Combining education and video-based contact to reduce stigma of mental illness: “The Same or Not the Same” anti-stigma program for secondary schools in Hong Kong

This study examined the effects of three versions of school-based stigma reduction programs against mental illness – education, education followed by video-based contact (education–video), and video-based contact followed by education (video–education). The participants, 255 students from three secondary schools in Hong Kong, completed measures of stigmatizing attitudes (Public Stigma Scale), social distance (Social Distance Scale), and knowledge about schizophrenia (Knowledge Test) at pre-test, post-test, and 1-month follow-up. Results suggested that adding video-based contact to education could significantly improve program effectiveness only when video-based contact was presented after but not prior to education. In comparison with the education condition, the education–video condition showed larger improvements in stigmatizing attitudes at post-test, in social distance at both post-test and follow-up, and in knowledge at follow-up. However, such differences were not observed when the education condition was compared with the video–education condition. Implications of these findings for future research are discussed.     

Novel Lineage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Hong Kong

To determine whether spa type of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs belonged to sequence type (ST) 398, we analyzed nasal swabs from pig carcasses at Hong Kong markets in 2008. ST9 belonging to spa type t899 was found for 16/100 samples, which indicates that a distinct lineage has emerged in pigs.     

Smoking and High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Young Adults in Hong Kong

Young adults (n = 964; never married; age, 18–27 years) in Hong Kong were surveyed to obtain information about their smoking habits and sexual behaviors. Current smokers (15% of the entire sample) and those who had ever had sexual intercourse (28%) were more likely to be male, to have ended their education at secondary school, and to report less life satisfaction. After controlling for demographic and psychosocial correlates, sexual intercourse was associated with smoking status for both males and females. Among those who were sexually active, those who had multiple sexual partners, had their first sexual experience prior to age 18 years, and (for males) reported visiting massage parlors were more likely to have a history of smoking. Our findings extend those of our previous study with community adolescents in Hong Kong and suggest that smoking may be a marker for other high-risk behaviors among young Chinese adults.     

注射用红景天制备工艺的研究

目的:以红景天药材为原料,采用现代科学技术手段,制成冻干粉针剂。方法:以外观、成型性和复溶性为指标,优化冻干制剂处方和工艺,制备红景天冻干粉针剂。结果:以110mg/支甘露醇为赋形剂,-50℃预冻10h,抽真空,在-50℃时保温10h,最后升温至室温干燥,保持5h。制得的产品外形饱满、疏松,成型性好。结论:红景天冻干粉针剂的制备工艺稳定可行。     

谈加减葛花解醒汤对大鼠酒精性肝损伤的防治作用

目的：通过观察加减葛花解酲汤对慢性酒精性肝损伤大鼠血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GsH）的影响,探讨其对慢性酒精性肝损伤的防治作用。方法：采用白酒灌胃的方法建立慢性酒精性肝损伤动物模型,以益肝灵、葛花解醒汤为对照,给予加减葛花解酲汤高、低剂量药物治疗后检测各组大鼠血清ALT、GSH含量。结果：模型大鼠血清ALT含量较正常组显著增高（P〈0．01）,GSH含量较正常组显著降低（P〈0．01）;给药各组血清中上述指标较模型组有较明显的改善（P〈0．01或P〈O．05）。结论：加减葛花解酲汤可通过保护酒精引起的慢性肝细胞损伤,抑制肝组织内ALT的升高,并能同时提高GSH活性,增加GSH的含量,对抗过氧化反应,从而达到防治慢性酒精性肝损伤的作用,且疗效优于益肝灵与葛花解酲汤。     

洪学滨治疗神经科疾病的推拿经验

洪学滨主任医师是我院著名的中医按摩专家,他在继承前人手法的基础上,结合自己多年的临床经验,对手法进行了系统的研究和整理,尤其对于脑性瘫痪的中医手法治疗颇有研究,与康复结合更有明显疗效。洪学滨老师治疗脑性瘫痪手法讲究整体观念、辨证论治、深透柔和,其诊疗思想和治疗思路具有独到而精辟的见解。本文简要分析了洪老治疗神经科疾病的学术经验特点,以供同道飨用。     

Value of embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease （CMT）, also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies,comprises a genetically heterogeneous group of inherited peripheral neuropathies. Clinically it is characterized by progressive distal weakness, muscle atrophy, distal sensory loss and loss of deep tendon reflexes. Following electrophysiological criteria, CMT is divided into two main forms：     

Chinese integrative medicine: inclusion of a Chinese medicine programme in a conventional medical institute

To meet community demands with optimal Chinese and conventional medical treatment, the University of Hong Kong is promoting integrative medicine by developing Chinese medicine programmes that train students of both Western and Chinese medicine. The programmes emphasize multi-disciplinary training and interaction between the two therapeutic approaches, enabling students to establish reliable, consistent, and respectful mutual cooperation in their future careers.     

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by Tai Yai in Northern Thailand

Ethnopharmacological relevance

We studied traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Tai Yai people in Northern Thailand. We documented traditional medical practices and determined importance among the Tai Yai. This paper reports on knowledge in usage of medicinal plants of the Tai Yai people in Northern Thailand.

Materials and methods

Interviews were conducted in 4 Tai Yai villages in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai provinces whose inhabitants immigrated from Myanmar at different times. Discussions and interviews were held with 126 key-informants (56 males and 70 females) ranging in age from 16 to 80 years in three age groups (age 16–40, 41–60, and 61–80). We calculated the informant consensus factor (ICF) for use category, use value index (UV) for use report of plant. We tested differences between the knowledge of different age groups and locations using principal component analysis (PCA).

Results

These Tai Yai people used of 141 medicinal plants belonging to 59 families. Of the medicinal plant species, the highest percentage was in the family Euphorbiaceae: Croton acutifolius and Croton roxburghii. The highest number of Informant consensus factor was for metabolic system disorders. Overall, Tai Yai people use medicinal plants to cure many sicknesses such as hypertension, lumbago, wounds, puerperium, kidney disorders, kidney stones, coughs, fevers, hemorrhoids, flatulence and malaria. There were no significant differences in knowledge of plants usage among villages of different ages. In addition, the knowledge of the plants was not significantly different between men and women. However, we found that the younger had less experience with and knowledge of medicinal plants than older people.

Conclusions

The result indicates loss of accumulated knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional use. Although, the medicinal plant knowledge was passed from one generation to the next by word of mouth, the detailed documentation of medicinal plants and their use may effectively prevent the knowledge-loss through time.