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Chinese Women (chinese + woman)
Selected AbstractsCorrelation of ER, PgR, HER-2/neu, p53, and VEGF with Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis in Chinese Women with Invasive Breast CancerTHE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008Xiaowei Lu MD No abstract is available for this article. [source] Hemoglobin H hydrops fetalis syndrome resulting from the association of the ,,,SEA deletion and the ,Quong Sze, mutation in a Chinese womanEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2005D. Z. Li Abstract:, A case with Hb H hydrops fetalis syndrome resulting from the association of the ,,,SEA deletion and the ,Quong Sze, mutation is reported. This is the first description of Hb H hydrops associated with the Hb Quong Sze mutation. [source] Acute hepatitis induced by Shou-Wu-Pian, a herbal product derived from Polygonum multiflorumJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Gordon J-H Park Abstract Herbal preparations are widely available and generally regarded by the public as harmless remedies for a variety of medical ailments. We report the first case in Australia of acute hepatitis associated with the Chinese herbal medicine Shou-Wu-Pian, prepared from Polygonum multiflorum. Cholestatic hepatitis developed in a Chinese woman taking this preparation for the greying of her hair, and liver biopsy was consistent with a toxic reaction. Clinical and biochemical resolution occurred following cessation of the drug. [source] Bartter's Syndrome in Pregnancy: A Case Report and ReviewJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2000Dr. Ivy C. F. Li Abstract Bartter's syndrome is a rare renal tubular disorder, involving juxtaglomerular cells hyperplasia, characterized by normotensive hyper-reninism and secondary hyperaldosteronism, marked renal loss of potassium and profound hypokalaemia. Both clinical and biochemical features are heterogeneous, ranging from the incidental finding in an asymptomatic patient to marked clinical features of hypokalaemia. Inheritance is likely to be an autosomal recessive. We present a case of Bartter's syndrome complicating pregnancy in a Chinese woman. We documented an increasing demand for potassium supplement during pregnancy which stabilized by mid-trimester. The absence of pregnancy complications such as polyhydramnios indicated that the fetus was unlikely to be affected by the condition. [source] Novel mutation in the ceruloplasmin gene causing a cognitive and movement disorder with diabetes mellitusMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 12 2006Hui-Fang Shang MD Abstract In a Chinese woman who had diabetes mellitus, undetectable ceruloplasmin, hand tremor, neck dystonia, and cognitive disturbances, genetic analyses revealed a novel homozygous mutation (848G>C or W283S) in exon 5 in the ceruloplasmin gene. Another member with a milder phenotype was also affected by this mutation. The healthy sister was heterozygous at the same position. Aceruloplasminemia has not yet been reported in China. This case suggests that increased awareness should be paid to this disorder in the presence of the typical symptoms. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society [source] Cross-border ,Traffic': Stories of dangerous victims, pure whores and HIV/AIDS in the experiences of mainland female sex workers in Hong KongASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 1 2005Kevin D. Ming Abstract:,In recent years, dramatically increasing numbers of mainland Chinese women have entered Hong Kong to engage in sexual labour. Public discourses on the threat of HIV/AIDS increasingly locate these women's bodies as sites of danger, colluding with pre-existing imaginations of mainland rural women as ignorant, desperate and deceptive in representing these women's penetration of Hong Kong's border as a primary means of infection of the Hong Kong body. Drawing on state, media and popular representations, and the narratives of female sex workers themselves, this paper examines the interwoven bio-medical, gendered, sexual and cross-border relationships that intersect in the experiences of mainland Chinese sex workers in Hong Kong. I argue that while images of disease and danger have been used to regulate these women's bodies, mainland female sex workers challenge these images by drawing on other popular stereotypes of mainland women as pure, feminine and traditional. Although images of the related but still ,other' figure of the mainland Chinese woman are powerful mechanisms for the regulation of these women's bodies, mainland female sex workers skilfully use inherent tensions in those images in resisting that control and in struggling to achieve their own personal and economic goals. [source] Prurigo pigmentosa: a report of two cases that responded to minocyclineCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2009L. Y. T. Chiam Summary Prurigo pigmentosa (PP) is an unusual pruriginous dermatosis of unknown aetiology and is often misdiagnosed. We report two people (a 16-year-old Chinese boy and a 21-year-old Chinese woman), who presented with clinicopathological features consistent with PP. Both patients were successfully treated with minocycline. Better knowledge of this disease will lead to early recognition and appropriate treatment. [source] Application of a New Intense Pulsed Light Device in the Treatment of Photoaging Skin in Asian PatientsDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 11 2008YUAN-HONG LI MD BACKGROUND Intense pulsed light (IPL) technology has long been used in the treatment of photoaging skin. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new IPL device in the treatment of photoaging skin in Asian patients. METHODS One hundred fifty-two Chinese women with photoaging skin were enrolled in this open-labeled study. Subjects received four IPL treatments at 3- to 4-week intervals. Changes of photoaging were evaluated using a global evaluation, an overall self-assessment, a Mexameter, and a Corneometer. RESULTS One hundred thirty-nine of 152 patients (91.44%) experienced a score decrease of 3 or 2 grades, according to the dermatologist. One hundred thirty-six of 152 patients (89.47%) rated their overall improvement as excellent or good. The mean skin melanin index (MI) and erythema index values deceased with each session. MI on forehead and EI on cheilion decreased most significantly. Adverse effects were limited to mild pain and transient erythema. CONCLUSION IPL treatment is a safe and effective method for photoaging skin in Asian patients. Adverse effects were minimal and acceptable. [source] Enhanced sensitivity to DNA damage induced by cooking oil fumes in human OGG1 deficient cellsENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 4 2008Mei Wu Abstract Cooking oil fumes (COFs) have been implicated as an important nonsmoking risk factor of lung cancer in Chinese women. However, the molecular mechanism of COFs-induced carcinogenicity remains unknown. To understand the molecular basis underlying COFs-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity as well as the roles of hOGG1 in the repair of COFs-induced DNA damage, a human lung cancer cell line with hOGG1 deficiency, A549-R was established by using a ribozyme gene targeting technique that specifically knockdowned hOGG1 in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. MTT and comet assays were employed to examine cell viability and DNA damage/repair, respectively, in A549-R and A549 cell lines treated with COF condensate (COFC). RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression of hOGG1 in A549-R cell line was significantly decreased compared with that in A549 cell line. The concentration of COFC that inhibited cell growth by 50% (the IC50) in the A549-R cell line was much lower than that in the A549 cell line, and more COFC-induced DNA damage was detected in the A549-R cell line. The time course study of DNA repair demonstrated delayed repair kinetics in the A549-R cell line, suggesting a decreased cellular damage repair capacity. Our results showed that hOGG1 deficiency enhanced cellular sensitivity to DNA damage caused by COFC. The results further indicate that hOGG1 plays an important role in repairing COF-induced DNA damage. Our study suggests that COFs may lead to DNA damage that is subjected to hOGG1 -mediated repair pathways, and oxidative DNA damage may be involved in COF-induced carcinogenesis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Alcohol abuse in a metropolitan city in China: a study of the prevalence and risk factorsADDICTION, Issue 9 2004Zhang Jiafang ABSTRACT Aims To investigate the prevalence of alcohol abuse in modern China and to explore the risk factors that may be associated with alcohol abuse. Design A face-to-face interview was carried out in a random sample with 2327 respondents. Setting Respondents were selected randomly from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, between May and June 2002. Participants Fifteen,65-year-old urban Chinese adults. Measurements Scores for alcohol abuse and related risk factors were the main measures. Findings (1) Nearly 15% of urban Chinese adults aged 15,65 were alcohol abusers. (2) Deviant drinking habits of mother, schoolmates, colleagues or friends all had a negative impact on the respondent's alcohol drinking behaviours, and higher economic status, current smokers, being male and being older were identified as risk factors related to alcohol abuse. In particular, if a drinker's mother used alcohol frequently then this drinker was more likely to become an alcohol abuser than those drinkers whose mothers did not use alcohol frequently (P = 0.0001). Fathers' drinking behaviours do not have a significant impact on the alcohol abusers. Conclusions In addition to common risk factors such as economic status, deviant peers' and fellows' drinking behaviours and negative attitudes to alcohol drinking, maternal alcohol drinking habit influenced significantly the offspring's drinking habits. Therefore, efficient intervention and education of healthy drinking habits in early motherhood is necessary for Chinese women. [source] Greater vegetable and fruit intake is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer among Chinese womenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2009Cai-Xia Zhang Abstract The effect of vegetable and fruit consumption on breast cancer risk is controversial. We examined the association between vegetable and fruit intake and breast cancer risk in a hospital-based case,control study conducted in Guangdong, China. Four hundred and thirty-eight cases were frequency matched to 438 controls by age (5-year interval) and residence (rural/urban). Dietary intake was assessed by face-to-face interviews using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) after adjusting for various potential confounders. Total vegetable and fruit intake was found to be inversely associated with breast cancer risk. The ORs of the highest quartile relative to the lowest quartile of total vegetable and fruit intake were 0.28 (95% CI 0.18,0.43) and 0.53 (95% CI 0.34,0.82), respectively. Consumption of individual vegetable and fruit groups such as dark green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, carrots and tomatoes, banana, watermelon/papaya/cantaloupe were all inversely and significantly related with breast cancer risk. An inverse association was also observed for vitamin A, carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and fiber intake. These data indicate that greater intake of vegetables and fruits is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer among Chinese women residing in Guangdong. © 2009 UICC [source] HLA-B alleles, high-risk HPV infection and risk for cervical neoplasia in southern Chinese women,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2006Paul K.S. Chan Abstract A population-based study was conducted on 256 southern Chinese with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) or invasive cervical cancer (ICC) and on 258 controls to examine the associations between HLA-B alleles, infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and the development of cervical neoplasia. HLA-B15 was found to be protective for CIN III/ICC overall (pcorrected = 0.003), and for HPV52-positive CIN III/ICC (pcorrected = 0.003). A marginal protective effect of B15 was observed for HPV16-positive CIN III/ICC, but no significant associations were revealed for HPV18- or HPV58-positive cases. None of the HLA-B alleles were found to confer an increased risk for cervical neoplasia. HLA-B15 is common among Asian for whom HPV52, a worldwide uncommon HPV type, also exists in a relatively high prevalence. It would also be worthwhile to assess the association between HLA-B15, HPV52 and cervical cancer in other Asian populations. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Skin color measurement in Chinese female population: analysis of 407 cases from 4 major cities of ChinaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2007Liu Wei MD Background, Color assessment of human skin is an important index both in dermatology and in cosmetology. Methods, Skin color measured in 407 Chinese women selected from four different cities in China is reported in the 1976 Commission International de L'eclairage (CIE)-color space, according to the skin color typing method proposed by Chardon et al. in 1991. The skin color of buttocks and hands, which represent sun unexposed and exposed sites, respectively, were measured with a Minolta 2500d chromameter. Individual typology angle (ITA°) of each volunteer was calculated based on the measured L* and b* values and her skin complexion was graded accordingly. Results, The results show that most of the volunteers had a "light" skin color at their unexposed sites, namely grade II (65.5%), and then grade III (intermediate, 23.1%), and I (very light, 9.6%). The skin colors at exposed sites of the studied group were mainly grade III (intermediate, 45.7%), followed by grade IV (tan, 42.0%) and II (light, 7.9%). The difference among the investigated cities, the relationship between skin color and ages, and the complexion changes from unexposed site to exposed site were analyzed based on the data from the research. Conclusion, The authors believed that the present results might basically represent the complexion conditions of Chinese women. [source] Relation of polymorphism in the promotor region for the human osteocalcin gene to bone mineral density and occurrence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Chinese women in TaiwanJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 5 2001Huey-Yi Chen Abstract Osteoporosis is a common disorder with a strong genetic component. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation of the HindIII osteocalcin gene polymorphism to bone mineral density (BMD) and their relationship to osteoporosis. We determined the HindIII osteocalcin gene polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction analysis in postmenopausal Chinese women in Taiwan. The osteocalcin gene polymorphism was detected by the restriction enzyme HindIII, where the H allele indicated the absence of the cuttable site and the h allele indicated its presence. We then related the genotypes to BMD and occurrence of osteoporosis in these women. The allelic frequencies for postmenopausal Chinese women in Taiwan were 64% for h and 36% for H in HindIII restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The prevalence of each genotype in the study population was 37.7% hh, 52.6% Hh, and 9.7% HH. The subjects with genotype hh had the greatest BMD at the lumbar spine and the femoral neck, and those with HH had the smallest BMD at the femoral neck, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. The HindIII osteocalcin genotype showed a significant effect on the prevalence of osteoporosis in the subjects at the femoral neck, that is, women with genotype HH had a 6.4 times greater risk for osteoporosis (P < 0.05), and those with genotype Hh had a 1.2 times greater risk than women with genotype hh. In conclusion, the HindIII osteocalcin gene polymorphism is associated with reduced BMD and predisposes women to osteoporosis at the femoral neck. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:251,255, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Assessment of periodontal conditions and systemic disease in older subjectsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 9 2002I. Focus on osteoporosis Abstract Background: Osteoporosis (OPOR) is a common chronic disease, especially in older women. Patients are often unaware of the condition until they experience bone fractures. Studies have suggested that OPOR and periodontitis are associated diseases and exaggerated by cytokine activity. Panoramic radiography (PMX) allows studies of mandibular cortical index (MCI), which is potentially diagnostic for OPOR. Aims: i) To study the prevalence of self-reported history of OPOR in an older, ethnically diverse population, ii) to assess the agreement between PMX/MCI findings and self-reported OPOR, and iii) to assess the likelihood of having both a self-reported history of OPOR and a diagnosis of periodontitis. Materials and methods: PMX and medical history were obtained from 1084 subjects aged 60,75 (mean age 67.6, SD ± 4.7). Of the films, 90.3% were useful for analysis. PMXs were studied using MCI. The PMXs were used to grade subjects as not having periodontitis or with one of three grades of periodontitis severity. Results: A positive MCI was found in 38.9% of the subjects, in contrast to 8.2% self-reported OPOR. The intraclass correlation between MCI and self-reported OPOR was 0.20 (P < 0.01). The likelihood of an association between OPOR and MCI was 2.6 (95%CI: 1.6, 4.1, P < 0.001). Subjects with self-reported OPOR and a positive MCI had worse periodontal conditions (P < 0.01). The Mantel-Haentzel odds ratio for OPOR and periodontitis was 1.8 (95%CI: 1.2, 2.5, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of positive MCI was high and consistent with epidemiological studies, but only partly consistent with a self-reported history of osteoporosis with a higher prevalence of positive MCI in Chinese women. Horizontal alveolar bone loss is associated with both positive self-reported OPOR and MCI. [source] Primary biliary cirrhosis in Singapore: Evaluation of demography, prognostic factors and natural course in a multi-ethnic populationJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Reuben-Km Wong Abstract Background and Aim:, Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is infrequent in Asians. Among Asian patients with PBC, information on natural course is scarce. The aim of this study was to study the clinical course and prognosticators among Asians with PBC. Methods:, During 1990,2005, patients diagnosed with PBC at the National University Hospital, Singapore, constituted the retrospective cohort. Their demographic characteristics were evaluated. To evaluate the prognostic factors and natural course, two outcome measures were assessed: hepatic decompensation and death or liver transplant. Multivariate analysis was undertaken to identify factors associated with hepatic decompensation and terminal event (death or liver transplantation). Results:, Thirty-four PBC patients aged 56.8 ± 1.8 years (mean ± SEM) of whom 32 (94%) were women were included. Thirty-two (94%) of them were of Chinese origin. At presentation, 18 (53%) were symptomatic in the form of jaundice (n = 9, 26.5%), pruritus (n = 6, 17.6%) and fatigue (n = 5, 14.7%). During 4.80 ± 0.7 (range 0.02,15.03) years follow up, 6/16 (37.5%) asymptomatic patients developed symptoms. After 5 years, 17.6% (n = 6) and 8.8% (n = 3) had hepatic decompensation and terminal event, respectively. Sicca syndrome was present in 26% (n = 9) of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum bilirubin level at presentation was the sole determinant of decompensation. Rate of change of laboratory indices did not predict either event. Conclusion:, In Singapore, Chinese women constitute most of the PBC patients. Elevated serum bilirubin level at presentation was the sole predictive marker associated with dismal outcome. [source] Preliminary characterization of vaginal microbiota in healthy Chinese women using cultivation-independent methodsJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2009Yi Shi Abstract Aim:, The normal microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the vaginal health of women. The aim of this study was to characterize the numerically dominant populations of vaginal microbial communities in Chinese women. Methods:, Genomic DNA was isolated from samples of vaginal swabs of five healthy women, 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid libraries were constructed and the sequences of 300 clones from each library were determined and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. The phylotypes were classified based on sequence similarity to known organisms. Results:, All vaginal microbial communities were dominated by the Lactobacillus species, and they constituted from 96.4% to 100% of the clones sequenced. Sequences homologous to L. crispatus and L. iners were most common, which were highly homologous with those of Caucasian women in the USA. Conclusions:, The numerically dominant microbial populations in healthy Chinese women's vaginas were L. crispatus and L. iners. The limited number of Lactobacillus phylotypes found in the human vagina suggested that host factors have a role in the selection of specific organisms, which have specific characteristics that allow them to successfully colonize the vagina. [source] Comparison of maternal and newborn outcomes of Tibetan and Han Chinese delivering in Lhasa, TibetJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2008Suellen Miller Abstract Aim:, To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes of Tibetan and Han Chinese women delivering vaginally at high altitude (3650 meters) in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. Method:, Comparative analysis of data from a prospective observational study of Tibetan (n = 938) and Han Chinese (n = 146) women delivering at three hospitals between January 2004 and May 2005. Results:, Han Chinese women had higher rates of pre-eclampsia/gestational hypertension than Tibetan women, (10.3% vs 5.9%, P = 0.04). There was no difference in rates of postpartum hemorrhage between Tibetan and Han women (12.8% vs 17.1%, P = 0.15). Han newborns weighed significantly less than Tibetan newborns (P < 0.01), and were twice as likely to be small for gestational age, (24.5% vs 11.6%, P < 0.01). Tibetan newborns were less likely to have poor neonatal outcomes than Han newborns (P < 0.01). Conclusion:, In high altitude deliveries in Tibet, adverse outcomes were significantly more common among Han Chinese. [source] Effect of Labour and Delivery on Plasma Hepatic Enzymes in the NewbornJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2000Dr. Max Mongelli Abstract Objective: To study the relationship between cord blood hepatic enzymes and obstetric and neonatal outcome in a Chinese population. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 288 low-risk Chinese women with singleton term pregnancies. The following enzymes were assayed in cord blood: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT). These were correlated to maternal and neonatal characteristics. Results: A strong correlation was noted between cord blood AST and LDH (R = 0.582, p < 0.01), which was absent amongst those infants delivered by elective cesarean section. LDH, AST and ALT were negatively correlated with cord arterial pH and base excess (BE). GGT was inversely related only to gestational age (R = - 0.18, p < 0.01). Both LDH and AST were weakly correlated with the duration of the first and second stages of labour. LDH was most closely linked to arterial pH, whereas AST was related to both arterial BE and duration of the second stage. Conclusions: The reference values are comparable to those published for Caucasian populations. There are moderate elevations in LDH and AST associated with the onset of labour and changes in acid-base status. [source] Breastfeeding failure in a longitudinal post-partum maternal nutrition study in Hong KongJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 5 2000Sm Chan Objective: To describe factors associated with breastfeeding failure during the first 6 months post-partum in a sample of Hong Kong Chinese women participating in a longitudinal study of maternal nutrition. Methodology: Forty-four Hong Kong Chinese lactating mothers who intended to breastfeed exclusively for at least 3 months were recruited and followed for 6 months post-partum. Demographic data were compared with 20 mothers who intended to use formula feeding. Mothers were followed up at 2 and 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months and details of infant feeding practices were obtained. Information was sought on breastfeeding management in hospital, reasons for discontinuation of breastfeeding or for providing supplements to babies and intention to seek, and sources of, lactation support. Results: Thirty-nine mothers who planned to breastfeed completed the follow up. Compared with mothers in the formula-feeding group, breastfeeding mothers were more likely to be professionals or housewives. Continuation of any breastfeeding (total and partial) was noted in 30 (77%), 22 (57%), 16 (41%) and 12 (31%) mothers at 2 and 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months post-partum, respectively. The majority (97%) of mothers stated that they were given information on the benefits and management of breastfeeding. However, late initiation of breastfeeding and providing supplements to babies were common. Perceptions of insufficient milk supply (44%), breast problems (31%) and being too tired (28%) were the main reasons stated for stopping breastfeeding or for providing supplements to babies. Midwives from the postnatal wards and hotlines were the main sources of lactation support. Conclusions: These results highlight difficulties in sustaining breastfeeding, either exclusive or partial, in Hong Kong Chinese women. Despite being recruited on the basis of intending to exclusively breastfeed for 3 months, less than half these mothers were still breastfeeding and only approximately one-third were exclusively or predominantly breastfeeding at 3 months. More needs to be done within the hospital environment to initiate breastfeeding immediately after birth and to avoid giving unnecessary supplements and more effort is needed to foster a mother's confidence, commitment and knowledge of breastfeeding. [source] A prospective, split face, single-blinded study looking at the use of an infrared device with contact cooling in the treatment of skin laxity in asiansLASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 2 2008FRCP, Henry H. Chan MBBS Abstract Background Although monopolar radiofrequency treatment is effective in the improvement of skin laxity, the pain and cost that are associated with this method suggest the need for alternative treatment options. Recently, an infrared device with contact cooling has been shown to be effective in the treatment of skin laxity, with ultrastructural changes observed that are similar to those that are observed following treatment with a monopolar radiofrequency device. However, no control was included in previous studies. Objective To conduct a prospective, split-face, single-blinded study to look at the efficacy and complications among Asians of treatment for skin tightening with an infrared device with contact cooling. Method Thirteen Chinese women were treated. An infrared device with contact cooling (Titan, Cutera, Brisbane, CA) was used to treat one side of the face and the untreated side served as the control. The treatment was performed twice with a 4-week interval between the treatments and the patients were followed up by subjective assessment using a structured questionnaire 1 and 3 months after the second (and last) treatment. In all cases, pre- and post-treatment clinical photographs were taken. Two independent observers assessed the photographs. Results Twenty-three percentage of patients reported mild improvement, 15% reported moderate improvement, and 54% reported significant improvement 3 months after their second (and last) treatment. In terms of objective assessment, 41% of patients were identified to have some degree of improvement of the treated side 3 months after their second treatment. Compared with the untreated side, the treated side improved significantly (P,=,0.031) at 1 and 3 months after the second treatment. Blistering occurred in one patient, which had resolved completely by the 3-month follow-up visit. Conclusion An infrared device with contact cooling can be used effectively and safely for the treatment of skin laxity, especially in smaller anatomical areas. Lesers Surg. Med. 40:146,152, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Gender Differences in Perceived Work Demands, Family Demands, and Life Stress among Married Chinese EmployeesMANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION REVIEW, Issue 2 2006Jaepil Choi abstract Although gender-based division of labour and the identity theory of stress suggest that the relationship between work and family demands and life stress may vary as a function of gender, it is largely unknown whether these arguments are also valid in China. To address this gap in the existing literature, the current study investigates the gender differences in perceived work and family demands, and the effects of these perceived demands on the life stress of Chinese male and female employees. The study of 153 married Chinese employees found that Chinese women perceived a higher level of family demands than did Chinese men, whereas there was no significant gender difference in the perception of work demands. In addition, while perceived family demands were similarly related to life stress differently for men and women, perceived work demands were associated more strongly with the life stress of men than that of women. [source] Plasma folate status and dietary folate intake among Chinese women of childbearing ageMATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION, Issue 2 2009Yaling Zhao Abstract Maternal folic acid deficiency is an underlying risk for neural tube defects (NTDs). China has one of the highest prevalences of NTDs, and the prevalence rates of NTDs vary by region. We characterized plasma folate level and dietary folate intake among Chinese women of childbearing age by region (North and South, East and West, urban and rural) to provide evidence for establishing policy to prevent NTDs. A total of 1003 women of childbearing age from five provinces in China were interviewed. Fasting blood samples were collected. Plasma folate concentrations were determined by a microbiological assay. Dietary intake data were collected using a 24-h recall. Both the plasma folate concentrations and dietary folate intake of women in the South (25.9 nmol L,1 and 211.0 µg day,1) were higher than those of women in the North (13.3 nmol L,1 and 189.2 µg day,1). In the North, plasma folate concentrations and dietary folate intake of women in rural areas were lower than those of women in urban areas, whereas, in the South, an opposite pattern was observed. No difference was found between women in the East and West, in either the North or South regions. Plasma folate and dietary folate intake among Chinese women of childbearing age were suboptimal and varied by region. Different folic acid supplementation approaches and dosage should be undertaken to improve folate status of women in different areas. Particular attention should be paid to women in the North, especially in northern rural areas. [source] The evolving experience of illness for Chinese women with breast cancer: A qualitative studyPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Wendy W.T. Lam The study of illness meaning in cancer in western communities has usually focused on causal attributions. We report a phenomenological study of 17 Hong Kong Chinese women with breast cancer, interviewed on completion of initial treatment, and describe how the illness experience and hence, meaning evolves for women in the Hong Kong Chinese culture. Themes arising from the identification and treatment of the disease include the difficulty of living in uncertainty and of maintaining and regaining normalcy in a superstitious society. The initial uncertainty of disease detection and the diagnostic process are characterized by shock and disbelief mingled with fear of death. Treatment choice presents women with difficulties arising from more uncertainty over the pressure to make quick decisions and the dilemma of death or mutilation. Following treatment, re-evaluation, re-prioritizing and positive life-re-evaluation occur. Changes in appearance proved problematic for those women who tried to hide their disease to protect themselves against stigmatization and social exclusion. In many ways, these findings parallel studies on western populations, suggesting that a common disease,medical care process is a predominant influence in shaping breast cancer experience. Implications for care are drawn from these data. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Application of image-guided biopsy for impalpable breast lesions in Chinese womenANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 1-2 2003Flora H. F. Tsang Background: Screening for breast cancer has resulted in an increasing number of mammographically detected lesions that require further management. The Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation system is a recently added biopsy technique for the management of such lesions. The present paper will review the authors' experience in the use of this procedure in Chinese patients whose breast volume was smaller than that of Caucasians. Methods: Ninety-three patients were listed for the procedure and 78 (84%) underwent the procedure successfully. Ninety-two lesions were biopsied. Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) was performed for clustered microcalcifications or abnormal mass/density. Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy (MIBB), a suction-assisted core biopsy device, was employed for more scattered lesions. For small volume breasts, it may be required to bring the hand through the aperture to get the targeted lesions onto the digital image or, in the case of ABBI, to excise just beyond the deep margin of the lesion rather than the recommended depth. Results: The ABBI was performed for 43 (46.7%) lesions and MIBB for 49 (53.3%) lesions. Nine (9.8%) were diagnosed to have ductal carcinoma in situ, two (2.2%) had ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion and eight (8.7%) had invasive ductal carcinoma. All the malignant lesions required further management. In addition, 19 (20.7%) were found to have atypical hyperplasia. Patients' satisfaction and cosmetic outcome are good. Conclusion: The ABBI and MIBB procedures can be applied satisfactorily for biopsy of mammographic lesions with good cosmetic outcome in Chinese patients. [source] Cross-border ,Traffic': Stories of dangerous victims, pure whores and HIV/AIDS in the experiences of mainland female sex workers in Hong KongASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 1 2005Kevin D. Ming Abstract:,In recent years, dramatically increasing numbers of mainland Chinese women have entered Hong Kong to engage in sexual labour. Public discourses on the threat of HIV/AIDS increasingly locate these women's bodies as sites of danger, colluding with pre-existing imaginations of mainland rural women as ignorant, desperate and deceptive in representing these women's penetration of Hong Kong's border as a primary means of infection of the Hong Kong body. Drawing on state, media and popular representations, and the narratives of female sex workers themselves, this paper examines the interwoven bio-medical, gendered, sexual and cross-border relationships that intersect in the experiences of mainland Chinese sex workers in Hong Kong. I argue that while images of disease and danger have been used to regulate these women's bodies, mainland female sex workers challenge these images by drawing on other popular stereotypes of mainland women as pure, feminine and traditional. Although images of the related but still ,other' figure of the mainland Chinese woman are powerful mechanisms for the regulation of these women's bodies, mainland female sex workers skilfully use inherent tensions in those images in resisting that control and in struggling to achieve their own personal and economic goals. [source] Sex Differences in Perceived Family Functioning and Family Resources in Hong Kong Families: Implications for Social Work PracticeASIAN SOCIAL WORK AND POLICY REVIEW, Issue 3 2009Joyce L.C. Ma Although enhancing family functioning has become a rising concern of social workers in Chinese contexts such as Hong Kong, little has been known on perceived family functioning and family resources. To fill in this knowledge gap, this article reports part of the results of a telephone survey conducted in Hong Kong, aiming to identify the sex differences in these two areas. The results of the study have shown that Chinese women perceived better affective involvement, one of the crucial indicators of family functioning, than Chinese men. However, among the different family resources, men rated better physical and mental well-being whereas women's social connection was stronger than men's. Further analysis have shown that the linkage of three family resources (namely stress coping efficacy, time spent with family and income) to perceived family functioning was statistically significant irrespective of genders. Implications of this study for social work practice are discussed at the end of the article. [source] Evaluating therapeutic effect in symptoms of moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome with Vitex agnus castus (BNO 1095) in Chinese womenAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Linlin MA Objectives:, To assess therapeutic effect of an extract of Vitex agnus castus (VAC, BNO 1095) in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in Chinese women. Design:, It was a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study carried out in China. Eligible patients were treated with VAC extract or placebo for three cycles. Symptoms were documented with PMS diary (PMSD), a daily rating scale with 17 items. Main efficacy variable was the reduction percentage of 17 symptom score documented in PMSD during the luteal phase of the third treatment cycle. Results:, A total of 67 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to VAC group or placebo group. Of these, 64 patients completed the study (31 vs. 33). All the 17 symptoms showed a significantly greater improvement with VAC than placebo (P < 0.05) except lower abdominal cramping (P > 0.05). Conclusion:, Vitex agnus castus is more effective than placebo in the treatment of moderate-to-severe PMS in Chinese women, especially in symptoms of negative effect and insomnia. [source] Smoking pattern during pregnancy in Hong Kong ChineseAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Grace W. S. KONG Background: While the prevalence of young female smokers is rising among the Hong Kong Chinese population, data on their smoking pattern during pregnancy are limited. Aims: To investigate the smoking habit of Hong Kong Chinese women and their partners during pregnancy. Methods: Postal questionnaires were sent to 479 couples to explore their smoking patterns during pregnancy at one to two years after the index delivery. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 247 subjects. Among 117 women who were ever-smokers, 26% had stopped smoking before the index pregnancy, while 60% stopped and 14% reduced smoking during the pregnancy. Most women stopped smoking in the first trimester (93%) and prior to the first antenatal visit (79%). Those who used to smoke fewer cigarettes before pregnancy were more likely to stop smoking during pregnancy but women with a history of recreational drug use were more likely to continue smoking during pregnancy. The post-partum smoking relapse rate was 59% in women who had stopped smoking before or during their pregnancy. Only 2.6% of the partners who were ever-smokers stopped smoking before the pregnancy while smoking habits remained unchanged in 52%. Conclusions: Approximately one-fifth of an unselected sample of Hong Kong mothers had a history of smoking prior to pregnancy. Pregnancy is an opportune time to implement smoking intervention programs for female smokers and their partners with an emphasis on the maintenance of post-partum smoking abstinence. [source] Genital human papillomavirus screening by gene chip in Chinese women of Guangdong provinceAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Min LIN Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are associated with cervical cancer. There were only a few reports and detailed data about epidemiological research of HPV infection in general population of China. Aims: To determine the prevalence of genital HPV infection in Chinese women of Guangdong province. Methods:, A total of 1705 women were screened by gene chip. All HPV-positive women were further examined by ThinPrep liquid-based cytology test (TCT), and the cervical biopsies of those women with positive HPV-DNA and abnormal TCT were collected for pathological diagnosis. Results: The overall HPV prevalence was 9.03% (154 of 1705), and 72.3% (126 of 154) of total positive samples were high-risk types, with higher prevalence of types 52, 58, 16, 18 and CP8304. For women aged 51 years or older, the overall high-risk HPV prevalence was 12.2% (24 of 179), which was obviously higher than those of other age groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results showed that the HPV prevalence in Guangdong is very similar to the world level. Unlike most previous studies, our findings suggest that HPV prevalence increased with age, and that the predominant genotypes in this area were HPV 52 and 58. [source] |