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Biomedical subjects

S C Ho

Publications and source records attributed to S C Ho.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Dietary intake and practices in the Hong Kong Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES: To examine dietary intake and practices of the adult Hong Kong Chinese population to provide a basis for future public health recommendations with regard to prevention of certain chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and osteoporosis. PARTICIPANTS: Age and sex stratified random sample of the Hong Kong Chinese population aged 25 to 74 years (500 men, 510 women). METHOD: A food frequency method over a one week period was used for nutrient quantification, and a separate questionnaire was used for assessment of dietary habits. Information was obtained by interview. RESULTS: Men had higher intakes of energy and higher nutrient density of vitamin D, monounsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol, but lower nutrient density of protein, many vitamins, calcium, iron, copper, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. There was an age related decrease in energy intake and other nutrients except for vitamin C, sodium, potassium, and percentage of total calorie from carbohydrate, which all increased with age. Approximately 50% of the population had a cholesterol intake of < or = 300 mg; 60% had a fat intake < or = 30% of total energy; and 85% had a percentage of energy from saturated fats < or = 10%; criteria considered desirable for cardiovascular health. Seventy eight per cent of the population had sodium intake values in the range shown to be associated with the age related rise in blood pressure with age. Mean calcium intake was lower than the FAO/WHO recommendations. The awareness of the value of wholemeal bread and polyunsaturated fat spreads was lower in this population compared with that in Australia. There was a marked difference in types of cooking oil compared with Singaporeans, the latter using more coconut/palm/mixed vegetable oils. CONCLUSION: Although the current intake pattern for cardiovascular health for fat, saturated fatty acid, and cholesterol fall within the recommended range for over 50% of the population, follow up surveys to monitor the pattern would be needed. Decreasing salt consumption, increasing calcium intake, and increasing the awareness of the health value of fibre may all be beneficial in the context of chronic disease prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Genetic and environmental risk factors for Parkinson's disease in a Chinese population.

An epidemiological study of the environmental and genetic factors as well as the possible interplay between them was conducted among 215 patients with Parkinson's disease and 313 controls in a Chinese population in Hong Kong. In univariate analysis, a regular tea drinking habit was found to be a protective factor, which had not been reported before. Smoking (a protective factor), family history, duration of pesticide exposure (in years) in farming and pesticide exposure during farming in women (both risk factors) have been reported previously. In multivariate analysis, current smoking reached borderline significance at the 5% level and the variables, years exposed to pesticides and family history were significant at the 10% level. By contrast with the common occurrence of polymorphism of the CYP2D6 gene (a gene involved with xenobiotic metabolism) in white people, it is very rare in China and is not thought to be a significant factor contributing to Parkinson's disease in Chinese people.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Cardiovascular risk factors and 18-month mortality and morbidity in an elderly Chinese population aged 70 years and over.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of some cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking habit, physical activity, obesity, adverse lipid profile) in elderly Chinese aged 70 years and over, on overall mortality and morbidity from stroke and ischaemic heart disease. DESIGN: Longitudinal study relating 18-month outcome to baseline values. SUBJECTS: 2,032 subjects (999 men, 1,033 women), mean age 80 years, recruited by random sampling of the Old Age and Disability Allowance Schemes, which covers 90% of the Hong Kong elderly subjects, stratified by sex and 5-year age groups from 70 years onwards. METHODS: At baseline, subjects were visited by interviewers to collect information regarding medical conditions, smoking habit, physical activity, and to measure their height, weight, skinfold thickness, and waist/hip ratio. A follow-up survey was carried out 18 months later to establish the development of any new stroke or ischaemic heart disease, and to note any deaths and the cause of such deaths from death certification. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis overall mortality was negatively associated with body mass index and participation in physical activity, after adjusting for age and sex. Death from stroke was associated with a higher systolic blood pressure at baseline. Among survivors, the only significant associations observed were a negative association between body mass index and the development of heart disease, and a positive association between systolic blood pressure and development of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Few associations between cardiovascular risk factors and morbidity and mortality were demonstrated in elderly Chinese with a mean age of 80 years. The only modifiable risk factor appears to be systolic blood pressure.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Chest physiotherapy does not exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux in patients with chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Chest physiotherapy is beneficial to patients with mucus hypersecretion. However, it is not risk-free. Chest physiotherapy may affect gastrointestinal motility and the competence of the gastroesophageal sphincter during the procedure. Our study was aimed to investigate whether gastroesophageal reflux is exacerbated or induced by chest physiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two adult patients with chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis received chest physiotherapy. An esophageal pH meter was placed 5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction and monitored the reflux episodes from 8 AM on the first day to 12 noon on the second day. Physiotherapy was performed with the patient in three different positions on the second day for one hour. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were found to have gastroesophageal reflux disease. For the study group as a whole, neither the frequency nor the duration of having a pH < 4 during the physiotherapy was significantly different from the mean hourly frequency and mean hourly duration recorded on the first day or from those values recorded at a corresponding time on the first day. As for the patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, the frequency and total duration of gastroesophageal reflux during physiotherapy were not significantly different from the mean hourly frequency and the mean hourly duration or from the values recorded at the corresponding time on the first day. There was no significant difference in the gastroesophageal reflux frequency or the duration in different body positions. CONCLUSION: Chest physiotherapy including postural drainage, percussion and forced expiration techniques in different positions did not induce or increase the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Thyroid storm presenting as jaundice and complete heart block.

Thyroid storm is a difficult diagnosis in "apathetic" variant of hyperthyroidism. The clinical features may not be evident. Abnormal atrioventricular (AV) conduction, such as complete heart block, in thyrotoxicosis is uncommon. We report a case of a 16-year-old girl presenting with fever, jaundice, heart failure and complete heart block in whom the diagnosis of thyroid storm was initially missed because of the unusual presenting features. Prompt resolution of the conduction abnormality occurred when treatment with carbimazole, intravenous iodide and dexamethasone was instituted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A lymphocyte-specific Ltk tyrosine kinase isoform is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum in association with calnexin.

A lymphocyte-specific murine Ltk tyrosine kinase isoform was previously found to reside in the endoplasmic reticulum and to be potently activated upon treatment of cells with alkylating or thiol-oxidizing agents. Based on these observations, a unique role for Ltk was proposed as an endoplasmic reticulum-resident transmembrane kinase regulated by redox changes (Bauskin, A. R., Alkalay, I., and Ben-Neriah, Y. (1991) Cell 66, 685-696). To analyze why this Ltk isoform is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, we investigated its behavior in over-expressing cells. Our results indicate that lymphoid Ltk exhibits a dual Nexo/Ccyt and Ncyt/Cexo transmembrane topology in transfected cells. This unusual behavior may be responsible for retention in the endoplasmic reticulum since mutants with an increased number of positive amino acids downstream of the transmembrane segment exhibit a conventional Nexo/Ccyt orientation and proceed to the cell surface. Endoplasmic reticulum-retained Ltk forms a prominent complex with the chaperone calnexin, suggesting that Ltk may be retained by the mechanism that prevents surface expression of inappropriately folded proteins or incompletely assembled protein complexes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Plasma total antioxidant capacity in an adult Hong Kong Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES: To examine plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) in a Chinese population with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease compared with Caucasian populations, in relation to dietary intake, age, sex, and the presence of cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN AND METHODS: As part of a randomized territory-wide survey stratified by sex and 10-year age groups; 728 subjects (367 men, 361 women) were recruited. Dietary intake assessment was by a food frequency questionnaire; plasma TAOC was estimated by the ABTS method. RESULTS: The TAOC values were normally distributed, the mean +/- SD being 1.78 +/- 0.18 mmol/L. The mean value was higher in men compared with women, inspite of a lower dietary intake of vitamins A and C per 1000 kcal in the former. Subjects who consumed water spinach twice or more a week had higher mean levels. No difference in mean levels was observed between those with and without hypertension or cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: Measurement of plasma TAOC as a risk factor in epidemiological studies of cardiovascular diseases may have limited use, since TAOC include substances associated with a protective effect as well as increased risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Dietary practices and lipid intake in relation to plasma lipid profile in Hong Kong Chinese.

OBJECTIVE: To study dietary lipid intake and plasma lipid profile of the Hong Kong Chinese population as part of a territory wide survey on cardiovascular risk factors. DESIGN: Randomised age and sex stratified survey. SUBJECTS: 1010 subjects aged 25-74 y (500 men, 510 women). MEASUREMENTS: A food frequency method with food tables compiled for Hong Kong was used for nutrient quantitation, while a separate questionnaire was used to examine dietary practices. Plasma lipid profile was estimated using standard laboratory methods. RESULTS: Total calorie, fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), poly- and mono-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA and MUFA), and cholesterol intake were higher in men; however when adjusted for caloric intake no difference was observed. Men had lower intake of PUFA as percentage of total energy had a higher Hegsted Score compared with women. Subjects consuming beans twice or more per week had lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Overall, the population dietary intake was close to the ideal for cardiovascular health: percentage fat not greater than 30% of the total calorie intake, saturated fat intake not greater than 10% of calories, and cholesterol less than 180 mg/1000 Kcal. CONCLUSION: The dietary pattern for Hong Kong Chinese appear to be satisfactory with respect to cardiovascular health.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Predictors of mobility decline: the Hong Kong old-old study.

BACKGROUND: Old age is often accompanied by functional decline and loss of autonomy. This longitudinal study examines the factors associated with mobility decline among a Chinese elderly cohort aged 70 years and above. METHODS: Analyses were carried out on data collected from 1,483 elderly subjects who were functionally mobile at baseline and survived the 18-month follow-up period. The outcome variable "mobility decline" was measured using the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Scale, which accesses subjects' ability to be independent in walking a distance of 50 meters and/or moving up and downstairs during the 18-month follow-up interview. RESULTS: Multivariate backward stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that the following baseline characteristics were independently associated with mobility decline during the follow-up period: increasing age (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.6 for every 5-year increase in age), no formal level of education (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0-3.9), no current practice of exercise (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1), symptoms of palpitation (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8), body mass index [weight (kg)/height (m)2] below 20 (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.6), and slow gait velocity (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.09-1.16 per second increase in gait time). There was also significant association between the experience of falls during follow-up and mobility decline (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.9-4.5). CONCLUSION: Low body weight, lack of exercise, and falls during the follow-up period might serve as markers as to which subjects are at risk for mobility decline.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1997

Isolation and characterization of a 230 kDa protein (p230) specifically expressed in fetal brains: its involvement in neurite outgrowth from rat cerebral cortex neurons grown on monolayer of astrocytes.

By screening with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against growth cone membrane fraction from fetal porcine brains, we have identified a 230 kDa antigen, termed p230. Western blot analysis of extracts from various tissues demonstrated that p230 is specifically expressed in brains, in which its expression is temporally restricted; it was especially prominent in the embryonic and the early postnatal stage, and decreased to subdetectable levels in the adult brain. Further characterization of p230 revealed that it is a peripherally-membrane associated, cell surface protein produced by astrocytes. Neurite outgrowth of E18 rat cerebral cortex neurons cultured on a monolayer of astrocytes was significantly reduced in the presence of anti-p230 polyclonal antibody. Partial amino acid sequences of p230 purified from fetal porcine brains were highly homologous to an extracellular matrix protein, tenascin-C. These lines of evidence suggest that p230, a tenascin-C-like molecule present in fetal porcine brains, plays important roles during early brain development, particularly in growth cone guidance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment of older persons in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVES: There have been few studies of the attitudes of older Asians toward life-sustaining therapy. This paper presents the knowledge of and attitudes toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and life support in a group of subjects in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 543 subjects, 382 were old-age home residents and 161 were in-patients of geriatric wards. MEASUREMENTS: Sociodemographic data, functional ability (using the Barthel Index), self-perceived health scale, knowledge of life-sustaining procedures, and subjects' preferences for such treatments were studied. They were also asked to give the most important reason for wanting or declining CPR, and to indicate who they believe should be the decision-maker(s) regarding whether they should receive life-sustaining treatment. RESULTS: Approximately 80% of old-age home residents and 60% of hospitalized patients had no knowledge of life-sustaining therapy. The success rate of CPR was overestimated by older subjects, and most wished to be resuscitated. However, up to 20% changed their minds and declined CPR after they knew the true outcome of the procedure. Half of the subjects wanted life support. Univariate analysis found that advanced age and not having a spouse were associated significantly with CPR preference, whereas subjects' knowledge was associated with preference for life support. Multivariate analysis revealed that advanced age, not having a spouse, and female sex were independently associated with a tendency to decline CPR. A considerable proportion of older people wished to be involved in decision-making regarding life-sustaining treatment. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of life-sustaining procedures was poor among older people in Hong Kong compared with their counterparts in western countries. Although most older subjects wanted CPR, a number of them changed their minds after they knew the poor outcome. Therefore, older patients should be given more information about life-sustaining therapy and encouraged to take part in their treatment plans.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

An estimate of chronic disease burden and some economic consequences among the elderly Hong Kong population.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the burden of chronic disease for an elderly Chinese population aged 70 years and over, and to illustrate the use of this information in estimating the economic consequences of disease burden using stroke as an example. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1902 subjects recruited by random sampling of the old age and disability allowance schemes, which cover over 90% of the Hong Kong elderly population, stratified by sex and five year age groups from age 70 years onwards. METHOD: Information was collected on 10 medical conditions at baseline: arthritis, hypertension, cardiac disease, stroke, chronic obstructive airways disease, peptic ulcer, diabetes mellitus, osteoporotic fracture, malignancy, and dementia. A follow up survey was carried out after 18 months to determine the occurrence of new disease and the number with disease who had died. Disease burden is calculated as the number with disease at baseline plus the number developing new disease minus the number who had died. RESULTS: Disease burden figures were highest for arthritis, hypertension, cardiac disease, and peptic ulcer, and were higher in the 70-79 age group than the 80+ age group for some diseases. For stroke, the economic cost based on a population projection for 2001 was estimated to be around HK$1,900,000,000, or US$250 million. CONCLUSION: Information on the burden of chronic disease is important. It enables the economic consequences to be estimated so that strategies can be developed to prevent diseases with high costs and known effective preventive methods.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1997

Determinants of peak bone mass in Chinese women aged 21-40 years. III. Physical activity and bone mineral density.

Previous studies on the relation between moderate physical activity and bone mass have observed conflicting results. Many of these studies have not dissociated the role of physical activity by age groups and in relation to the period of peak bone mass formation. Our cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data of a longitudinal study of 273 women aged 21-40 attempted to evaluate the role of moderate physical activity on bone mass around the period of peak bone mass attainment. The analyses were carried out separately for the two age groups--21-30 and 31-40--and had also taken into account the effects of age, dietary calcium intake, and lean body mass on bone mineral density (BMD). The total metabolic equivalent values (MET) of leisure time physical activity was based on the MET values for each activity and the reported time spent on each activity in the past year. The results indicated that among the younger group of women, high level of leisure time physical activity was associated with higher bone mass at both the spine and the hip. Additive effects of physical activity and dietary calcium intake on the spine and the hip BMD were observed. Together with age and lean body mass, physical activity and dietary calcium intake accounted for 19% of the variances of bone mineral at the spine and 9-11% at the hip. Among women aged 31-40, presumably after the peak bone mass formation, lean body mass as well as fat mass have independent strong association with BMD. Physical activity was not associated with bone mass in this age group.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1997

Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody levels in Singaporean patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.

Stimulating thyrotrophin receptor antibodies (TRAbs) have been identified as the antibodies responsible for the pathogenesis of Graves' disease (GD) while blocking TRAbs have been implicated as the cause of hypothyroidism in some patients with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT). TRAb positivity in patients with other thyroid disorders such as silent thyroiditis, toxic multinodular goitre and subacute thyroiditis has been reported but the role of TRAb in these disorders is unclear. A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of TRAb positivity in Singaporean patients with a spectrum of thyroid diseases. TRAb levels were measured in 181 patients with GD, 54 patients with CLT (37 goitrous and 17 agoitrous), 16 patients with thyroid nodules, 11 patients with subacute thyroiditis, 1 patient with hyperthyroidism due to a human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-secreting tumour, 2 patients with thyroid stimulating hormone-secreting tumours and 2 patients with amiodarone-induced dysthyroidism. Using a cut-off of 10.0 U/L, TRAb levels were found to be positive in 79.0% of GD patients, 9.2% of CLT patients (euthyroid and hypothyroid) and no patients with other thyroid disorders. TRAb was a more sensitive marker of GD than anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (53.2%) but not anti-microsomal (78.3%) antibodies. TRAb levels > 10.0 U/L appear to be highly specific for autoimmune thyroid disease.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1997

Aldosterone to renin ratios in the evaluation of primary aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism, though an uncommon cause of hypertension, causes significant morbidity, making it important to diagnose and treat this condition. Its evaluation requires complex and time consuming investigative procedures in order to confirm the diagnosis and to differentiate between the subtypes of aldosterone producing adenoma and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. Often, the values of renin and aldosterone are equivocal, and the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism is in doubt. In this study, we examine the use of aldosterone to renin ratios in confirming the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism when the usual criteria of suppressed renin and elevated aldosterone are not met. We have found that an aldosterone to renin ratio of 50 has a 100% specificity and 92% sensitivity for detecting primary aldosteronism. Also, an aldosterone to renin ratio of > 2000 is suggestive of an aldosterone producing adenoma.

Adrenocortical Adenoma↗
PubMed1996

International comparison of hip fracture rates in 1988-89.

A comparison of hip fracture rates among nine countries (Canada, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and Venezuela) was made using national hospital discharge data for the same time interval. The rates increased by age and were higher for females than males in all nine countries. When based on overall discharge rates, the incidence of hip fracture appeared high in three European countries (Finland, Scotland and Sweden) relative to the other countries. However, when transfer cases were removed and adjustments made for differences in case definition, the risk of hip fracture for both men and women was much similar among the four European and two North American countries, but higher than in Hong Kong. Rates of fracture were lowest in Venezuela and Chile, varying from three to 11 times less than for residents of the other seven countries. Although there are limitations in using hospital discharge data as a measure of incidence, the wide variation in the risk of hip fracture across the nine countries appears real but differences between North American and north European countries may not be as great as previously reported. Such cross-national comparisons may help clarify different etiologic hypotheses.

Age Factors↗