Information Literacy Self-Efficacy and Academic Motivation of College Students in Hong Kong

Susan Ka Yee Chow,Jade Lai King Wong,Bonnie Mei Ling Tam,Daisy Wai Yu Kwong 한국간호과학회 2019 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2019 No.10

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.

Twenty-four months long-term follow-up report on the effect of poly lactic-co-glycolic acid suspension suture in Asian with mild-moderate face laxity

Lam Phoebe Kar Wai,Fung Chi Pun,Lam James Yui,Luk Wang Lung,Lee Alvin Ka Wai,Lee Cheuk Hung,Tam Paul Man Kei,Lau Edwin Kwan Chark 대한미용의학회 2022 대한미용의학회지 Vol.6 No.1

Background: There was evidence of improvement in mid-face laxity using three pairs of suspension sutures in mid-face lifting in our early and mid-term follow-up. Objective: This 24-month prospective follow-up study aimed to determine the efficacy of mid-face lifting and lower jawline contouring using poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) sutures in Asian patients. Methods: Ten healthy volunteers received three pairs of 8-cones bidirectional cones sutures at the mid-face. One of the ten volunteers lost to follow-up, and all remaining patients followed up for 24 months. Our primary outcome measure is the change in the facial laxity rating scale (FLRS), an “improvement” defined as at least “one-grade change” in FLRS. Other assessment parameters include the severity of the nasolabial fold (NLF), assessed on the wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS). The secondary outcome measures were the self-satisfaction rating scale (SSRS) and global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS), rated by participants at each follow-up interval. Results: A linear improvement in the mid-face was observed almost immediately after treatment, with progressive improvement up to at least 12 months following the intervention and no deterioration by 24 months. This improvement was significant (p<0.05), and the differences between before and after treatment at each follow-up interval were large (Cohen’s d>0.8). Contour improvement for the lower face followed a similar trend, except for a delay in the observable differences at three months (Cohen’s d=0.29, 0.8 at six weeks and three months, respectively). The differences in the level of patient satisfaction were significant (p<0.05) from 6 weeks to 24 months, peaking between 12 and 18 months, based on both the GAIS and SSRS ratings. No observed complications. Conclusion: Mid-facing lifting in Asian patients with mild-to-moderate laxity is safe and effective with PLGA bidirectional cone sutures, with concurrent improvement in the lower face contour and elevated patient satisfaction over the 24-month follow-up period.

Effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in Treating Clinical Symptoms of Substance Abuse and Dependence: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Chung-Ting Chang,Pei-Ju Hsieh,Hsin-Chien Lee,Chun-Hong Lo,Ka-Wai Tam,El-Wui Loh 대한정신약물학회 2021 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.19 No.2

Objective: Treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is believed to reduce the clinical symptoms among individuals with substance abuse or dependence. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effective-ness of NAC in treating substance abuse and dependence. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov registry, and the Cochrane Library were searched for trials published before June 2020. Results: A total of 16 trials were analyzed. The treatment effectiveness domains assessed in this study were craving and depressive symptoms, withdrawal syndrome, adverse events, and smoking frequency. Standardized mean difference (SMD), weighted mean difference (WMD), and odds ratio (OR) were used for evaluation where appropriate. A significant decrease in craving symptoms was observed in the NAC treatment group compared with the control group (SMD, −0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.21 to 0.21). When withdrawal and depressive symptoms were considered as a single domain, the NAC treatment group demonstrated a significantly higher overall improvement than the control group (SMD, −0.35; 95% CI, −0.64 to −0.06). No between-group differences in term of the OR of adverse events (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.68 to 2.06) and a non-significant trend toward reduction in smoking frequency was observed in the NAC treatment group compared with the control group (WMD, −3.09; 95% CI, −6.50 to 0.32). Conclusion: NAC provides certain noticeable benefits in attenuating substance craving and might help alleviate depres-sive symptoms and withdrawal syndrome. Precautious measures should be considered when using NAC although no difference in adverse effects was found between NAC treatment and control group.

Effect of patient decision aids on choice between sugammadex and neostigmine in surgeries under general anesthesia: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Wang Li-Kai,Lin Yao-Tsung,Chen Jui-Tai,Lan Winnie,Hung Kuo-Chuan,Chen Jen-Yin,Liu Kuei-Jung,Yen Yu-Chun,Chou Yun-Yun,Cherng Yih-Giun,Tam Ka-Wai 대한마취통증의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.76 No.4

Background: Shared decision making using patient decision aids (PtDAs) was established over a decade ago, but few studies have evaluated its efficacy in Asian countries. We therefore evaluated the application of PtDAs in a decision conflict between two muscle relaxant reversal agents, neostigmine and sugammadex, and sequentially analyzed the regional differences and operating room turnover rates.Methods: This multicenter, outcome-assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial included 3,132 surgical patients from two medical centers admitted between March 2020 and August 2020. The patients were randomly divided into the classical and PtDA groups for pre-anesthesia consultations. Their clinicodemographic characteristics were analyzed to identify variables influencing the choice of reversal agent. On the day of the pre-anesthesia consultation, the patients completed the four SURE scale (sure of myself, understand information, risk-benefit ratio, encouragement) screening items. The operating turnover rates were also evaluated using anesthesia records. Results: Compared with the classical group, the PtDA group felt more confident about receiving sufficient medical information (P < 0.001), felt better informed about the advantages and disadvantages of the medications (P < 0.001), exhibited a superior understanding of the benefits and risks of their options (P < 0.001), and felt surer about their choice (P < 0.001). Moreover, the PtDA group had a significantly greater tendency to choose sugammadex over neostigmine (P < 0.001). Conclusions: PtDA interventions in pre-anesthesia consultations provided surgical patients with clear knowledge and better support. PtDAs should be made available in other medical fields to enhance shared clinical decision-making.