Preventing avoidable death: the case of cervical cancer in Hong Kong

Cervical cancer remains an important cause of avoidable morbidity and mortality in Hong Kong. This paper briefly reviews the epidemiology of cervical cancer and explores the evidence on the effectiveness of screening. The essential components of a successful cervical cancer screening programme, based on international experience, are discussed. The present situation in Hong Kong is then examined and the options outlined for the way ahead.published_or_final_versio

Harm resulting from screening is likely to be high where prevalence of breast cancer is low: Letters to the editor

published_or_final_versio

Exercise and health--new imperatives for public health policy in Hong Kong

Physical inactivity is an important and largely avoidable cause of incapacity. Regular physical activity protects against several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseaseԸ?one of the major causes of death in Hong Kong. Significant benefits can be achieved by regular participation in moderate amounts of either recreational or general lifestyle physical activities. Even more is gained from increasing the frequency, duration, and vigour of exercise. In Hong Kong, 59% of all adults lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle and only one in three exercise at levels that are thought to offer significant health benefits. An even more disturbing fact is that Hong Kong probably has the most inactive primary level schoolchildren in the world. The prevalence of these risk behaviours should make schoolchildren a priority for any public health prevention programme.published_or_final_versio

Screening and mortality from cervical cancer. Study shows importance of centralised organisation in screening.

published_or_final_versio

The pattern of cervical cancer screening in Hong Kong

Health Services Research Fund & Health Care and Promotion Fund: Research Dissemination Reports (Series 2)published_or_final_versio

Hubungan Persepsi Terhadap Kompensasi Dengan Motivasi Kerja Di PT Syncrum Logistics

Tolak ukur karyawan yang produktif adalah tumbuhnya motivasi kerja yang baik dari dalam diri karyawan. Sistem kompensasi yang dibuat diharapkan dapat dipersepsi baik oleh karyawan sehingga karyawan memiliki motivasi kerja yang baik. PT. Syncrum Logistics sebagai tempat penelitian merupakan perusahaan yang menuju kepada pengelolaan kerja yang terstandar. Tujuan utama pada penelitian ini adalah mengetahui hubungan persepsi terhadap kompensasi dengan motivasi kerja di PT Syncrum Logistics dengan hipotesis ada hubungan positif antara persepsi terhadap kompensasi dengan motivasi kerja di PT Syncrum Logistics. Subjek penelitian ini adalah supir yang bekerja di PT Syncrum Logistics sebanyak 76 orang. Teknik sampling menggunakan purposive sampling. Penelitian menggunakan skala persepsi terhadap kompensasi dan motivasi kerja dan hasil penelitian di uji korelasi dengan teknik product moment. Hasil penelitian yang didapatkan menunjukan adanya hubungan persepsi terhadap kompensasi yang siginifikan dengan motivasi kerja, dengan hasil analisis koefisien korelasi (r) sebesar 0,264 dengan signifikansi p= 0,021. Hal ini berarti persepsi supir di perusahaan mengenai kebijakan kompensasi yang telah dibuat dapat mempengaruhi motivasi kerja mereka. Kategorisasi supir mengenai persepsi terhadap kompensasi tergolong sedang RE = 50,68 (77,63%) sedangkan motivasi kerja supir tergolong tinggi RE= 33,2 (50%) dan sedang 42,11%. Persepsi terhadap kompensasi mempengaruhi motivasi kerja sebesar 7%

How does age affect the relationship between weight and health utility during the middle years of childhood?

Purpose: The limited literature examining weight status and preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQL) in young children is equivocal. This study aims to examine how the association between weight status and preference-based HRQL changes as children develop between the ages of 6 and 10 years old. Methods: The Child Health Utility 9D (CHU-9D) was used to determine preference-based HRQL. Height and weight data were also collected and used to calculate z-BMI adjusted for age and gender. 1467 children were recruited from 54 schools across the West Midlands. Data were collected at four time points over 5 years. Impact of weight on dimensions of HRQL was assessed via the distribution of responses to CHU-9D dimensions by weight status. Multi-level regression analysis controlling for ethnicity, deprivation and other relevant co-variates was conducted to examine the relationship between weight and HRQL. Results: There was no evidence to suggest that the weight status impacted upon the distribution of responses to CHU-9D dimensions. Correspondingly, the multi-level regression analysis found no statistically significant differences in CHU-9D scores between underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese children. Conclusions: The evidence surrounding the link between preference-based HRQL and weight status in children is limited. This study found no association between weight status and HRQL as measured by the CHU-9D in children between the ages of 5 and 10 years in the UK. Given this, it is recommended that future studies aiming to prevent obesity in children in their middle years do not rely solely on preference-based measures for economic evaluation, and instead focus on capturing clinical or wellbeing outcomes

From meadows to milk to mucosa – adaptation of Streptococcus and Lactococcus species to their nutritional environments

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are indigenous to food-related habitats as well as associated with the mucosal surfaces of animals. The LAB family Streptococcaceae consists of the genera Lactococcus and Streptococcus. Members of the family include the industrially important species Lactococcus lactis, which has a long history safe use in the fermentative food industry, and the disease-causing streptococci Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. The central metabolic pathways of the Streptococcaceae family have been extensively studied because of their relevance in the industrial use of some species, as well as their influence on virulence of others. Recent developments in high-throughput proteomic and DNA-microarray techniques, in in vivo NMR studies, and importantly in whole-genome sequencing have resulted in new insights into the metabolism of the Streptococcaceae family. The development of cost-effective high-throughput sequencing has resulted in the publication of numerous whole-genome sequences of lactococcal and streptococcal species. Comparative genomic analysis of these closely related but environmentally diverse species provides insight into the evolution of this family of LAB and shows that the relatively small genomes of members of the Streptococcaceae family have been largely shaped by the nutritionally rich environments they inhabit.

Teratogenic risk and contraceptive counselling in psychiatric practice: analysis of anticonvulsant therapy

<p>Background: Anticonvulsants have been used to manage psychiatric conditions for over 50 years. It is recognised that some, particularly valproate, carbamazepine and lamotrigine, are human teratogens, while others including topiramate require further investigation. We aimed to appraise the documentation of this risk by psychiatrists and review discussion around contraceptive issues.</p> <p>Methods: A retrospective review of prescribing patterns of four anticonvulsants (valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and topiramate) in women of child bearing age was undertaken. Documented evidence of discussion surrounding teratogenicity and contraceptive issues was sought.</p> <p>Results: Valproate was most commonly prescribed (n=67). Evidence of teratogenic risk counselling at medication initiation was sub-optimal – 40% of individuals prescribed carbamazepine and 22% of valproate. Documentation surrounding contraceptive issues was also low- 17% of individuals prescribed carbamazepine and 13% of valproate.</p> <p>Conclusion: We found both low rates of teratogenic risk counselling and low rates of contraception advice in our cohort. Given the high rates of unplanned pregnancies combined with the relatively high risk of major congenital malformations, it is essential that a detailed appraisal of the risks and benefits associated with anticonvulsant medication occurs and is documented within patients’ psychiatric notes.</p&gt

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2-a potential genetic risk factor for lung function among southern Chinese: Evidence from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Purpose: In Asia, moderate alcohol users have better lung function. Never users have more inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) alleles (A) potentially generating confounding because inactive alleles may increase acetaldehyde exposure and reduce lung function. Methods: We examined the association of ALDH2 genotypes with percentage predicted lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1second; forced vital capacity) for age, sex, and height among 5641 older Chinese using multivariable linear regression. Results: ALDH2 genotypes were associated with alcohol use and height but not other attributes. Inactive alleles were inversely associated with lung function (percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1second-1.52%, 95% confidence interval [CI],-2.52% to-0.51% for one inactive allele and-2.05%, 95% CI,-3.85% to-0.26% for two inactive alleles compared with two active alleles; and for percentage predicted forced vital capacity-1.25%, 95% CI-2.15% to-0.35% and-1.65%, 95% CI,-3.25% to-0.04%). The association of moderate use with lung function was attenuated after adjusting for ALDH2, in addition to other potential confounders. Conclusions: Previous findings in Chinese may be confounded by ALDH2. High frequency of inactive ALDH2 alleles in East Asia may exacerbate the effect of environmental acetaldehyde exposure on lung function and potentially on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.postprin