Aged 9 Months to 17 Years, March-June 2023.

In March-June 2023, we conducted a test-negative study in 1671 children who were hospitalized with acute respiratory illness in Hong Kong. Two hundred and eighty-six children (17.2%) were tested positive for influenza virus including 188 with A(H1N1).

Socio-economic costs of rare diseases and the risk of financial hardship: a cross-sectional study.

Background: To achieve universal healthcare coverage (UHC), the rare disease (RD) population must also receive quality healthcare without financial hardship. This study evaluates the impact of RDs in Hong Kong (HK) by estimating cost from a societal perspective and investigating related risk of financial hardship.

Methods: A total of 284 RD patients and caregivers covering 106 RDs were recruited through HK's largest RD patient group, Rare Disease Hong Kong, in 2020.

Childhood Wheeze, Allergic Rhinitis, and Eczema in Hong Kong ISAAC Study from 1995 to 2015.

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases has been increasing in developing areas but has reached a plateau in many developed areas. Regular surveys are imperative to assess the disease burden for the prioritization of resource allocation.

Objectives: We examined the change in the prevalence of wheezing, allergic rhinitis (AR), and eczema in school-aged children with possible associative factors and possible health effects of school air quality.

Preterm postnatal complications and risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Aim: To investigate the association between the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and preterm birth and determine how postnatal complications in children born preterm is associated with the risk of ADHD.

Method: This population-based cohort study used data from the Hong Kong electronic medical records. We followed 359 614 children (48% female; 6-17 years old, mean 11 years 7 months, SD 3 years 2 months) born in public hospitals in Hong Kong from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2014 and collected medical records and demographic details for mothers and children until 11th November 2020.

Functional Evaluation and Genetic Landscape of Children and Young Adults Referred for Assessment of Bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis is the abnormal dilation of the airway which may be caused by various etiologies in children. Beyond the more recognized cause of bacterial and viral infections and primary immunodeficiencies, other genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) can also contribute to the disease. Currently, there is still debate on whether genome sequencing (GS) or exome sequencing reanalysis (rES) would be beneficial if the initial targeted testing results returned negative.

Evaluating the Health-Related Quality of Life of the Rare Disease Population in Hong Kong Using EQ-5D 3-Level.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish a normative profile of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the rare disease (RD) population in Hong Kong (HK) and identify potential predictors.

Methods: Between March 2020 and October 2020, patients with RD and caregivers were recruited through Rare Disease Hong Kong, the largest RD patient group alliance in HK. HRQOL was derived using the EQ-5D 3-Level with reference to the established HK value set.

Comprehensive analysis of recessive carrier status using exome and genome sequencing data in 1543 Southern Chinese.

Traditional carrier screening has been utilized for the detection of carriers of genetic disorders. Since a comprehensive assessment of the carrier frequencies of recessive conditions in the Southern Chinese population is not yet available, we performed a secondary analysis on the spectrum and carrier status for 315 genes causing autosomal recessive disorders in 1543 Southern Chinese individuals with next-generation sequencing data, 1116 with exome sequencing and 427 with genome sequencing data. Our data revealed that 1 in 2 people (47.

Client Service Receipt Inventory as a standardised tool for measurement of socio-economic costs in the rare genetic disease population (CSRI-Ra).

The measurement of costs is fundamental in healthcare decision-making, but it is often challenging. In particular, standardised methods have not been developed in the rare genetic disease population. A reliable and valid tool is critical for research to be locally meaningful yet internationally comparable.

Identification of a wide spectrum of ciliary gene mutations in nonsyndromic biliary atresia patients implicates ciliary dysfunction as a novel disease mechanism.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common obstructive cholangiopathy in neonates, often progressing to end-stage cirrhosis. BA pathogenesis is believed to be multifactorial, but the genetic contribution, especially for nonsyndromic BA (common form: > 85%) remains poorly defined.

Methods: We conducted whole exome sequencing on 89 nonsyndromic BA trios to identify rare variants contributing to BA etiology.

Rapid whole-exome sequencing facilitates precision medicine in paediatric rare disease patients and reduces healthcare costs.

Background: Rapid whole-exome sequencing (rWES) offers the potential for early diagnosis-predicated precision medicine. Previous evidence focused predominantly on infants from the intensive care unit (ICU). This study sought to examine the diagnostic and clinical utility, and the economic impact on clinical management of rWES in patients beyond infancy and ICU setting.

Epidemiology and Trends of Infective Meningitis in Neonates and Infants Less than 3 Months Old in Hong Kong.

Objectives: Meningitis in neonates and young infants leads to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to investigate pathogens, antibiotic resistance and secular change of incidence in Hong Kong.

Methods: A retrospective search was performed on meningitis in neonates and infants aged <3 months in three Hong Kong public hospitals from 2004 to 2019.

Actionable pharmacogenetic variants in Hong Kong Chinese exome sequencing data and projected prescription impact in the Hong Kong population.

Preemptive pharmacogenetic testing has the potential to improve drug dosing by providing point-of-care patient genotype information. Nonetheless, its implementation in the Chinese population is limited by the lack of population-wide data. In this study, secondary analysis of exome sequencing data was conducted to study pharmacogenomics in 1116 Hong Kong Chinese.

Actionable secondary findings in 1116 Hong Kong Chinese based on exome sequencing data.

The use of exome and genome sequencing has increased rapidly nowadays. After primary analysis, further analysis can be performed to identify secondary findings that offer medical benefit for patient care. Multiple studies have been performed to evaluate secondary findings in different ethnicities.

Functional analysis and evaluation of respiratory cilia in healthy Chinese children.

Background: To aid in the diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) and to evaluate the respiratory epithelium in respiratory disease, normal age-related reference ranges are needed for ciliary beat frequency (CBF), beat pattern and ultrastructure. Our aim was to establish reference ranges for healthy Chinese children.

Methods: Ciliated epithelial samples were obtained from 135 healthy Chinese children aged below 18 years by brushing the inferior nasal turbinate.

Overview: The history and pediatric perspectives of severe acute respiratory syndromes: Novel or just like SARS.

Many respiratory viral infections such as influenza and measles result in severe acute respiratory symptoms and epidemics. In the spring of 2003, an epidemic of coronavirus pneumonia spread from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and subsequently to the rest of the world. The WHO coined the acronym SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and subsequently the causative virus as SARS-CoV.

Impact assessment of non-pharmaceutical interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza in Hong Kong: an observational study.

Background: A range of public health measures have been implemented to suppress local transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong. We examined the effect of these interventions and behavioural changes of the public on the incidence of COVID-19, as well as on influenza virus infections, which might share some aspects of transmission dynamics with COVID-19.

Methods: We analysed data on laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, influenza surveillance data in outpatients of all ages, and influenza hospitalisations in children.

Changes in Mortality and Cerebral Palsy in Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants in a Tertiary Center in Hong Kong.

. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) babies born at Queen Mary Hospital and explored if there is any time trend in survival and short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. .

Breastfeeding in Infancy and Lipid Profile in Adolescence.

Objectives: Breast milk has higher cholesterol than formula. Infants who are breastfed have different cholesterol synthesis and metabolism in infancy than infants who are formula fed. Little is known as to whether breastfeeding is associated with subsequent lipid profile, independent of adiposity.

Exome sequencing identifies molecular diagnosis in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Objective: Early onset drug-resistant epilepsy is a neurologic disorder in which 2 antiepileptic drugs fail to maintain the seizure-free status of the patient. Heterogeneous clinical presentations make the diagnosis challenging. We aim to identify the underlying genetic causes of a pediatric cohort with drug-resistant epilepsy and evaluate whether the findings can provide information on patient management.