Socioeconomic Status, Stress, and Cancer-related Fatigue among Chinese American Breast Cancer Survivors: The Mediating Roles of Sleep.

Sleep-related issues may be one significant pathway through which socioeconomic disadvantages are associated with worse self-reported states in cancer. The present study examined the relationships between SES (income and education level) and two important biobehavioral factors (cancer-related fatigue and perceived stress), as well as mediation through sleep-related problems (sleep medication use, daytime dysfunction, and sleep quality) among a sample of Chinese American breast cancer survivors. 136 Chinese American breast cancer survivors completed a self-reported questionnaire.

The role of VI-RADS scoring criteria for predicting oncological outcomes in bladder cancer.

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate the prognostic value of Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) in bladder cancer (BCa) staging and predicting recurrence or progression.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data from 96 patients with bladder tumors who underwent VI-RADS-based multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) before endourological treatment from April 2021 to December 2022. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by comparing mpMRI reports with final pathology, using logistic regression for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) predictors.

HIV-related public stigma in the era of "Undetectable = Untransmittable": a population-based study in Hong Kong.

Background: While global efforts are increasingly relying upon biomedical advancements such as antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to end the HIV epidemic, HIV-related stigma remains a concern. This study aimed to assess the general public's awareness and perception of "Undetectable = Untransmittable" (U = U) and PrEP, and the patterns of public stigma towards people living with HIV (PLWH) and their determinants in an Asian Pacific city.

Methods: A population-based, self-administrated online survey was conducted between 10-20 March 2023.

The association between organised colorectal cancer screening strategies and reduction of its related mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To assess the long-term association between organised colorectal cancer (CRC) screening strategies and CRC-relate mortality.

Methods: We systematically reviewed studies on organised CRC screening through PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase and Cochrane from the inception. We retrieved characteristics of organised CRC screening from included literature and matched mortality (over 50 years) of those areas from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in May 2023.

Positive Psychology Interventions for Improving Self-management Behaviors in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: a Narrative Review of Current Evidence.

Purpose Of Review: Interests have been emerging in using positive psychology interventions (PPIs) to improve diabetes self-management (DSM) behaviors (e.g., blood glucose monitoring, physical activity).

Self-sampled multi-anatomic site testing for uncovering the community burden of undiagnosed Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in men who have sex with men.

Purpose: To detect otherwise undiagnosed asymptomatic sexually transmitted infection (STI), and for estimating prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: In this community-based study in Hong Kong, adult MSM were recruited. After completion of an online survey, free multi-anatomic sites self-sampling kits (urine specimens, pharyngeal and rectal swabs) for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) tests were delivered to requesting participants.

Dynamicity of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Usage Pattern and Association with Executed Adherence in MSM: An Implementation Study in Hong Kong.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use has been shown to be effective for HIV prevention in men who have sex with men (MSM). PrEP use coverage aside, maintenance of high PrEP adherence is crucial in ensuring the achievement of HIV prevention. In this PrEP implementation study in Hong Kong, we examined the patterns of PrEP use in MSM and evaluated their association with prevention-effective adherence for HIV prevention.

A qualitative study examining the critical differences in the experience of and response to formative feedback by undergraduate medical students in Japan and the UK.

Background: Formative feedback plays a critical role in guiding learners to gain competence, serving as an opportunity for reflection and feedback on their learning progress and needs. Medical education in Japan has historically been dominated by a summative paradigm within assessment, as opposed to countries such as the UK where there are greater opportunities for formative feedback. How this difference affects students' interaction with feedback has not been studied.

Neural networks based on attention architecture are robust to data missingness for early predicting hospital mortality in intensive care unit patients.

Background: Although the machine learning model developed on electronic health records has become a promising method for early predicting hospital mortality, few studies focus on the approaches for handling missing data in electronic health records and evaluate model robustness to data missingness. This study proposes an attention architecture that shows excellent predictive performance and is robust to data missingness.

Methods: Two public intensive care unit databases were used for model training and external validation, respectively.

Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling Promotes HIV-1 Infection in Activated and Resting Memory CD4 T Cells.

Understanding the facilitator of HIV-1 infection and subsequent latency establishment may aid the discovery of potential therapeutic targets. Here, we report the elevation of plasma transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) during acute HIV-1 infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). Using a serum-free system, we further delineated the role of TGF-β signaling in mediating HIV-1 infection of activated and resting memory CD4 T cells.

"Shame on Me": Exploring the Role of Self-Stigma in Psychological Outcomes Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Hong Kong.

Background: Studies have suggested that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at risk of self-stigmatization (i.e., internalized sense of shame about having diabetes).

The effects of culturally adapted expressive writing interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese American breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Expressive writing interventions confer mental health benefits for non-Hispanic Whites. However, research is lacking in adapting this paradigm for minoritized groups. This study evaluated the impacts of two culturally adapted expressive writing interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms and potential mediators (perceived stress and intrusive thoughts) among Chinese American breast cancer survivors (CABCS).

Metformin use and the risk of total knee replacement among diabetic patients: a propensity-score-matched retrospective cohort study.

Metformin has been shown to modulate meta-inflammation, an important pathogenesis in knee osteoarthritis (OA). The study aimed to test the association between regular metformin use with total knee replacement (TKR) in patients with diabetes. This is a retrospective study with electronic records retrieved in Hong Kong public primary care.

Incidence, mortality, risk factors, and trends for Hodgkin lymphoma: a global data analysis.

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma is a lymphatic malignancy commonly found in cervical lymph nodes. This study evaluated the worldwide incidence, mortality, associated risk factors, and temporal trends of Hodgkin lymphoma by sex, age, and country.

Methods: The age-standardised Hodgkin lymphoma incidence and mortality were retrieved from the GLOBOCAN, CI5 volumes I-XI, WHO mortality database, the NORDCAN and SEER Program.

Enhanced Cross-Reactive and Polyfunctional Effector-Memory T Cell Responses by ICVAX-a Human PD1-Based Bivalent HIV-1 Gag-p41 Mosaic DNA Vaccine.

Vaccine-induced protective T cell immunity is necessary for HIV-1 functional cure. We previously reported that rhesus PD1-Gag-based DNA vaccination sustained simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) suppression by inducing effector-memory CD8 T cells. Here, we investigated a human PD1-Gag-based DNA vaccine, namely, ICVAX, for clinical translation.

Association of volunteer-administered home care with reduced emergency room visits and hospitalization among older adults with chronic conditions: A propensity-score-matched cohort study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the association of receiving care from a volunteer-administered outreach program with emergency room utilization and hospitalization among older people with chronic conditions in Hong Kong.

Methods: Volunteers consisting of retired healthcare professionals, university students, and openly recruited citizens received training to provide home care services to hospital-discharged older Chinese adults aged 65+ with chronic conditions who were identified as high-risk patients of hospital admission and referred by public healthcare providers. Several home visits were made to enhance the patients' self-care capacity.

A survey of the involvement of primary care doctors in HIV prevention and care in a low-prevalence, high-income setting.

Background: In high-income countries with a low HIV prevalence, primary care doctors are likely the first point of medical contact for people at high risk of HIV. One of the key factors for successful implementation of preventive measures is the cooperation of primary healthcare providers. Hong Kong's population mostly seek primary care in the private sectors.

Guidelines for infection in adults.

infection (CDI) has become a serious medical and epidemiological problem, especially in well developed countries. There has been evident increase in incidence and severity of CDI. Prevention, proper diagnosis and effective treatment are necessary to reduce the risk for the patients, deplete the spreading of infection and diminish the probability of recurrent infection.

Critical Issues on Diverticular Disease.

In this session diverse critical issues in diverticular disease were considered, including "In or outpatient management of uncomplicated diverticulitis?", "Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis: what is it?"and "Diverticular inflammation is a risk factor for colorectal cancer?". The conclusions drawn are outlined in the statements but in summary, outpatient management is safe in selected patients, as long as correct diagnosis and stage are assured, and this can allow a cost effective treatment. Non-antibiotic management is also safe but should be confined as an outpatient treatment in carefully selected patients.

The DICA Endoscopic Classification for Diverticular Disease of the Colon Shows a Significant Interobserver Agreement among Community Endoscopists: an International Study.

Background And Aims: The Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment (DICA) endoscopic classification of diverticulosis and diverticular disease (DD) is currently available. It scores severity of the disease as DICA 1, DICA 2 and DICA 3. Our aim was to assess the agreement on this classification in an international endoscopists community setting.