News &amp; Updates

A community-based system that delivers accessible and coherent primary healthcare services in a sustainable manner will be part of the healthcare reform to be undertaken by the government to improve overall health and quality of life of the population of Hong Kong.

PrEP use tied to ‘stable’ STI incidence, sexual behaviour among MSM

The incidence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) over the first 4 years of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use remains high and stable, but the incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhea has slightly decreased among daily PrEP users, as shown in a study presented at the 30th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).

27 Feb 2023

Adipose tissue–targeted nanoparticles may improve treatment of obesity and atherosclerosis

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have developed a nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery system that selectively transports thyroid hormone (TH) to adipose tissue, which may improve treatment of obesity and its related cardiometabolic complications by overcoming serious adverse events (AEs) associated with systematic TH administration.

27 Feb 2023

Sleep irregularity a possible marker of subclinical atherosclerosis

Duration of sleep irregularity is associated with several measures of subclinical atherosclerosis, according to a study.

LACI-2 sets stage for cilostazol-isosorbide combo in lacunar stroke

The combination of cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate boosts functional and cognitive outcomes in patients who have had lacunar strokes (subcortical infarcts <20 mm in diameter) in the phase II LACI-2* trial.

Processed food intake tied to BP variability

Increased consumption of processed food appears to be associated with greater blood pressure (BP) variability and extreme dipping, as reported in a study.

Tirofiban improves functional outcome, prevents haemorrhage in stroke patients

Endovascular treatment (EVT) with intravenous tirofiban prior to thrombectomy appears to improve functional outcome and reduce the risk of any intracranial haemorrhage in patients with large vessel occlusion treated within 4.5 hours after stroke onset compared with alteplase, a study has shown.

26 Feb 2023

Zinc supplements may improve survival in nonmetastatic prostate cancer

Postdiagnostic use of low-dose zinc supplement may help reduce the risk of lethal prostate cancer and all-cause mortality among patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer, suggests a recent study.

26 Feb 2023

Low preop haemoglobin ups anaemia risk following gastric bypass

Among individuals undergoing gastric bypass, those with low preoperative haemoglobin levels are at higher risk of developing anaemia after the surgical procedure, according to a study. Furthermore, this risk increase is not mitigated by iron supplementation.