HK Group Research Articles

Comparison of teaching and learning outcomes between video-linked, web-based, and classroom tutorials: An innovative international study of profession education in physical therapy

The influence of interactive videoconferencing (IVC) on health professional educational outcomes between Canada and Hong Kong students was examined. Three formats were compared with respect to the instruction of two circumscribed intensive care topics. The formats included international video-linked (VL) tutorials in combination with web-based tutorials (VL + WB), web-based tutorials only (WB), and conventional classroom tutorials (C). Physical therapy students were assigned to one of the three groups at each site. The learning outcomes included grades and evaluation of the learning experience. The instructors provided written feedback on their experience with the instructional formats. Grades were comparable across instructional groups at both sites with the exception of one question for the HK group. The VL + WB groups valued learning from international peers. VL learning outcomes appeared to be comparable to conventional formats and may augment students’ learning satisfaction. Modifications are recommended to accommodate differences in the language proficiency of students. The instructors acknowledged that preparation for VL tutorials was unique and challenging. Further research targeted at cross cultural interaction via IVC is needed to determine whether quality of learning outcomes are topic dependent. Cross cultural IVC appears to be both a distinct teaching as well as learning experience for health professional students.

Trauma Care Systems

Background: Despite the high incidence of major trauma, few studies have directly compared the performance of trauma systems. This study compared the trauma system performance in Victoria, Australia, (VIC) and Hong Kong, China (HK). Methods: Prospectively collected data over 5 years from January 2001 from the 2 trauma systems were compared using univariate analysis. Variables were then entered into a multivariate logistic regression to assess differences in outcome between the systems and adjusted for effects of clinically important factors. Results: Five thousand five thirty-six cases from VIC and 580 cases from HK were taken for analysis. The HK group was older, but mechanisms of injury were similar in both systems. Thoracic and abdominal trauma was more common in VIC, compared with more head injuries in HK. More patients were admitted to intensive care in VIC and patients stayed in intensive care 1 day longer on average, despite more comorbidity in HK patients. Overall mortality was 20.2% for HK and 11.9% for VIC (X21 = 32.223, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The performance of the HK trauma system was comparable to international standards, but there was a significant difference in the probability of survival of major trauma between the 2 systems. Possible modifiable factors may include criteria for activation of trauma calls and improved ICU utilization.

Potato Pulps Lowered the Serum Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels in Rats

In our previous study, we demonstrated that retrograded starch, a kind of resistant starch, of beans reduced serum lipid levels in rats. In this study, we examined whether retrograded starch in potato pulps could reduce serum lipid concentrations. Rats were given diets containing 15 g of retrograded starch in potato pulps from the Benimaru potato (BM) or Hokkaikogane potato (HK) in a 100 g diet for 4 wk. At the 4th week, the total cholesterol level in the serum in the BM group and serum triglyceride (TG) level in the HK group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In the BM group, the contents of fecal bile acids were significantly higher than those in the control group. On the other hand, in the HK group, the hepatic mRNA level of fatty acid synthase (FAS) was significantly lower than that in the control group. The FAS mRNA level correlated with the mRNA level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), a regulator of expression of FAS, positively. These results suggested that BM pulp promoted the excretion of bile acids, which resulted in a low concentration of serum cholesterol. On the other hand, HK pulp inhibited the synthesis of fatty acids at the mRNA levels of FAS and SREBP-1c, which might lead to a reduction of the serum TG level.

Immunologic events and long-term survival after combined heart and kidney transplantation: a 12-year single-center experience

Background: In this study we compare the incidence of cardiac rejection and long-term survival after combined heart and kidney transplantation (HK) and single heart transplantation (H). Combined HK transplantation is a surgical option for patients with irreversible cardiac and renal failure. However, long-term results of combined HK transplantation on immunologic events and patient survival remain unknown. Methods Between 1988 and 1997, 12 consecutive patients underwent combined HK transplantation (HK group) at a single institution. A control group (H group) of 24 single heart transplant recipients operated on within the same period was matched for age, pre-operative pulmonary vascular resistance, hepatic insufficiency and gender mismatch. Recipients and donors were ABO compatible without HLA antigen matching. All patients received immediate triple immunosuppression that included cyclosporine. Because of early renal dysfunction, cyclosporine was switched to anti-thymocyte globulin in 5 patients from the HK group and in 1 patient from the H group ( p = 0.01). Results Actuarial freedom from heart rejection at 6 months and at 1 year following transplantation averaged 90 ± 9% and 70 ± 14% in the HK group, and 65 ± 10% and 49 ± 11% in the H group, respectively ( p = 0.023). Actuarial survival at 1, 5 and 12 years was not significantly different between groups, at 66%, 55% and 28% in the HK group, and 66%, 44% and 32% in the H group, respectively ( p = 0.66). Conclusion The incidence of cardiac rejection was significantly lower. Long-term survival in the HK group was similar to that in the H group. Putative mechanisms of decreased cardiac rejection in the HK group include allogeneic stimulation, donor-derived dendritic cells and induction by anti-thymocyte globulins. The need for long-term immunosuppression may be reduced after combined heart and kidney transplantation.

The effects of hypocalcaemia due to a 4-hour infusion of Na 2EDTA solution on various blood and urine analytes in dairy cows and a comparison of these effects between cows with high and low erythrocyte potassium concentrations

Six HK (high erythrocyte potassium) and 7 LK (low erythrocyte potassium) dairy cows were subjected to a 4-h intravenous infusion of 4.7% Na 2EDTA solution to induce and maintain hypocalcaemia. Blood samples taken immediately before infusion, hourly for 7 h, and at 24 h after commencement of infusion were subjected to determination of concentration (or count) of 16 analytes. The mean changes in concentrations (or counts) of the various blood analytes were calculated for the periods 0–4, 4–7, 7–24, and 0–24 h after commencement of the infusion for all cows combined, and then separately for the HK and LK groups of cows. Plasma Ca(PCa), plasma inorganic phosphorus (PiP) and plasma potassium (PK) showed significant decreases during the 4-h infusion period and were still below pretreatment levels 24 h later. AST, CPK, PCVs and white cell counts (WCCs) showed significant early increases which were still significantly elevated 24 h later. Plasma magnesium (PMg) and erythrocyte Na(ENa) and K(EK) all showed delayed changes which still persisted 24 h later. Significant between-group differences were present for PCVs which increased significantly more in the LK than the HK group during the infusion period, for PCa which showed a greater increase in the HK cows than the LK cows during the 4–7 h early clinical recovery period, and for plasma bilirubin (PBil) which showed a greater increase from 0 to 24 h in the HK group than in the LK group. Urine samples, collected before infusion, 4–7 h and 24 h after commencement of the infusion, were subjected to analysis for glucose, protein, pH, ‘blood’ and ketones. Most cows showed increases in urinary glucose, protein and ‘blood’.

Hypokalemia, glucose intolerance, and hyperinsulinemia during diuretic therapy.

Hypokalemia and glucose intolerance may result from diuretic therapy. Increases in plasma insulin and glucose levels have been observed in thiazide-treated hypertensive patients and have been attributed to a diminished insulin sensitivity induced by diuretic therapy. To investigate the effects of hypokalemia on glucose tolerance and insulin secretion, we studied 21 essential and nine diabetic hypertensive patients after 4 weeks of placebo and after 4 weeks of chlorthalidone therapy (25 mg/day). Plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured for a 3-hour period after a 75-g glucose oral dose. Hypokalemia developed in seven of the essential hypertensive patients (HK group), whereas only one diabetic patient had decreased plasma potassium levels to below 3.5 meq/l. The results obtained in the HK group after chlorthalidone showed that plasma glucose and insulin values increased after the oral glucose load to levels significantly higher than those observed after placebo. In contrast, the patient who remained normokalemic after chlorthalidone did not show any change in plasma insulin and glucose levels during glucose tolerance testing. These results show that diuretic therapy may induce hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia and suggest that potassium depletion is involved in the increase in insulin resistance that has been demonstrated during thiazide therapy.

Localization of the TS defect in two TS mutants of influenza A virus: Evidence for the occurrence of intracistronic complementation between TS mutants of influenza A virus coding for the neuraminidase and nucleoprotein polypeptides

Temperature-sensitive mutants of influenza A/HK/68 belonging to seven complementation-recombination groups were isolated previously and analyzed genetically. Two groups, numbers 1 and 2, were characterized as defective in the P3 and NP polypeptides, respectively. The defects in HK group 3 (prototype ts-2C) and group 4 (prototype ts-304) were studied by preparing ts recombinants of the HK mutants and wild-type influenza A/WSN virus. An analysis of the genotype of ts recombinants by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of virion RNA indicated that the locus of the ts mutation in group 3 was on the RNA segment coding for the nucleoprotein, while the group 4 ts mutation was located on the gene coding for the neuraminidase. The group 3 and 4 HK prototypes each underwent genetic interaction with WSN ts mutants bearing a ts lesion on the corresponding RNA segment, suggesting that intracistronic complementation can occur between mutants with defects in the multimeric neuraminidase or the multifunctional nucleoprotein.

A Study on Adaptation to Cold Environment

Seven Japanese male adults aged 23-28 were subjected to a cold environmental stress. Three of them were born and grew in Hokkaido district which is a northerland in Japan (HK group), and the other four were born, grew up in Honshu or Kyushu district in Japan and immigrated into Hokkaido (Non-H K group).Measurements of heart rate (HR) and bipolar surface EMG of 11 muscles were performed before and during exposure to the cold environment which was consisted of the air temperature of about 10°C, the radiant temperature of about 10°C, the relative humidity of about 50% and the air movement 10-20 cm/sec.In consideration of a large number of other previous papers on H R during cold exposure, it could be supposed that H R might be suppressed by cold stimuli and facilitated by shivering. It seemed to be quite right to consider that increase in H R would be caused in the intense cold environment for individuals as a whole and decrease in the slight cold. Under the above assumption, H R changes of H K group and Non-H K group were discussed. It could be considered that H K group was superior in the cold tolelance to Non-H K group within the limits of the present experiment.From the EMG results in HK group shiverng occurred mainly in trunk region, and two of Non-H K group had the same result but in the other two of Non-H K group shivering occurred not only in trunk region but also in inferior extremity region. It might be pointed out that in the cold environment when shivering extended to extremity region especially great inferior extremity muscles from trunk region HR increased compared with that in the optimal thermal environment.