Gender differences in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong: a three-year follow up study.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate gender differences with respect to pre-treatment characteristics, clinical presentation, service utilization and functional outcome in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis.

Methods: A total of 700 participants (men, n = 360; women, n = 340) aged 15 to 25 years consecutively enrolled in a territory-wide first-episode psychosis treatment programme in Hong Kong from July 2001 to August 2003 were studied. Baseline and three-year follow up variables were collected via systematic medical file review.

Examining the association between late-life leisure activity participation and global cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly Chinese in Hong Kong.

Objective: This study examines the association between late-life leisure activity participation and global cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly Chinese in Hong Kong.

Methods: Five hundred and five participants, not clinically demented at the baseline, were analysed in the follow-up study of a population-based community survey among Hong Kong Chinese aged 60 and over. Information regarding leisure activity participation, global cognitive function and important sociodemographic variables was collected.

Neuropsychological performance predicts decision-making abilities in Chinese older persons with mild or very mild dementia.

Objective: To explore the relationship of the 4 decision-making abilities (Understanding, Appreciation, Reasoning, and Expressing a Choice) and neuropsychological performance in patients with very mild and mild dementia.

Methods: Chinese subjects were recruited from local social centres and residential hostels for elderly people in Hong Kong. Clinical diagnosis was made by experienced geriatric psychiatrists.

Active, passive and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching are comparable in improving the knee flexion range in people with total knee replacement: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the immediate and medium-term effects of three stretching methods on the knee flexion range in people with a total knee replacement.

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation hospital.

Testing scaling assumptions, reliability and validity of medical outcomes study short-form 36 health survey in psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: The Medical Outcome Survey short-form 36 (SF-36) is widely used in studies of PsA. We test the fundamental scaling assumptions for the validity of SF-36 eight scales and two summary scores in PsA.

Methods: We tested the five scaling criteria according to the International Quality of Life Assessment project and the validity of the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores.

Gender differences in sociodemographic and clinical characteristic and the quality of life of Chinese schizophrenia patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of the gender of Chinese schizophrenia outpatients and their impact on patients quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Two hundred and fifty-five clinically stable schizophrenia outpatients were randomly selected in Hong Kong. Counterparts matched according to gender, age, age at onset, and length of illness were recruited in Beijing, China.

Immediate effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To investigate the immediate effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Extended rehabilitation centre.

Evaluation of the CASPAR criteria for psoriatic arthritis in the Chinese population.

Objective: To evaluate and validate the Classification of Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria for PsA in a Chinese population.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively from consecutive Han Chinese clinic attendees with PsA and other chronic inflammatory arthritis. Subjects were classified according to Moll and Wright, European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) criteria for PsA, Vasey and Espinoza or CASPAR criteria.

Five-year stability of ICD-10 diagnoses among Chinese patients presented with first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong.

Background: Diagnostic stability is one measure of predictive validity for psychiatric syndromes. It is an under-studied area in functional psychosis despite its clinical and research implications. We aimed at evaluating the stability of ICD-10 diagnoses in a sample of young people with first-episode psychosis.

Profiles of functional outcomes in stroke rehabilitation for Chinese population: a cluster analysis.

The objectives of study were to identify longitudinal ADL profiles and to investigate profiles characteristics of participants in stroke rehabilitation programme. 496 stroke rehabilitation records in one year were retrieved. Patients' demographics, admission scores of Cantonese version of Mini-mental State Examination and line cancellation test were retrieved.

Examining the association between participation in late-life leisure activities and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly Chinese in Hong Kong.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that participation in late-life leisure activity may have beneficial effects on cognitive function. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between leisure activity participation and cognitive function in an elderly population of community-dwelling Hong Kong Chinese.

Methods: 512 participants were assessed in the follow-up study of a population-based community survey of the prevalence of cognitive impairment among Hong Kong Chinese aged 60 years and over.

Capacity to make treatment decisions in Chinese older persons with very mild dementia and mild Alzheimer disease.

Objectives: This study aims at assessing mental competence in Chinese patients with mild and very mild dementia with a semistructured assessment method and the impact of repeated presentations of information on patients' mental competence.

Design: Subjects with mild and very mild dementia were compared with cognitively intact subjects.

Setting: Chinese subjects were recruited from local social centers and residential hostels for the elderly in Hong Kong.

Impact of illness and variables associated with functional impairment in Chinese patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: To assess the impact of disease and functional outcomes in Chinese patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to identify variables associated with poor functional outcomes.

Methods: A cross sectional study performed in 80 consecutive patients with PsA from a single center. Functional outcomes were assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI).

Involvement, satisfaction and unmet health care needs in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To examine the involvement in care, participation in medical decision, satisfaction of health care and unmet needs in patients with PsA. To explore factors related to involvement and satisfaction with care.

Methods: One hundred and five patients with PsA attending four regional hospital rheumatology outpatient clinics were invited and consented to self-administer questionnaires, including socio-demographic data, quality of life with SF-12, involvement in medical decision, satisfaction with care and unmet health care needs.

Comparison of 4 functional indexes in psoriatic arthritis with axial or peripheral disease subgroups using Rasch analyses.

Objective: Rasch item response theory analysis is essential in evaluating measurement tools in specific disease cohorts. We compared the performance of 4 functional indexes in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in axial or peripheral disease subgroups.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a single center.

Validation of the Chinese translation of the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale in elderly Chinese.

Background: This study aims to develop and validate a Chinese translation of the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale - a widely used instrument to measure loneliness - specifically determining its psychometric properties in community-dwelling Chinese elders in Hong Kong. The relationships between loneliness and several clinical variables are also assessed.

Method: The English version was translated into Chinese.

Prevalence and correlates of bipolar II disorder in major depressive patients at a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Hong Kong.

Background: Western studies indicate a high prevalence of bipolar II disorder defined by a Research Diagnostic Criteria 2-day hypomania duration criterion (30 to 61%) amongst clinically depressive patients. The situation in Chinese patients with depression is unknown.

Methods: 64 (52.

Clinical correlates of functional performance in community-dwelling Chinese older persons with mild cognitive impairment.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that functional impairment can be detected in older persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study explores the functional profiles and the clinical correlates of a population-based sample of Chinese older persons with MCI in Hong Kong.

Methods: A random sample of 765 Chinese elderly subjects without dementia was recruited, of which 389 were elderly normal controls (Clinical Dementia Rating = 0), and 376 had questionable dementia (CDR = 0.

Clinical correlates of Parkinsonian signs in community- dwelling Chinese older persons: a population based study.

Background And Objective: This study examined the clinical correlates of parkinsonian signs including neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment and medical illness burden in the community-dwelling non-demented Chinese elderly.

Methods: A random sample of 765 Chinese elderly subjects from a thematic household survey was recruited. There were 389 normal elderly controls (Clinical Dementia Rating [CDR] 0) (NC) and 376 subjects with questionable dementia (CDR 0.

User satisfaction, community participation and quality of life among Chinese wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: a preliminary study.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between spinal cord injury (SCI), wheelchair users' satisfaction, perceptions of their community participation and quality of life (QoL).Thirty-one community wheelchair users with SCI were administered the Chinese version of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology (C-QUEST), the abbreviated Hong Kong version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO QoL-BREF (HK)) and selected items of 'Participation Restrictions' and 'Environmental Factors' of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF). Only a weak correlation was found between the C-QUEST services sub-scores and one ICF environmental factor, that is, health-related professionals (Spearman's r = 0.

Characteristic profiles of instrumental activities of daily living in Chinese older persons with mild cognitive impairment.

Increasing evidence suggests that performance of the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) can be impaired at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage. Our study aimed at investigating the profiles of functional impairment in Chinese subjects with MCI. Subjects with MCI were categorized into single-domain amnestic MCI (a-MCI) (n=54) and multiple-domain amnestic MCI (md-MCI) (n=93) groups.

Pulmonary hypertension, hyperthyroidism, and fenfluramine: a case report and review.

We report a case of pulmonary hypertension presenting with sudden cardiac arrest, hyperthyroidism and fenfluramine usage. This fatal case of pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease is associated with the use of an anorectic drug that had been withdrawn from the market more than eight years ago. Clinicians should alert to the side effects of appetite suppressant and slimming agents.

Relevance of outcome measures in different cultural groups--does one size fit all?

It is estimated that 24 million people currently have dementia and that two-thirds of them live in developing countries. However, most of the assessment instruments for dementia have originated in developed countries. This paper explores the relevance of outcome measures in clinical trials of dementia drugs in different cultural groups, particularly in developing countries.

Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio in an untimed urine collection is a reliable measure of proteinuria in lupus nephritis.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of urine protein-to-creatinine (P/C) ratio in an untimed urine specimen as compared with 24 h total protein excretion for measurement of proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis.

Methods: Proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis was assessed by 24 h total protein excretion and spot urine P/C ratio. Correlation and limits of agreement between the two methods were evaluated.