No abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo bone response to the strontium-containing hydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) bioactive bone cement injected into the cancellous bone. Sr-HA cement was injected into the iliac crest of rabbits for 1, 3, and 6 months. Active bone formation and remodeling were observed after 1 month. Newly formed bone was observed to grow onto the bone cement after 3 months. Thick osteoid layer with osteoblasts formed along the bone and guided over the bone cement surface reflected the stimulating effect of Sr-HA. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, high calcium and phosphorus levels were detected at the interface with a thick layer of 70 microm in width, and fusion of Sr-HA with the bone was observed. Blood vessels were found developing in remodeling sites. The affinity of bone on Sr-HA cement was increased from 73.55 +/- 3.50% after 3 months up to 85.15 +/- 2.74% after 6 months (p < 0.01). In contrast to Sr-HA cement, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement was neither osteoconductive nor bioresorbable. Results show that the Sr-HA cement is biocompatible and osteoconductive, which is suitable for use in treating osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Background Peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIC) is commonly performed in cancer treatment and causes pain and anxiety to children with cancer. Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether virtual reality distraction intervention can alleviate pain and anxiety and reduce length of procedure among pediatric cancer patients undergoing PIC. Methods One hundred eight pediatric cancer patients aged 6 to 17 years were recruited from a regional public hospital in Hong Kong to participate in this randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received virtual reality distraction intervention, and the control group received standard care. The primary outcome was child-reported pain. Secondary outcomes included child-reported anxiety, pulse rate, and length of procedure. Outcome measurements were conducted at 5 minutes before, during, and immediately after the procedure. Results Pediatric cancer patients in the intervention group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in pain (estimated mean difference = −1.69, P = .007) and anxiety levels (estimated mean difference = −3.50, P < .001) compared with the control group. The mean duration (in minutes) for the PIC procedure was significantly shorter among participants receiving virtual reality intervention compared with the control counterparts (estimated mean difference = −0.75, P = .017). However, no significant difference was observed in pulse rate during and after the procedure between groups. Conclusions Findings indicate that virtual reality is safe and effective to alleviate pain and anxiety among pediatric cancer patients undergoing PIC procedure. Implications for Practice Virtual reality can be considered as an adjunctive treatment to manage pain and anxiety in pediatric cancer patients before and during PIC procedure.

This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among South Asians in Hong Kong and examined the factors that affect KAP towards COVID-19 in this population. This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited participants with assistance from South Asian community centres and organisations. A total of 352 participants completed questionnaires to assess their level of KAP towards COVID-19. The mean knowledge score was 5.38/10, indicating a relatively low knowledge level. The participants expressed certain misconceptions regarding the prevention of COVID-19 infection. They perceived a mild risk related to the disease, had positive attitudes regarding its prevention and often implemented recommended disease-preventive measures, such as maintaining social distance (88.1%) and wearing masks in public (94.3%). Participants who were male, had a secondary school education or lower and who perceived a lower risk of being infected and lower self-efficacy were less likely to implement preventive measures. Culturally and linguistically appropriate health education could be developed to increase the knowledge of South Asians, especially those with lower education levels, about COVID-19 and to encourage them to implement the necessary preventive measures.

No abstract

Background Venipuncture is one of the most painful and distressing procedure experienced by pediatric patients. Evidence suggests that distraction combined with age-appropriate procedural information can effectively decrease procedural pain and anxiety in pediatric patients. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) can simultaneously provide complete distraction and procedural information to patients. Methods Guided by the gate control theory and Lazarus and Folkman’s theory, this study aims to examine the effects of IVR intervention on reducing the pain, anxiety and stress, the duration of venipuncture, and the satisfaction of healthcare providers for the procedure. A randomized controlled trial with repeated assessments will be conducted. A total of 200 pediatric patients aged 4–12 years will be recruited from a regional public hospital and randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The study will use two age-appropriate IVR modules that consist of procedural information. The intervention group will receive IVR intervention, whereas the control group will receive standard care only. The cost-effectiveness of IVR intervention will be compared with that of standard care. Outcome evaluation will be conducted at four time points: 10 min before, during, immediately after, and 30 min after the procedure. Intention to treat and generalized estimating equation model will be used to analyze the data. Discussion This study is the first of its kind to adopt IVR intervention with age-appropriate procedural information for pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture. Findings of the proposed study may: (1) provide a novel, facile, and cost-effective intervention that can be used virtually at any time and place to manage pain and anxiety; and (2) shed light on the global trends of research and clinical development of IVR as an intervention for other painful and stressful medical procedures. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800018817 . Registered on 11 October 2018. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3443-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundPrimary dysmenorrhoea is common in girls who have begun menstruating. However, few studies have examined its effect on the quality of life of a young population. The study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of adolescent girls with dysmenorrhoea in Hong Kong.MethodsThe study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive approach. A convenience sample of 653 girls aged 13 to 19 years old was recruited from three secondary schools in Hong Kong. The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey was used to examine the health-related quality of life of the participants. The severity of dysmenorrhoea was assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale.ResultsGirls suffering from dysmenorrhoea reported high pain prevalence and intensity. However, the majority of girls with dysmenorrhoea did not seek medical advice (93.2%) or self-medicate (82%). The role-physical, bodily pain, general health and social functioning domain scores of girls with dysmenorrhoea were significantly lower than those without dysmenorrhoea. Moreover, girls with severe dysmenorrhoea had a significantly lower quality of life in the bodily pain domain than those with mild and moderate forms of condition.ConclusionsFindings suggest that dysmenorrhoea is highly prevalent among adolescent girls in Hong Kong. Girls may suffer severe pain, which degrades their quality of life.

No abstract