Insights from a Prospective Follow-up of Thyroid Function and Autoimmunity among COVID-19 Survivors

David Tak Wai Lui,Chi-Ho Lee,Wing-Sun Chow,Alan Chun Hong Lee,Anthony Raymond Tam,Carol Ho Yi Fong,Chun Yiu Law,Eunice Ka Hong Leung,Kelvin Kai Wang To,Kathryn Choon Beng Tan,Yu-Cho Woo,Ching Wan Lam 대한내분비학회 2021 Endocrinology and metabolism Vol.36 No.3

Background: The occurrence of Graves’ disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) raised concerns that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may trigger thyroid autoimmunity. We aimed to address the current uncertainties regarding incident thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity among COVID-19 survivors. Methods: We included consecutive adult COVID-19 patients without known thyroid disorders, who were admitted to Queen Mary Hospital from July 21 to September 21, 2020 and had serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine (fT3), and anti-thyroid antibodies measured both on admission and at 3 months. Results: In total, 122 patients were included. Among 20 patients with abnormal thyroid function tests (TFTs) on admission (mostly low fT3), 15 recovered. Among 102 patients with initial normal TFTs, two had new-onset abnormalities that could represent different phases of thyroiditis. Among 104 patients whose anti-thyroid antibody titers were reassessed, we observed increases in anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) (P<0.001) and anti-thyroglobulin (P<0.001), but not anti-thyroid stimulating hormone receptor titers (P=0.486). Of 82 patients with negative anti-TPO findings at baseline, 16 had a significant interval increase in anti-TPO titer by >12 U, and four became anti-TPO-positive. Worse baseline clinical severity (P=0.018), elevated C-reactive protein during hospitalization (P=0.033), and higher baseline anti-TPO titer (P=0.005) were associated with a significant increase in anti-TPO titer. Conclusion: Most patients with thyroid dysfunction on admission recovered during convalescence. Abnormal TFTs suggestive of thyroiditis occurred during convalescence, but infrequently. Importantly, our novel observation of an increase in anti-thyroid antibody titers post-COVID-19 warrants further follow-up for incident thyroid dysfunction among COVID-19 survivors.

Comparison of Serum Ketone Levels and Cardiometabolic Efficacy of Dapagliflozin versus Sitagliptin among Insulin-Treated Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Chi-Ho Lee,Mei-Zhen Wu,David Tak-Wai Lui,Darren Shing-Hei Chan,Carol Ho-Yi Fong,Sammy Wing-Ming Shiu,Ying Wong,Alan Chun-Hong Lee,Joanne King-Yan Lam,Yu-Cho Woo,Karen Siu-Ling Lam,Kelvin Kai-Hang Yiu 대한당뇨병학회 2022 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.46 No.6

Background: Insulin-treated patients with long duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk of ketoacidosis related to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). The extent of circulating ketone elevation in these patients remains unknown. We conducted this study to compare the serum ketone response between dapagliflozin, an SGLT2i, and sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, among insulin-treated T2DM patients.Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, active comparator-controlled study involving 60 insulin-treated T2DM patients. Participants were randomized 1:1 for 24-week of dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or sitagliptin 100 mg daily. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels were measured at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after intervention. Comprehensive cardiometabolic assessments were performed with measurements of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), vibration-controlled transient elastography and echocardiography.Results: Among these 60 insulin-treated participants (mean age 58.8 years, diabetes duration 18.2 years, glycosylated hemoglobin 8.87%), as compared with sitagliptin, serum BHB levels increased significantly after 24 weeks of dapagliflozin (P=0.045), with a median of 27% increase from baseline. Change in serum BHB levels correlated significantly with change in free fatty acid levels. Despite similar glucose lowering, dapagliflozin led to significant improvements in body weight (P=0.006), waist circumference (P=0.028), HDL-C (P=0.041), CEC (P=0.045), controlled attenuation parameter (P=0.007), and liver stiffness (P=0.022). Average E/e’, an echocardiographic index of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, was also significantly lower at 24 weeks in participants treated with dapagliflozin (P=0.037).Conclusion: Among insulin-treated T2DM patients with long diabetes duration, compared to sitagliptin, dapagliflozin modestly increased ketone levels and was associated with cardiometabolic benefits.

HKTV: Mission Impossible - The Agile Giant

Matthias Buehlmaier,Chun Lai Ma,Chau Yin Chan,Wai Yiu Ryan Ho Academy of Asian Business (AAB) 2020 Academy of Asian Business Review Vol.6 No.2

Hong Kong Television Limited (HKTV) is an emerging heavyweight in the Hong Kong retailing and e-Commerce market, earning the reputation as a successful e-Commerce platform locally. The story of HKTV is a demonstration of attaining business performance while shifting industry and service as a result of excellent management and corporate strategy, making it an ideal subject to investigate. This study aims to track its story-like adventure from its start of providing telecommunications service to television broadcasting services, before the dramatic change of stepping into the unfamiliar e-Commerce market segment. The report provides an insight on the historical development of HKTV, highlighting its major turning points. The story of HKTV is a lesson of perseverance, devotion and change. Effective corporate strategy, creative corporate communication and marketing strategies, and most importantly, passion and vision are the pivotal factors that lead to the recognized success of HKTV. These earmarks enabled HKTV to carve its niche in the market, sustaining its ‘giant’ position in the ever-changing era and industry characteristics. While currently not having the most global exposure, the case of HKTV on its development and repositioning is one of the most remarkable and referential companies, and firms can get a lot out of HKTV by learning the way of how to embrace a variety of challenges ahead in the contemporary ever-changing markets.

No difference in long-term functional outcomes or survivorship after total knee arthroplasty with or without computer navigation: a 17-year survivorship analysis

( Ng Jonathan Patrick ),( Lau Lawrence Chun Man ),( Chau Wai-wang ),( Ong Michael Tim-yun ),( Cheung Kin Wing ),( Chiu Kwok Hing ),( Chung Kwong Yin ),( Ho Kevin Ki-wai ) 대한슬관절학회 2021 대한슬관절학회지 Vol.33 No.-

Background: The literature comparing the long-term outcomes and survivorship of computer navigation-assisted and conventional total knee replacement (TKR) is sparse. Moreover, of the available comparative studies with followup duration of more than 10 years, the results seem to be conflicting. The purpose of this long-term study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes, and implant survivorship, of TKR performed with and without computer navigation. Methods: We retrospectively compared the results of 49 computer-navigated TKRs and 139 conventional TKRs. The mean age of the patients was 67.9 (range 52-81) years for the navigation group and 67.1 (range 50-80) years for the conventional TKR group. The mean duration of follow-up for the conventional and navigation TKR groups was 12.9 and 13.2 years, respectively. Clinical and radiographic follow-up examinations of the patients were performed at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-operatively, and at 1-year intervals thereafter. Results: There were no significant differences in the post-operative Knee Society knee and function score between the two groups. The mean overall deviation from neutral alignment and the radiological outliers were significantly higher in the conventional TKR group. The overall survival rates at 17 years were 92.9% for the navigation group and 95.6% for the conventional TKR group (p = 0.62). Conclusions: Navigated TKR resulted in fewer radiological outliers; however, this did not translate to better long-term functional outcomes or implant survival.

Studies on the storage stability of fermented red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) drink

Kah Yee Choo,Caryn Kho,Renee Lay Hong Lim,Chun Wai Ho,Yien Yien Ong,Yin Yin Thoo,Chin Ping Tan 한국식품과학회 2018 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.27 No.5

The objective of this work was to study the effect of storage temperatures and duration on the stability of fermented red dragon fruit drink (FRDFD) on its betacyanins content, physicochemical and microbiological qualities (BPM) and determining sensory acceptability. Results showed that both storage temperatures and duration have a significant effect on betacyanins content and physicochemical properties of FRDFD. Aerobic mesophilic and yeast and mold counts were lower than 1 9 103 CFU/ mL for FRDFD stored at both temperatures. The loss of betanin (16.53–13.93 g/L) at 4 C was 15.73% with no significant changes in physicochemical properties from week two onwards compared to 56.32% (16.53–7.22 g/L) of betanin loss at 25 C. At week eight, FRDFD stored at 4 C still contained 13.93 g/L betanin with a pH value of 3.46, suggested its potential as a functional drink which is sensory acceptable (mean score[80% using hedonic test) among consumers.

Study on bioaccessibility of betacyanins from red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus)

Kah Yee Choo,Yien Yien Ong,Renee Lay Hong Lim,Chin Ping Tan,Chun Wai Ho 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.4

Betacyanins are bioactive dietary phytochemicalswhich can be found in red dragon fruit (RDF). Therefore, the bioaccessibility of betacyanins that presentin fermented red dragon fruit drink (RDFD) and pressedred dragon fruit juice (RDFJ) was accessed in simulatedgastric and intestinal digestion. Results disclosed thatbetacyanins from RDFD and RDFJ suffered minor loss(\25%) at gastric-like environment but greater loss wasobserved during the intestinal phase digestion. After subjectedto intestinal digestion, RDFD retained 46.42% ofbetanin while RDFJ retained 43.76%, with betanin concentrationof 17.12 mM and 12.37 mM, respectively. Findings also revealed that RDFD exhibited higherantioxidant capacity compared to RDFJ after subjected tointestinal digestion, with values of 0.88 mM Troloxequivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and 0.85 mMTEAC, respectively. The data suggests that betacyaninsthat present in RDF are bioaccessible while fermentationable to enhance the bioavailability with more betacyaninsretained after intestinal digestion.