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حكمة الشفقة : قصص مقابلات مشهورة وبصائر غير محدودة الزمن
تتعلم في هذا الكتاب حكمة الشفقة التي تتجلى في السعادة التي يشعر بها كل من المعطي والمتلقي بأمثلة من حياة الناس في الغرب والشرق والشمال والجنوب والكتاب يقدم الدالاي لاما إلى القارىء العربي فإنما تتوخى معرفة الآخر واحترام الآخر والتفاعل مع الآخر لخير البشر كل البشر بغض النظر عن معتقدهم وجنسهم ولونهم.
BOOK
The cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship of diabetic retinopathy to cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
ObjectivesTo establish a potential relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and different stages of cognitive impairmentMethodsLiterature searches were conducted on PubMed and EMBASE, with keywords “diabetic retinopathy” and “cognitive impairment”. Inclusion criteria were original human studies, and English language. Quality of studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment (NOSGEN). The register number of this study on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) is CRD42021236747. The main outcome measures were odds ratios (OR) and risk ratios (RR) for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, respectively. Meta-regression was performed to evaluate the effects of potential moderator variables, including, age, onset age of diabetes mellitus (DM), duration of DM, and HbA1c.ResultsTwenty-five studies (17 cross-sectional and 8 longitudinal studies) with a total of 1,963,914 subjects, were included. Among the cross-sectional studies, the pooled ORs of any cognitive impairment, early stage of cognitive impairment and dementia in subjects with DR (95% confidence interval) were 1.48 (1.08–2.02), 1.59 (1.01–2.51), and 1.13 (0.86–1.50), respectively. Among the longitudinal studies, the pooled RRs of any cognitive impairment, early stage of cognitive impairment, and dementia in subjects with DR (95% confidence interval) were 1.35 (1.12–1.65), 1.50 (1.06–2.12), and 1.31 (1.03–1.66), respectively. Meta-regression showed age, onset age of DM, duration of DM, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were not statistically associated with the outcomes.ConclusionsThe presence of DR in DM patients indicates both higher odds of prevalent cognitive impairment and escalated risks of developing cognitive impairment in the future.
Journal Article
Assessment of retinal neurodegeneration with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: a systematic review and meta-analysis
ObjectivesTo comprehensively assess diabetic retinopathy neurodegeneration (DRN) as quantified by retinal neuronal and axonal layers measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM).MethodsArticles on the topic of examining macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (m-GCIPL), macular retinal nerve fibre layer (m-RNFL), macular ganglion cell complex (m-GCC), and peripapillary RNFL (p-RNFL) measured with SD-OCT in DM subjects without DR (NDR) or with non-proliferative DR (NPDR) were searched in PubMed and Embase up to November 31, 2019. Standardized mean difference (SMD) as effect size were pooled using random-effects model.ResultsThirty-six studies searched from online databases and the CUHK DM cohort were included in the meta-analysis. In the comparison between NDR and control, macular measures including mean m-GCIPL (SMD = −0.26, p = 0.003), m-RNFL (SMD = −0.26, p = 0.046), and m-GCC (SMD = −0.28; p = 0.009) were significantly thinner in the NDR group. In the comparison between NPDR and NDR, only mean p-RNFL was significantly thinner in the NPDR group (SMD = −0.27; p = 0.03), but not other macular measures.ConclusionsThinning of retinal neuronal and axonal layers at macula as measured by SD-OCT are presented in eyes with NDR, supporting DRN may be the early pathogenesis in the DM patients without the presence of clinical signs of DR. In the future, these SD-OCT measures may be used as surrogates of DRN to stratify DM patients with a high risk of DR, and may be used as a therapeutic target if neuroprotection treatment for DR is available.
Journal Article
Polyhydroxyalkanoate production in Priestia megaterium strains from glycerol feedstock
Our society relies heavily on plastic, but most plastic is petroleum-based and non-biodegradable resulting in major negative environmental impacts. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a type of biopolymer that can be produced from microorganisms cultured on renewable feedstocks, such as glycerol. PHAs are biodegradable and have properties similar to petroleum-based plastics. Several Priestia megaterium isolates have been demonstrated in previous studies to produce PHA when cultured on glycerol, but there has been no comparison of strains available in public repositories. Such comparison would be useful to identify the most promising strains for further development. In this study, we screened a number of P. megaterium strains from readily accessible repositories for their ability to produce PHA from glycerol. The strains had a wide range of growth and PHA production characteristics on glycerol: cell dry weight (0.5–5.7 g/L), percent PHA (4–42%), PHA titer (0.1–1.9 g/L), and yield (26–303 mg/g). The time course of PHA production varied widely among the different strains. There was also a dramatic difference in molecular weights which ranged from 119 kD to 402 kD. This information will be valuable to groups in selecting a PHA strain to develop based on their specific requirements.
Journal Article
A Subject-Specific Approach to Detect Fatigue-Related Changes in Spine Motion Using Wearable Sensors
An objective method to detect muscle fatigue-related kinematic changes may reduce workplace injuries. However, heterogeneous responses to muscle fatigue suggest that subject-specific analyses are necessary. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine if wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) could be used in conjunction with a spine motion composite index (SMCI) to quantify subject-specific changes in spine kinematics during a repetitive spine flexion-extension (FE) task; and (2) determine if the SMCI was correlated with measures of global trunk muscle fatigue. Spine kinematics were measured using wearable IMUs in 10 healthy adults during a baseline set followed by 10 sets of 50 spine FE repetitions. After each set, two fatigue measures were collected: perceived level of fatigue using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and maximal lift strength. SMCIs incorporating 10 kinematic variables from 2 IMUs (pelvis and T8 vertebrae) were calculated and used to quantify subject-specific changes in movement. A main effect of set was observed (F (1.7, 15.32) = 10.42, p = 0.002), where the SMCI became significantly greater than set 1 starting at set 4. Significant correlations were observed between the SMCI and both fatigue VAS and maximal lift strength at the individual and study level. These findings support the use of wearable IMUs to detect subject-specific changes in spine motion associated with muscle fatigue.
Journal Article
Prevalence of Workplace Bullying and Risk Groups in Chinese Employees in Hong Kong
Most studies on workplace bullying have been conducted in high-income countries and on Caucasian samples. Little is known about workplace bullying in Asian countries despite its recognition as a serious public health issue in the workplace. We examined the annual and lifetime prevalence of workplace bullying and its risk factors among Chinese employees in Hong Kong. The study was part of a larger project consisting of two waves. Respondents were recruited from a convenience sampling technique and completed a self-reported survey. Respondents reported whether they had been bullied at work for the past 12 months and during their lifetime. A multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore the sociodemographic risk factors for workplace bullying. There were a total of 2657 respondents (54.6% male), with a mean age of 41.53 years. The annual and lifetime prevalence of workplace bullying were 39.1% and 58.9%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that workplace bullying in the past 12 months was associated with a high monthly income, and the combination of a high monthly income and higher educational attainment was associated with bullying at some point in the participants’ career. Suitable policies and interventions to reduce the extent of workplace bullying in Hong Kong are warranted.
Journal Article
A validated tool to predict colorectal neoplasia and inform screening choice for asymptomatic subjects
Objective We aim to develop and validate a clinical scoring system to predict the risks of colorectal neoplasia to better inform screening participants and facilitate their screening test choice. Design We recruited 5220 Chinese asymptomatic screening participants who underwent colonoscopy in Hong Kong during 2008–2012. From random sampling of 2000 participants, independent risk factors were evaluated for colorectal neoplasia, defined as adenoma, advanced neoplasia, colorectal cancer or any combination thereof using binary regression analysis. The ORs for significant risk factors were used to develop a scoring system ranging from 0 to 6: 0–2 ‘average risk’ (AR) and 3–6 ‘high risk’ (HR). The other 3220 screening participants prospectively enrolled between 2008 and 2012 for screening colonoscopy formed an independent validation cohort. The performance of the scoring system for predicting colorectal neoplasia was evaluated. Results The prevalence of colorectal neoplasia in the derivation and validation cohorts was 31.4% and 30.8%, respectively. Using the scoring system developed, 78.9% and 21.1% in the validation cohort were classified as AR and HR, respectively. The prevalence of colorectal neoplasia in the AR and HR groups was 27.1% and 44.6%, respectively. The subjects in the HR group had 1.65-fold (95% CI 1.49 to 1.83) increased prevalence of colorectal neoplasia than the AR group. Conclusions The scoring system based on age, gender, smoking, family history, Body Mass Index and self-reported diabetes is useful in predicting the risk of colorectal neoplasia.
Journal Article
Effects of the ecto-ATPase apyrase on microglial ramification and surveillance reflect cell depolarization, not ATP depletion
Microglia, the brain’s innate immune cells, have highly motile processes which constantly survey the brain to detect infection, remove dying cells, and prune synapses during brain development. ATP released by tissue damage is known to attract microglial processes, but it is controversial whether an ambient level of ATP is needed to promote constant microglial surveillance in the normal brain. Applying the ATPase apyrase, an enzyme which hydrolyzes ATP and ADP, reduces microglial process ramification and surveillance, suggesting that ambient ATP/ADP maintains microglial surveillance. However, attempting to raise the level of ATP/ADP by blocking the endogenous ecto-ATPase (termed NTPDase1/CD39), which also hydrolyzes ATP/ADP, does not affect the cells’ ramification or surveillance, nor their membrane currents, which respond to even small rises of extracellular [ATP] or [ADP] with the activation of K⁺ channels. This indicates a lack of detectable ambient ATP/ADP and ecto-ATPase activity, contradicting the results with apyrase. We resolve this contradiction by demonstrating that contamination of commercially available apyrase by a high K⁺ concentration reduces ramification and surveillance by depolarizing microglia. Exposure to the same K⁺ concentration (without apyrase added) reduced ramification and surveillance as with apyrase. Dialysis of apyrase to remove K⁺ retained its ATP-hydrolyzing activity but abolished the microglial depolarization and decrease of ramification produced by the undialyzed enzyme. Thus, applying apyrase affects microglia by an action independent of ATP, and no ambient purinergic signaling is required to maintain microglial ramification and surveillance. These results also have implications for hundreds of prior studies that employed apyrase to hydrolyze ATP/ADP.
Journal Article
The Use of a Non-Invasive Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Modeling Study
This study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of fecal biomarker M3 panel compared to fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and colonoscopy in an Asian population. In a hypothetical population of 100,000 persons aged 50 years who received FIT yearly, M3 biomarker yearly, or colonoscopy every 10 years until the age of 75 years. Participants with positive FOBT or a result of “high risk” identified using the M3 biomarker are offered colonoscopy. We assumed surveillance colonoscopy is repeated every 3 years, and examined the treatment cost. A comparison of various outcome measures was conducted using Markov modelling. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of FIT, M3 biomarker, and colonoscopy was USD108,176, USD133,485 and USD159,596, respectively. Comparing with FIT, the use of M3 biomarker could lead to significantly smaller total loss of cancer-related life-years (2783 vs. 5279); a higher number of CRC cases prevented (1622 vs. 146), a higher proportion of CRC cases prevented (50.2% vs. 4.5%), more life-years saved (2852 vs. 339), and cheaper total costs per life-year saved (USD212,553 vs. 773,894). The total costs per life-year saved is more affordable than that achieved by colonoscopy as a primary screening tool (USD212,553 vs. USD236,909). The findings show that M3 biomarkers may be more cost-effective than colonoscopy.
Journal Article
Exploring international brand alliances between local and foreign higher education institutions: an empirical study of sub-degree students
PurposeThis study empirically investigates the influence of students' brand attitudes and perceptions of brand fit on their study intention vis-à-vis international brand alliances and individual brands after alliance.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modelling (SEM) was used in data analysis, and a questionnaire was administered to a sample of sub-degree business management students recruited from a self-financing higher education institution in Hong Kong.FindingsThe results indicate that students' prior attitudes towards the brands of foreign and local institutions and their perceptions of brand fit positively affect their study intention, providing evidence that post-attitudes towards individual brands fully mediate the relationship between attitudes towards international brand alliances and study intention towards individual institutions.Originality/valueInternational brand alliances between higher education institutions are becoming increasingly important. In Hong Kong, despite the emerging trend of collaboration between foreign and local universities, an evaluation of the effect of international brand alliances on study intention has been seriously overlooked.
Journal Article