Browsing by Author "Leung JYY"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemBirth weight and prematurity with lung function at ~17.5 years: "Children of 1997" birth cohort.(Springer Nature Limited, 2020-01-15) He B; Kwok MK; Au Yeung SL; Lin SL; Leung JYY; Hui LL; Li AM; Leung GM; Schooling CMWe aimed to determine if prematurity and lower birth weight are associated with poorer lung function in a non-western developed setting with less marked confounding by socioeconomic position. Using multivariable linear regression in Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort, adjusted associations of prematurity and birth weight with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25-75%) at ~17.5 years were assessed. Associations for birth weight were stronger in boys for FEV1 (boys: 0.31 L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.38, girls: 0.18 L, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.25), FVC (boys: 0.36 L, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.44, girls: 0.22 L, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.28) and FEF25-75% (boys: 0.35 L, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.49, girls: 0.22 L, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.34) adjusted for age, socioeconomic position and infant and maternal characteristics. Similarly adjusted, preterm birth (compared to full-term birth) was associated with lower FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75%. Thus, associations of lower birth weight, especially in boys, and prematurity with poorer lung function at 17.5 years were found. Identifying underlying mechanism might contribute to the improvement of pulmonary health and the prevention of adult respiratory illness.
- ItemEffect of Berberine on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial.(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-07-26) Zhao JV; Yeung W-F; Chan Y-H; Vackova D; Leung JYY; Ip DKM; Zhao J; Ho W-K; Tse H-F; Schooling CMCardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Berberine, a long-standing, widely used, traditional Chinese medicine, is thought to have beneficial effects on CVD risk factors and in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The mechanisms and effects, specifically in men, possibly via testosterone, have not been examined previously. To assess the effect of berberine on CVD risk factors and any potential pathway via testosterone in men, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial in Hong Kong. In total, 84 eligible Chinese men with hyperlipidemia were randomized to berberine (500 mg orally, twice a day) or placebo for 12 weeks. CVD risk factors (lipids, thromboxane A2, blood pressure, body mass index and waist-hip ratio) and testosterone were assessed at baseline, and 8 and 12 weeks after intervention. We compared changes in CVD risk factors and testosterone after 12 weeks of intervention using analysis of variance, and after 8 and 12 weeks using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Of the 84 men randomized, 80 men completed the trial. Men randomized to berberine had larger reductions in total cholesterol (-0.39 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.70 to -0.08) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.07 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.13 to -0.01) after 12 weeks. Considering changes after 8 and 12 weeks together, berberine lowered total cholesterol and possibly low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and possibly increased testosterone. Changes in triglycerides, thromboxane A2, blood pressure, body mass index and waist-hip ratio after the intervention did not differ between the berberine and placebo groups. No serious adverse event was reported. Berberine is a promising treatment for lowering cholesterol. Berberine did not lower testosterone but instead may increase testosterone in men, suggesting sex-specific effects of berberine. Exploring other pathways and assessing sex differences would be worthwhile, with relevance to drug repositioning and healthcare.
- ItemThe effect of liver enzymes on adiposity: a Mendelian randomization study.(Springer Nature Limited, 2019-11-14) Liu J; Au Yeung SL; Kwok MK; Leung JYY; Lin SL; Hui LL; Leung GM; Schooling CMPoorer liver function is positively associated with diabetes in Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Observationally, adiposity is associated with poorer liver function. To clarify the etiology, we assessed the association of liver enzymes with adiposity observationally and using two-sample MR for validation. In the "Children of 1997" birth cohort, we used multivariable linear regression to assess the associations of alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at ~17.5 years with body mass index (BMI) (n = 3,458). Using MR, genetic predictors of ALT, ALP and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), were applied to genome-wide association studies of BMI (n = 681,275), waist circumference (WC) (n = 224,459) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) (n = 224,459) to obtain unconfounded estimates. Observationally, ALT was positively associated with BMI (0.10 kg/m2 per IU/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09 to 0.11). ALP was inversely associated with BMI (-0.018 kg/m2 per IU/L, 95% CI -0.024 to -0.012). Using MR, ALT was inversely associated with BMI (-0.14 standard deviation per 100% change in concentration, 95% CI -0.20 to -0.07), but not WC or WHR. ALP and GGT were unrelated to adiposity. Poorer liver function might not cause adiposity; instead higher ALT might reduce BMI, raising the question as to the role of ALT in body composition.
- ItemThe effect of liver enzymes on body composition: A Mendelian randomization study.(PLOS, 2020-02-11) Liu J; Au Yeung SL; Kwok MK; Leung JYY; Hui LL; Leung GM; Schooling CM; Meyre DBackground Higher alanine transaminase (ALT), indicating poor liver function, is positively associated with diabetes but inversely associated with body mass index (BMI) in Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, suggesting liver function affects muscle mass. To clarify, we assessed the associations of liver enzymes with muscle and fat mass observationally with two-sample MR as a validation. Methods In the population-representative “Children of 1997” birth cohort (n = 3,455), we used multivariable linear regression to assess the adjusted associations of ALT and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at ~17.5 years with muscle mass and body fat percentage observationally. Genetic variants predicting ALT, ALP and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) were applied to fat-free and fat mass in the UK Biobank (n = ~331,000) to obtain unconfounded MR estimates. Results Observationally, ALT was positively associated with muscle mass (0.11 kg per IU/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10 to 0.12) and fat percentage (0.15% per IU/L, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.17). ALP was inversely associated with muscle mass (-0.03 kg per IU/L, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.02) and fat percentage (-0.02% per IU/L, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.01). Using MR, ALT was inversely associated with fat-free mass (-0.41 kg per 100% in concentration, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.19) and fat mass (-0.58 kg per 100% in concentration, 95% CI -0.85 to -0.30). ALP and GGT were unclearly associated with fat-free mass or fat mass. Conclusion ALT reducing fat-free mass provides a possible pathway for the positive association of ALT with diabetes and suggests a potential target of intervention.ovides a possible pathway for the positive association of ALT with diabetes and suggests a potential target of intervention.
- ItemThe impact of alcohol pricing policies on public health in Hong Kong, China: A modelling study.(Elsevier B.V., 2022-06-24) Ng CS; Au M; Ma R; Leung JYY; Quan JBackground Contrary to most developed economies, Hong Kong has reduced and eliminated taxes on beer and wine over the last 15 years and observed increasing alcohol consumption. Methods We applied econometric epidemiological modelling to assess the impact of reverting ad valorem taxation to pre-2008 levels (20% on wine and 40% on beer) on consumption and health outcomes. We used 15 years of industry sales and pricing data (2004-2018) to derive 25 own-price and cross-price elasticity estimates. We applied risk functions from the World Health Organization 2018 Global Status Report to assess the impact on 25 alcohol-attributable conditions. Findings An estimated 616 deaths (91.3% in men) were attributable to alcohol in 2018. Raising taxes to pre-2008 levels is estimated to reduce consumption of pure alcohol consumption by 8.0%, 15.9%, and 31.1%; and reduce alcohol-attributable deaths by 11.6%, 21.8%, and 40.2% assuming 25%, 50% and 100% pass through rates of taxes to consumers. The largest projected decreases in alcohol-attributable mortality in absolute numbers are alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcoholic psychoses (wholly alcohol-attributable disorders). The largest absolute number of new alcohol-attributable cases in 2018 were hypertension, alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse; which are estimated to be reduced by 31.3%, 34.2%, and 34.3% respectively by raising taxes to pre-2008 levels. The alcohol-attributable health burden and absolute reductions in health harms are far greater in men. Interpretation Reversing the 2008 alcohol tax reductions is potentially effective in averting the alcohol-attributable health burden and thus mitigate against the avoidable harms of alcohol-related disease. Funding Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR, China [03170067].
- ItemThe WHO Foundation should not accept donations from the alcohol industry(BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2022-05-16) Leung JYY; Casswell SSummary box The WHO Foundation, established to fundraise for WHO, does not explicitly preclude funding from the alcohol industry, exposing WHO to potential influence by the industry’s conflicting interests. The WHO Foundation’s Gift Acceptance Policy also lacks transparency, preventing public scrutiny of donations. To protect the independence and integrity of WHO, the WHO Foundation should not accept any donations from the alcohol industry. WHO needs further resources to implement stronger safeguards against alcohol industry interference, as shown in its development of an action plan (2022–2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
