Publications by authors named "WW Ho"

Introduction: Excessive social media use, though considered unhealthy, is no longer formally categorized as an addiction or disorder, leading to a lack of consensus on this behavior. It raises concerns regarding the exclusion of Internet Addiction Disorder from the DSM-5-TR due to insufficient empirical evidence. This study investigates the serial mediating effects of positive and negative affect, fear of missing out, and offline and online self-presentation in the relationship between social media use and social media addiction.

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The nutritional contents of breastmilk (BM) directly participate in neonatal metabolism via breastfeeding. Currently, there is limited research on BM metabolites and proteins compositions, and their alterations during the long lactation period in Hong Kong mothers. In this study, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, lipidomics and proteomics studies were applied to compare the compositions in BM of Hong Kong lactating mothers at the 2nd, 6th, and 12th months after delivery.

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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer without effective treatments. It is characterized by activating KRAS mutations and p53 alterations. However, how these mutations dysregulate cancer-cell-intrinsic gene programs to influence the immune landscape of the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains poorly understood.

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A powerful tool emerging from the study of many-body quantum dynamics is that of dual-unitary circuits, which are unitary even when read "sideways," i.e., along the spatial direction.

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Background: Most pretest probability (PTP) tools for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) were Western -developed. The most appropriate PTP models and the contribution of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in Asian populations remain unknown. In a mixed Asian cohort, we compare 5 PTP models: local assessment of the heart (LAH), CAD Consortium (CAD2), risk factor-weighted clinical likelihood, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology PTP and 3 extended versions of these models that incorporated CACS: LAH, CAD2, and the CACS-clinical likelihood.

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Background: As long-term, regular aesthetic botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) use becomes more commonplace, it is vital to understand real-world risk factors and impact of BoNT-A immunoresistance. The first Aesthetic Council on Ethical Use of Neurotoxin Delivery panel discussed issues relating to BoNT-A immunoresistance from the health care professionals' (HCPs') perspective. Understanding the implications of BoNT-A immunoresistance from the aesthetic patient's viewpoint allows HCPs to better support patients throughout their aesthetic treatment journey.

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Background: Bivalent chromatin is an exemplar of epigenetic plasticity. This co-occurrence of active-associated H3K4me3 and inactive-associated H3K27me3 histone modifications on opposite tails of the same nucleosome occurs predominantly at promoters that are poised for future transcriptional upregulation or terminal silencing. We know little of the dynamics, resolution, and regulation of this chromatin state outside of embryonic stem cells where it was first described.

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Ergodicity of quantum dynamics is often defined through statistical properties of energy eigenstates, as exemplified by Berry's conjecture in single-particle quantum chaos and the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis in many-body settings. In this work, we investigate whether quantum systems can exhibit a stronger form of ergodicity, wherein any time-evolved state uniformly visits the entire Hilbert space over time. We call such a phenomenon complete Hilbert-space ergodicity (CHSE), which is more akin to the intuitive notion of ergodicity as an inherently dynamical concept.

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Despite different ethnic origins among Asians, midface enhancement is the most frequent noninvasive procedure for hyaluronic acid injection either as a stand-alone treatment or as part of the pan-facial beautification strategy. Because Asians often have an aesthetically undesirable wide, flat, and short face, improving the projection of midface and midline facial structures is an indispensable aesthetic procedure in creating a smaller facial appearance with better three-dimensionality. Achieving an oval facial shape together with increased facial height is also required in most circumstances for a natural and balanced result.

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Background: Mirroring is a specific phenomenon that occurs in groups. People observe others enacting different roles in given situations, whereby concretizing the role of the observing aspect of their self as if looking in a mirror. Individuals could acquire emotional, cognitive, imaginative, behavioral, and interpersonal experiences through this process of mirroring; that is, "mirror effects.

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This paper examines the link between CNS tumor biology and heterogeneity and the use of genome-wide DNA methylation profiling as a clinical diagnostic platform. CNS tumors are the most common solid tumors in children, and their prognosis remains poor. This study retrospectively analyzed pediatric patients with CNS embryonal tumors in Hong Kong between 1999 and 2017, using data from the territory-wide registry and available formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue.

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The Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson theory of phase transitions precludes a continuous transition between two phases that spontaneously break distinct symmetries. However, quantum mechanical effects can intertwine the symmetries, giving rise to an exotic phenomenon called deconfined quantum criticality (DQC). In this Letter, we study the ground state phase diagram of a one-dimensional array of individually trapped neutral atoms interacting strongly via Rydberg states, and demonstrate through extensive numerical simulations that it hosts a variety of symmetry-breaking phases and their transitions including DQC.

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Background: Hong Kong is among the many populations that has experienced the combined impacts of social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite concerns about further deteriorations in youth mental health globally, few epidemiological studies have been conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of major depressive episode (MDE) and other major psychiatric disorders across periods of population-level changes using diagnostic interviews.

Methods: We conducted a territory-wide household-based epidemiological study from 2019 to 2022 targeting young people aged 15-24 years.

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With increasing off-label aesthetic indications using higher botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) doses and individuals starting treatment at a younger age, particularly in Asia, there is a greater risk of developing immunoresistance to BoNT-A. This warrants more in-depth discussions by aesthetic practitioners to inform patients and guide shared decision-making. A panel comprising international experts and experienced aesthetic practitioners in Hong Kong discussed the implications and impact of immunoresistance to BoNT-A in contemporary aesthetic practice, along with practical strategies for risk management.

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Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are the largest population of γδ T cells in adults and can play important roles in providing effective immunity against cancer and infection. Many studies have suggested that peripheral Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are derived from the fetal liver and thymus and that the postnatal thymus plays little role in the development of these cells. More recent evidence suggested that these cells may also develop postnatally in the thymus.

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Macrophages are critical regulators of tissue homeostasis but are also abundant in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In both primary tumors and metastases, such tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) seem to support tumor development. While we know that TAMs are the dominant immune cells in the TME, their vast heterogeneity and associated functions are only just being unraveled.

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Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are important for tumor antigen-specific T cell generation and effective anticancer immune responses. However, TDLNs are often the primary site of metastasis, causing immune suppression and worse outcomes. Through cross-species single-cell RNA-Seq analysis, we identified features defining cancer cell heterogeneity, plasticity, and immune evasion during breast cancer progression and lymph node metastasis (LNM).

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Article Synopsis
  • The text discusses how the unique anatomy of Asian faces and cultural preferences have led to specialized aesthetic practices tailored for Asian patients.
  • It highlights the findings from a six-part international roundtable series aimed at understanding the differences in anatomy and treatment preferences, particularly during the final discussion focused on Asian patients.
  • Key results include specific procedural techniques for enhancing facial shape and projection, along with the importance of sharing knowledge to improve outcomes in aesthetic medicine for diverse populations.
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Article Synopsis
  • - ICBs have not been successful in phase III glioblastoma trials, and our research shows they can cause cerebral edema due to inflammatory responses, disrupting the blood-tumor barrier.
  • - We found that using the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan, instead of corticosteroids, can reduce this edema and even cure 20% of treated mice, with results improving to 40% when combined with standard treatment.
  • - We identified a specific immune signature in tumors that can predict long-term survival when losartan is combined with ICBs, suggesting a promising avenue for future glioblastoma therapies.
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Introduction: Although the literature reports that play provides substantial psychological benefits for individuals, it is often only emphasized by educators for younger children but less so for emerging adults. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of time spent engaged in play on emerging adults' emotional intelligence, emotional traits, and resilience.

Methods: Participants ( = 131, 93.

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Asians are of different ethnic origins. Nevertheless, they share the common facial structural deficiencies and consequences of the aging process that create the opportunity for esthetic intervention. As a result, Injectables are widely used in young Asians to achieve an oval facial shape with increased facial height and projection.

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Article Synopsis
  • Complications like delayed inflammatory reactions (DIRs) and unnatural results can occur with hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers, making prevention strategies essential.
  • A survey of 200 practitioners in Asia Pacific identified key measures for reducing complications, focusing on appropriate filler choice, aseptic techniques, and suitable patient selection.
  • A panel of experts developed a reference guide with five practical tips to enhance safety in HA filler treatments, emphasizing customized plans, knowledge of facial anatomy, and adherence to proper injection techniques.
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Objective: We sought to examine the current skin quality trends and gaps in clinical practice in the Asia Pacific region and develop a practical guide to improve skin quality.

Methods: Medical practitioners from 11 countries in the Asia Pacific region completed an online survey on current trends in skin quality treatment. A panel of 12 leading experts convened for a virtual meeting to develop a practical guide for skin quality improvement.

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