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Secular trends of salted fish consumption and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a multi-jurisdiction ecological study in 8 regions from 3 continents
No full textBackground: Despite salted fish being a classical risk factor of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), whether secular trends in salted fish consumption worldwide accounted for changes in NPC rates were unknown. The relationship between vegetable and cigarette consumption to NPC risk worldwide were also largely uncertain. We investigated the longitudinal trends in standardised NPC incidence/mortality rates across 8 regions and their associations with secular trends in salted fish, vegetable and tobacco consumptions.
Methods: Age standardised mortality rate (ASMR) and age standardised incidence rate (ASIR) of NPC were obtained from the WHO cancer mortality database and Hong Kong Cancer Registry. Per capita consumption of salted fish, tobacco and vegetables in Hong Kong and 7 countries (China, Finland, Japan, Portugal, Singapore, United Kingdom and United States) were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) and Hong Kong Trade and Census Statistics. Pearson correlation and multivariate analysis were performed to examine both crude and adjusted associations.
Results: There were markedly decreasing trends of NPC ASIR and ASMR in Hong Kong over the past three decades, which were correlated with corresponding secular changes in salted fish consumption per capita (Pearson r for 10 cumulative years : ASIR = 0.729 (male), 0.674 (female); ASMR = 0.943 (male), 0.622 (female), all p \u3c 0.05 except for female ASMR). However such associations no longer correlated with adjustments for decreasing tobacco and increasing vegetable consumption per capita (Pearson r for 10 cumulative years: ASIR = 2.007 (male), 0.339 (female), ASMR = 0.289 (male), 1.992 (female), all p \u3e 0.05). However, there were no clear or consistent patterns in relations between NPC ASIR and ASMR with salted fish consumption across 7 regions in 3 continents.
Conclusions: Our results do not support the notion that changes in salted fish consumption had played an important role in explaining secular trends of NPC rates in Hong Kong and worldwide. Further studies should explore other lifestyle and genetic factors. However, our findings do support the potentially protective effects of vegetable consumption against NPC
Synthesis of 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives as novel antitumor agents
No full textThis letter describes the preparation of quinoline derivatives and their cytotoxic potentials toward human carcinoma cell lines. Among the selected compounds, 8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarbaldehyde (3) showed the best in vitro cytotoxicity against the human cancer cell lines, including MDA231, T-47D, Hs578t, SaoS2, K562, SKHep1 (with a MTS50 range of 12.5–25 μg/mL) and Hep3B (with a MTS50 range of 6.25±0.034 μg/mL). The in vivo antitumor activity of compound 3 on subcutenaous Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft in athymic nude mice was then studied. The results showed that the dose of 10 mg/kg/day of compound 3 with intraperitoneal injection for 9 days totally abolished the growth of the xenograft tumor of Hep3B with no histological damage on vital organs as compared with the control. The experimental results suggested that compound 3 has a good potential as an antitumor agent
Participatory action research in fashion studies and education: a review of Fashionthnography.com
No full textBehind fake luxury brands consumption: understanding embodied brand knowledge under Chinese cultural context
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Theoretical and experimental investigations on the growth of SnS van der Waals epitaxies on graphene buffer layer
No full textWe present theoretical and experimental investigations on the growth of SnS van der Waals epitaxies (vdWEs) on graphene buffer layer (GBL). Local density approximation (LDA) was used to evaluate the bond length disorder, binding energies, and growth orientations for SnS deposited on crystalline semiconductor substrates with and without the GBL. Strong bond length disorder is observed for SnS deposited directly on GaAs substrates, whereas in the case where a GBL is used the disorder is substantially reduced. First-principle calculations indicate two favored growth orientations for SnS deposited on GBL resulting in 12 distinct peaks in the azimuthal hard X-ray diffraction (HXRD) scan due to the structural symmetry of the GBL. The results stipulate formation of strong chemical bonds at the GaAs/SnS interface while the interaction between SnS and the underlying GBL is dominated by vdW force. Nevertheless this vdW force is shown to be strong enough to induce favored nucleation orientations for the SnS and is essential for the observed improvement in the crystallinity of the films
Purpurin specifically inhibits Candida albicans efflux pump Cdr2p
No full textBackground and aim: A major drug resistance mechanism of the Candida fungi is mediated by membrane-bound efflux pumps. Compounds that inhibit efflux pump activity may have therapeutic relevance. Our earlier studies demonstrated the novel antifungal activity of purpurin against Candida species in vitro; and the inhibitory effect on energy-dependent efflux pumps. The aim of the present study was to examine the differential effect of purpurin on C. albicans efflux pumps Cdr1p and Cdr2p. Materials & methods: Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that heterologously overexpressed C. albicans Cdr1p and Cdr2p were used (provided by Prof. Richard Cannon of the University of Otago). The MIC of purpurin and fluconazole (FLC) against the S. cerevisiae strains were determined by a modified microdilution method; and defined as the lowest concentration leading to 80% inhibition of visible growth compared with the solvent control (1% DMSO). Chemosensitization of the S. cerevisiae strains to FLC by purpurin were assessed by a chequerboard microdilution assay. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was defined as the sum of the MIC of each compound when used in combination divided by the MIC of the compound alone. The interactions were categorized as either synergistic (FICI ≤ 0.5), indifferent (0.5 \u3c FICI ≤ 4) or antagonistic (FICI \u3e 4). Results: Purpurin chemosensitized C. albicans Cdr2p to FLC (FICI = 0.375); whereas the interaction between purpurin and FLC on C. albicans Cdr1p was “indifferent”. Conclusion: Purpurin is a C. albicans Cdr2p-specific inhibitor
Towards internationalising the curriculum: a case study of Chinese language teacher education programs in China and Australia
No full textThis paper presents a comparative curricular inquiry of teacher education programs of Chinese as a foreign language in China and Australia. While there is an increasing demand for qualified Chinese language teachers both within China and Western countries, pre-service teacher training is regarded as one of the major factors in impeding success in effective student learning. Using an interpretative approach, this paper captures voices from teacher educators and pre-service teachers through in-depth interviews to supplement curriculum document reviews. The results identify curriculum differences in educational aims and objectives, learning content, methods of delivery and assessment. The study suggests aspects of curriculum which must be negotiated, in moving towards the internationalisation of the curriculum, to facilitate the mobility and adaptation required in overseas teaching contexts. The study ends with a discussion for urgent development of an internationalised curriculum of Chinese language teacher education and situated teacher education programs
There is a destiny for all: a common belief among Muslim youths in Hong Kong
No full textThis paper discusses the religious experience and self identity of Muslim youths in Hong Kong. It provides a window to the unique development of the life trajectories of these youths. Together with their fellow students, 12 Muslim youths participated in two self-assessed surveys of (1) their life satisfaction using the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) and (2) their spiritual health using the Spiritual Health and Life Orientation Measure (SHALOM). Individual interviews were also conducted to unfold the way in which personal characteristics (age and religious background) and social variables (income and social networks) affect their stress coping, life satisfaction and global well-being. The data showed, as Muslims, these youths believe there is a common destiny in life. Whilst ethnically they are South Asians, their self appraisal of educational experiences and life satisfaction are unique and, to some extent, closely related with their family background and personal life experiences. Implications of the findings for public policy and education provision are discussed