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Search Results: 1 - 10 of 14543 matches for " Irene Lai Wong and Pui Sze Lam "
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Work stress and problem gambling among Chinese casino employees in Macau
Irene Lai Wong and Pui Sze Lam
Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health , 2013, DOI: 10.1186/2195-3007-3-7
Abstract: The prior literature has suggested that gaming venue employees might be an at-risk group for developing gambling problems. A variety of occupational stressors and workplace factors were uncovered for causing the elevated risk. However, little theory-driven research has been conducted to investigate Asian gaming venue employees' experience of work stress and gambling behavior. Adopting the transactional theories of stress and coping, this exploratory study examined perceived job satisfaction, work stressors, stress strains, coping responses and gambling behavior among Chinese casino employees in Macau. Semi-structured interviews with fifteen casino employees (9 men and 6 women) were conducted. Many interviewees described working at casino as very stressful. Seven types of workplace stressors were identified. Most were aware of the harmful effects of work stress on their health. They experienced physical and psychological strains despite various coping strategies were employed to alleviate job stress. Many gambled after work to 'unwind'. Using the DSM-IV criteria, one male employee could be categorized as a pathological gambler, and five men exhibited symptoms of problem gambling. In addition to job stress and male gender, other risk factors for problem gambling were also found. The study results have implication for workplace stress prevention and responsible gambling practices.
Carboxyl-Terminal Truncated HBx Regulates a Distinct MicroRNA Transcription Program in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development
Wing-Kit Yip,Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng,Ranxu Zhu,Raymond Wai-Ming Lung,Daisy Pui-Fong Tsang,Suki Shuk-Kei Lau,Yangchao Chen,Jonathan Gabriel Sung,Paul Bo-San Lai,Enders Kai-On Ng,Jun Yu,Nathalie Wong,Ka-Fai To,Vincent Wai-Sun Wong,Joseph Jao-Yiu Sung,Henry Lik-Yuen Chan
PLOS ONE , 2012, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022888
Abstract: The biological pathways and functional properties by which misexpressed microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to liver carcinogenesis have been intensively investigated. However, little is known about the upstream mechanisms that deregulate miRNA expressions in this process. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx), a transcriptional trans-activator, is frequently expressed in truncated form without carboxyl-terminus but its role in miRNA expression and HCC development is unclear.
Identification and Characterization of Tropomyosin 3 Associated with Granulin-Epithelin Precursor in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Ching Yan Lam, Chi Wai Yip, Terence C. W. Poon, Christine K. C. Cheng, Eddy W. Y. Ng, Nicholas C. L. Wong, Phyllis F. Y. Cheung, Paul B. S. Lai, Irene O. L. Ng, Sheung Tat Fan, Siu Tim Cheung
PLOS ONE , 2012, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040324
Abstract: Background and Aim Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) has previously been reported to control cancer growth, invasion, chemo-resistance, and served as novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment. However, the nature and characteristics of GEP interacting partner remain unclear. The present study aims to identify and characterize the novel predominant interacting partner of GEP using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. Methods and Results Specific anti-GEP monoclonal antibody was used to capture GEP and its interacting partner from the protein extract of the liver cancer cells Hep3B. The precipitated proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, followed by mass spectrometry and the protein identity was demonstrated to be tropomyosin 3 (TPM3). The interaction has been validated in additional cell models using anti-TPM3 antibody and immunoblot to confirm GEP as the interacting partner. GEP and TPM3 expressions were then examined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in clinical samples, and their transcript levels were significantly correlated. Elevated TPM3 levels were observed in liver cancer compared with the adjacent non-tumorous liver, and patients with elevated TPM3 levels were shown to have poor recurrence-free survival. Protein expression of GEP and TPM3 was observed only in the cytoplasm of liver cancer cells by immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions TPM3 is an interacting partner of GEP and may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Psychometrics of the chronic liver disease questionnaire for Southern Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Elegance Ting Pui Lam, Cindy Lo Kuen Lam, Ching Lung Lai, Man Fung Yuen, Daniel Yee Tak Fong
World Journal of Gastroenterology , 2009,
Abstract: AIM: To test the psychometric properties of a Chinese [(Hong Kong) HK] translation of the chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ).METHODS: A Chinese (HK) translation of the CLDQ was developed by iterative translation and cognitive debriefing. It was then administered to 72 uncomplicated and 78 complicated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Hong Kong together with a structured questionnaire on service utilization, and the Chinese (HK) SF-36 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2).RESULTS: Scaling success was ≥ 80% for all but three items. A new factor assessing sleep was found and items of two (Fatigue and Systemic Symptoms) subscales tended to load on the same factor. Internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities ranged from 0.58-0.90 for different subscales. Construct validity was confirmed by the expected correlations between the SF-36v2 Health Survey and CLDQ scores. Mean scores of CLDQ were significantly lower in complicated compared with uncomplicated CHB, supporting sensitivity in detecting differences between groups.CONCLUSION: The Chinese (HK) CLDQ is valid, reliable and sensitive for patients with CHB. Some modifications to the scaling structure might further improve its psychometric properties.
Virtual versus Physical Channel for Sex Networking in Men Having Sex with Men of Sauna Customers in the City of Hong Kong
Shui-Shan Lee, Agnes N. S. Lam, Chi-Kei Lee, Ngai-Sze Wong
PLOS ONE , 2012, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031072
Abstract: Background Advances in communication technology may affect networking pattern, thereby influencing the dynamics of sex partnership. The aim of the study is to explore the impacts of partner sourcing through internet and related channels on exposure risk to sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV. Methods Using venue-based sampling, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted at saunas frequented by men having sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong. Comparison was made between MSM sourcing partners through physical venues alone versus concomitant users of physical and virtual channels, the latter referring to internet and smart-phone applications, using bivariate logistic regression. Results Over a 7-week study period, 299 MSM were recruited from 9 saunas. Three main types of sex partners were distinguished: steady (46.8%), regular (26.4%) and casual (96.0%) partners. Users of sauna (n = 78) were compared with concomitant users of saunas and virtual channels (n = 179) for partner sourcing. Sauna-visiting virtual channel users were younger and inclined to use selected physical venues for sourcing partners. Smart-phone users (n = 90) were not different from other internet-users in terms of age, education level and single/mixed self-identified body appearance. Classifying respondents into high risk and low risk MSM by their frequency of condom use, concomitant use of both sauna and virtual channels accounted for a higher proportion in the high risk category (71.6% vs. 58.2%, OR = 1.81, p<0.05). In virtual channel users, partner sourcing through smart-phone was not associated with a higher practice of unprotected sex. Conclusion MSM sauna customers commonly use virtual channels for sex partner sourcing. Unprotected sex is more prevalent in sauna customers who use virtual channel for sex partner sourcing. While the popularity of smart-phone is rising, its use is not associated with increased behavioural risk for HIV/STI transmission.
Myocardial post-conditioning with Danshen-Gegen decoction protects against isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury via a PKCε/mKATP-mediated pathway in rats
Sze Wong, Po Chiu, Hoi Leung, Limin Zhou, Zhong Zuo, Philip Y Lam, Kam Ko
Chinese Medicine , 2011, DOI: 10.1186/1749-8546-6-7
Abstract: ISO was injected intraperitoneally (200 mg/kg) to induce acute (2-6 hours) myocardial injury in adult female rats. DG (4 g/kg) was administered per oral immediately after the injection of ISO in the rats. Extent of myocardial injury was assessed by measurements of plasma enzyme activities. Myocardial mitochondrial glutathione antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial calcium ion loading and cytochrome c release were also measured. Effects of inhibitors of protein kinase C-epsilon (PKCε) ranslocation and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mKATP) on myocardial post-conditioning by DG were investigated.ISO inflicted acute myocardial injury in the rats as evidenced by increased plasma enzyme activities. DG post-treatment alleviated the ISO-induced acute myocardial injury.DG post-treatment protected the myocardium against ISO-induced acute injury in rats. The myocardial post-conditioning by DG is likely mediated by PKCε/mKATP signaling pathway.Atherosclerosis, which may occur in the coronary artery and is linked to the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD), involves the deposition of plaque-forming biomolecules (cholesterol and triglycerides in particular) onto the inner wall of arteries. The atherosclerotic coronary artery restricts nutrient and oxygen supply to the myocardium, with resultant ischemia and eventual irreversible tissue damage if the ischemic episode is prolonged with or without reperfusion [1,2].Radix Salviae Miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and Radix Puerariae Lobatae (Gegen) are popular Chinese medicinal herbs used in China, Japan and Korea for the treatment of angina pectoris [3] and myocardial infarction [4,5]. Moreover, Danshen-Gegen (DG) decoction has long been used to treat CHD [6]. Previous studies reported that raw Danshen and Gegen and their isolated compounds produced beneficial effects on cardiovascular function in humans [7], rodents [8] and cultured human endothelial cells [5]. Our recent ex vivo study demonstrated th
A Rigidifying Salt-Bridge Favors the Activity of Thermophilic Enzyme at High Temperatures at the Expense of Low-Temperature Activity
Sonia Y. Lam,Rachel C. Y. Yeung,Tsz-Ha Yu,Kong-Hung Sze,Kam-Bo Wong
PLOS Biology , 2012, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001027
Abstract: Thermophilic enzymes are often less active than their mesophilic homologues at low temperatures. One hypothesis to explain this observation is that the extra stabilizing interactions increase the rigidity of thermophilic enzymes and hence reduce their activity. Here we employed a thermophilic acylphosphatase from Pyrococcus horikoshii and its homologous mesophilic acylphosphatase from human as a model to study how local rigidity of an active-site residue affects the enzymatic activity.
A Rigidifying Salt-Bridge Favors the Activity of Thermophilic Enzyme at High Temperatures at the Expense of Low-Temperature Activity
Sonia Y. Lam,Rachel C. Y. Yeung,Tsz-Ha Yu,Kong-Hung Sze,Kam-Bo Wong
PLOS Biology , 2011, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001027
Abstract: Background Thermophilic enzymes are often less active than their mesophilic homologues at low temperatures. One hypothesis to explain this observation is that the extra stabilizing interactions increase the rigidity of thermophilic enzymes and hence reduce their activity. Here we employed a thermophilic acylphosphatase from Pyrococcus horikoshii and its homologous mesophilic acylphosphatase from human as a model to study how local rigidity of an active-site residue affects the enzymatic activity. Methods and Findings Acylphosphatases have a unique structural feature that its conserved active-site arginine residue forms a salt-bridge with the C-terminal carboxyl group only in thermophilic acylphosphatases, but not in mesophilic acylphosphatases. We perturbed the local rigidity of this active-site residue by removing the salt-bridge in the thermophilic acylphosphatase and by introducing the salt-bridge in the mesophilic homologue. The mutagenesis design was confirmed by x-ray crystallography. Removing the salt-bridge in the thermophilic enzyme lowered the activation energy that decreased the activation enthalpy and entropy. Conversely, the introduction of the salt-bridge to the mesophilic homologue increased the activation energy and resulted in increases in both activation enthalpy and entropy. Revealed by molecular dynamics simulations, the unrestrained arginine residue can populate more rotamer conformations, and the loss of this conformational freedom upon the formation of transition state justified the observed reduction in activation entropy. Conclusions Our results support the conclusion that restricting the active-site flexibility entropically favors the enzymatic activity at high temperatures. However, the accompanying enthalpy-entropy compensation leads to a stronger temperature-dependency of the enzymatic activity, which explains the less active nature of the thermophilic enzymes at low temperatures.
Adolescents' experience of comments about their weight – prevalence, accuracy and effects on weight misperception
Wing-Sze Lo, Sai-Yin Ho, Kwok-Kei Mak, Yuen-Kwan Lai, Tai-Hing Lam
BMC Public Health , 2009, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-271
Abstract: In the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance (HKSOS) project 2006–07, 22612 students aged 11–18 (41.5% boys) completed a questionnaire on obesity. Students responded if family members, peers and professionals had seriously commented over the past 30 days that they were "too fat" or "too thin" in two separate questions. The accuracy of the comments was judged against the actual weight status derived from self-reported height and weight. Self-perceived weight status was also reported and any discordance with the actual weight status denoted weight misperception. Logistic regression yielded adjusted odd ratios for weight misperception by the type of weight comments received.One in three students received weight comments, and the mother was the most common source of weight comments. Health professional was the most accurate source of weight comments, yet less than half the comments were correct. Adolescents receiving incorrect comments had increased risk of having weight misperception in all weight status groups. Receiving conflicting comments was positively associated with weight misperception among normal weight adolescents. In contrast, underweight and overweight/obese adolescents receiving correct weight comments were less likely to have weight misperception.Weight comments, mostly incorrect, were commonly received by Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong, and such incorrect comments were associated with weight misperception.It is well known that many adolescents misperceive their weight [1-8]. For example, Brener et al. [2] reported that half the normal weight high school students had weight misperception. About 30% of normal weight Hong Kong adolescents misperceive themselves as fat [9], and more girls than boys overestimate their weight [4,10-14]. The perception of suboptimal weight is associated with depressive symptoms and other psychological problems among adolescents in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies [15-18].The lack of knowledge about and access t
Oral Susceptibility of Singapore Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) to Zika Virus
MeiZhi Irene Li equal contributor,Pei Sze Jeslyn Wong equal contributor,Lee Ching Ng,Cheong Huat Tan
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases , 2012, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001792
Abstract: Background Zika virus (ZIKV) is a little known flavivirus that caused a major outbreak in 2007, in the South-western Pacific Island of Yap. It causes dengue-like syndromes but with milder symptoms. In Africa, where it was first isolated, ZIKV is mainly transmitted by sylvatic Aedes mosquitoes. The virus has also been isolated from Ae. aegypti and it is considered to be the vector involved in the urban transmission of the virus. Transmission of the virus by an African strain of Ae. aegypti has also been demonstrated under laboratory conditions. The aim of the present study is to describe the oral susceptibility of a Singapore strain of Ae. aegypti to ZIKV, under conditions that simulate local climate. Methodology/Principal Findings To assess the receptivity of Singapore's Ae. aegypti to the virus, we orally exposed a local mosquito strain to a Ugandan strain of ZIKV. Upon exposure, fully engorged mosquitoes were maintained in an environmental chamber set at 29°C and 70–75% RH. Eight mosquitoes were then sampled daily from day 1 to day 7, and subsequently on days 10 and 14 post exposure (pe). The virus titer of the midgut and salivary glands of each mosquito were determined using a tissue culture infectious dose50 (TCID50) assay. High midgut infection and salivary gland dissemination rates were observed. By day 5 after the infectious blood meal, ZIKV was found in the salivary glands of more than half of the mosquitoes tested (62%); and by day 10, all mosquitoes were potentially infective. Conclusions/Significance This study showed that Singapore's urban Ae. aegypti are susceptible and are potentially capable of transmitting ZIKV. The virus could be established in Singapore should it be introduced. Nevertheless, Singapore's current dengue control strategy is applicable to control ZIKV.
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