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A communication with trans-cultural experience through Chinese tropes in luxury consumption
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On translating technology research into industrial applications
Get PDFUsing personal cases he previously experienced, Prof Wong will share with colleagues the influence of environments and market forces that drive the applied technology research into practice. The speech will be delivered in an informal, interactive format, rather than didactic
Emodin elicits cytotoxicity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells through inducing apoptosis
No full textThis study investigated the mechanism of the cytotoxic effect of emodin, an active anthraquinone, on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. In vitro growth inhibition and suppression on colony forming were used to evaluate the effects of emodin on A549 cells. Emodin’s ability in changing the expressions of apoptosis-related genes was studied by real-time RT-PCR. Emodin could significantly inhibit the growth of A549 cells with IC50 = 16.85 μg/ml (~60 μM). It also concentration dependently inhibited the colony-forming ability of A549 cells with IC50 = 7.60 μg/ml (~30 μM). Hallmarks of apoptosis, such as single-strand DNA breakage and DNA fragmentation, were observed in A549 cells treated with emodin. Emodin (72 h) treatment could up-regulate the gene expression of FASL (p \u3c 0.05) and down-regulate the gene expression of C-MYC (p \u3c 0.01), but induce no significant changes in the gene expressions of MCL1, GAPDH, BAX and CCND1. These results suggest that emodin could induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in A549 cells through modifying the extrinsic apoptotic pathways and the induction of cell cycle arrest
A review on the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and formulae with hyperlipidaemic effect
No full textHyperlipidemia, characterized by the abnormal blood lipid profiles, is one of the dominant factors of many chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). For the low cost, effectiveness, and fewer side effects, the popularity of using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to handle hyperlipidemia is increasing and its role in health care has been recognized by the public at large. Despite the importance of TCM herbs and formulations, there is no comprehensive review summarizing their scientific findings on handling hyperlipidemia. This review summarizes the recent experimental and clinical results of nine representative single Chinese herbs and seven classic TCM formulae that could improve lipid profiles so as to help understand and compare their underlying mechanisms. Most of single herbs and formulae demonstrated the improvement of hyperlipidemic conditions with multiple and diverse mechanisms of actions similar to conventional Western drugs in spite of their mild side effects. Due to increasing popularity of TCM, more extensive, well-designed preclinical and clinical trials on the potential synergistic and adverse side effects of herb-drug interactions as well as their mechanisms are warranted. Hyperlipidemic patients should be warned about the potential risks of herb-drug interactions, particularly those taking anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs
Treaty ports and the medical geography of China: imperial maritime customs service approaches to climate and disease
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Contributions of landscape trees in public housing estates to urban biodiversity in Hong Kong
No full textPublic housing estates (PHEs) in Hong Kong, accommodating 3.3 million of the 7-million population, have generous landscape planting in their grounds. The independent tree management regime generates a tree stock that deviates from the general urban-tree population. This study evaluated species composition, floristic diversity, importance value, and spatial distribution of trees in 102 PHEs (half of the total) occupying 8.31 km2 (territory land area of 1104 km2), assessed their contribution to urban biodiversity, and developed a species selection strategy to enrich urban biodiversity. 48,823 trees belonged to 232 species, 151 genera and 59 families. Natives contributed 69 species and 10,837 trees. Species profile was skewed toward exotic species and trees. The species were divided into six frequency groups. The signature group had 45 species each with \u3e200 trees. The dominant, common and occasional groups had 20, 26 and 48 species, respectively. 59 species in the rare group and 34 in the solitary group denoted changing and diverse species selections, respectively. Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) found that species distribution in PHEs was strongly associated with species diversity, estate area and estate age. However, district and region were not correlated with NMDS. Some 98 species were significantly correlated (Spearman) with one or both NMDS axes. Species groups were analyzed to inform a species selection strategy to improve future planting program and enrich urban biodiversity. The methods and findings could be applied to south-China and other cities to rationalize urban-forest programs with the help of objective research data
身邊的免費診所
No full text香港作為一個國際化的大都市，凡事都以效率優先；但在創造眾多商業、社會奇迹的背後，大多數港人卻要承受各種身體及精神壓力。如果這些壓力長期得不到紓緩，不僅不利於個人健康，更會引發各種社會問題。那麼，是否有一些方法或途徑，可以有效地幫助我們紓緩這些壓力呢？本文將介紹一類圍繞你我周圍，大家卻未必意識到的「免
