IL10 and TNF variants and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among three Asian populations

Hosgood III, H. Dean,Au, Wing-Yan,Kim, Hee Nam,Liu, Jie,Hu, Wei,Tse, Jovic,Song, Bao,Wong, Kit-fai,Lee, Je-Jung,Chanock, Stephen J.,Siu, L. P.,Purdue, Mark P.,Shin, Min-ho,Yu, Jinming,Liang, Raymond,K Springer-Verlag 2013 International journal of hematology Vol.97 No.6

<P>Genetic variation in immune-related genes, such as IL10 and TNF, have been associated with the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in Caucasian populations. To test the hypothesis that IL10 and TNF polymorphisms may be associated with NHL risk in Asian populations, we genotyped 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL10 and TNF/LTA loci in three independent case-control studies (2635 cases and 4234 controls). IL10 rs1800871, rs1800872, and rs1800896 were genotyped in all three studies, while 5 of the remaining SNPs were genotyped in two studies, and 12 in a single study. IL10 rs1800896 was associated with B cell lymphoma [per-allele odds ratio (OR)?=?1.25, 95?% confidence interval (CI)?1.08-1.45; p trend?=?0.003], specifically diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (per-allele OR?=?1.29, 95?% CI?1.08-1.53; p trend?=?0.004), as well as T cell lymphoma (per-allele OR?=?1.44, 95?% CI?1.13-1.82; p trend?=?0.003). TNF rs1800629, which was genotyped in only two of our studies, was also associated with B cell lymphoma (per-allele OR?=?0.77, 95?% CI?0.64-0.91; p trend?=?0.003), specifically DLBCL (per-allele OR?=?0.69, 95?% CI?0.55-0.86; p trend?=?0.001). Our findings suggest that genetic variation in IL10 and TNF may also play a role in lymphomagenesis in Asian populations.</P>

Consumer behaviour of pre-teen and teenage youth in China

Osmud Rahman,Xiaopeng Chen,Raymond Au 한국마케팅과학회 2013 Journal of Global Fashion Marketing Vol.4 No.4

The purpose of this study is to investigate how age, gender, information sources andparent-child communication may influence Chinese pre-teen (9–12 years old)and teenage (13–18 years old) shopping behaviour. A quantitative research methodand a self-administered questionnaire was employed to measure the significanceof clothing evaluative cues, parent-child communication and shopping behaviour ofpre-teens and teens in the People’s Republic of China. In total, 273 usable datawere collected for this study. It is evident that peer influence was considered byrespondents as an important information source, followed by store displays. Parent–child communication also played an important role on clothing consumption. Inorder to meet the needs and aspirations of these young consumers, fashion designersshould pay attention to material selection and usage. In addition, fashion retailersshould focus on the visual and experiential aspects of the store environment inorder to build a stronger connection and resonance with these young consumergroups.

Association Between Leisure Time Physical Activity, Cardiopulmonary Fitness, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Cardiovascular Workload at Work in Firefighters

Yu, Clare C.W.,Au, Chun T.,Lee, Frank Y.F.,So, Raymond C.H.,Wong, John P.S.,Mak, Gary Y.K.,Chien, Eric P.,McManus, Alison M. Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2015 Safety and health at work Vol.6 No.3

Background: Overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors are prevalent among firefighters in some developed countries. It is unclear whether physical activity and cardiopulmonary fitness reduce cardiovascular disease risk and the cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters. The present study investigated the relationship between leisure-time physical activity, cardiopulmonary fitness, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters in Hong Kong. Methods: Male firefighters (n = 387) were randomly selected from serving firefighters in Hong Kong (n = 5,370) for the assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, known cardiovascular diseases). One-third (Target Group) were randomly selected for the assessment of off-duty leisure-time physical activity using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Maximal oxygen uptake was assessed, as well as cardiovascular workload using heart rate monitoring for each firefighter for four "normal" 24-hour working shifts and during real-situation simulated scenarios. Results: Overall, 33.9% of the firefighters had at least two cardiovascular disease risk factors. In the Target Group, firefighters who had higher leisure-time physical activity had a lower resting heart rate and a lower average working heart rate, and spent a smaller proportion of time working at a moderate-intensity cardiovascular workload. Firefighters who had moderate aerobic fitness and high leisure-time physical activity had a lower peak working heart rate during the mountain rescue scenario compared with firefighters who had low leisure-time physical activities. Conclusion: Leisure-time physical activity conferred significant benefits during job tasks of moderate cardiovascular workload in firefighters in Hong Kong.

Association Between Leisure Time Physical Activity, Cardiopulmonary Fitness, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Cardiovascular Workload at Work in Firefighters

Clare C.W. Yu,Chun T. Au,Frank Y.F. Lee,Raymond C.H. So,John P.S. Wong,Gary Y.K. Mak,Eric P. Chien,Alison M. McManus 한국산업안전공단 산업안전보건연구원 2015 Safety and health at work Vol.6 No.3

Background: Overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors are prevalent among firefighters in some developed countries. It is unclear whether physical activity and cardiopulmonary fitness reduce cardiovascular disease risk and the cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters. The present study investigated the relationship between leisure-time physical activity, cardiopulmonary fitness, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters in Hong Kong. Methods: Male firefighters (n ¼ 387) were randomly selected from serving firefighters in Hong Kong (n ¼ 5,370) for the assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, known cardiovascular diseases). One-third (Target Group) were randomly selected for the assessment of off-duty leisure-time physical activity using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Maximal oxygen uptake was assessed, as well as cardiovascular workload using heart rate monitoring for each firefighter for four “normal” 24-hour working shifts and during real-situation simulated scenarios. Results: Overall, 33.9% of the firefighters had at least two cardiovascular disease risk factors. In the Target Group, firefighters who had higher leisure-time physical activity had a lower resting heart rate and a lower average working heart rate, and spent a smaller proportion of time working at a moderateintensity cardiovascular workload. Firefighters who had moderate aerobic fitness and high leisuretime physical activity had a lower peak working heart rate during the mountain rescue scenario compared with firefighters who had low leisure-time physical activities. Conclusion: Leisure-time physical activity conferred significant benefits during job tasks of moderate cardiovascular workload in firefighters in Hong Kong.

An fMRI Study Showing the Effect of Acupuncture in Chronic Stage Stroke Patients With Aphasia

Anson C.M. Chau,Xianyong Jiang,Paul K.M. Au-Yeung,Leonard S.W. Li,Raymond Tak Fai Cheung 사단법인약침학회 2010 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.3 No.1

Acupuncture is used as a treatment in stroke patients with aphasia, yet the underlying neural mechanisms are unknown. This study aims to examine the relationship between changes in language function and brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging in chronic stroke patients with aphasia who underwent an 8-week acupuncture protocol. Seven chronic stroke patients were identified from a stroke database of a regional acute hospital in Hong Kong between January and July 2007. Patients were treated three times a week over a period of 8 weeks. Four acupoints were stimulated on the weak side of the patient’s body. No other rehabilitation was given during the study period. Changes in language function were measured by aphasia quotient (AQ) of Cantonese Aphasia Battery (CAB). Functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygen level dependent signals were used to demonstrate the correlation between changes in AQ and brain activation after treatment. The patients were divided into well-recovered and poorlyrecovered groups based on their CAB scores at entry. The well-recovered group showed significant improvement in CAB scores after receiving acupuncture treatment. A significant correlation between changes in AQ and blood oxygen level dependent activation in the lesioned Wernicke’s speech area was found. These preliminary results suggest that acupuncture may be beneficial to language recovery in chronic stroke patients.