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OBJECTIVETo investigate whether circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which previously has been shown to be elevated in obesity, could predict the development of type 2 diabetes in a 5.4-year, population-based, prospective study.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSBaseline plasma FGF21 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 1,900 subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study (CRISPS). The prospective association of FGF21 with diabetes development over 5.4 years was analyzed using multiple logistic regression.RESULTSAt baseline, plasma levels of FGF21 increased progressively with worsening dysglycemia from normal glucose tolerance, through prediabetes, to diabetes (global trend, P < 0.001). Of 1,292 subjects without diabetes at baseline, a high baseline FGF21 level was a strong independent predictor for diabetes development (odds ratio 1.792; P < 0.01), together with waist circumference and fasting plasma glucose levels.CONCLUSIONSPlasma FGF21 levels were significantly increased in subjects with prediabetes and diabetes and predicted the development of diabetes in humans.

Our data support the use of the Chinese version of the SDQ, especially the total difficulties scale, as a screening instrument for psychiatric morbidities among children in Hong Kong.

Serum FGF21 level is increased in type 2 diabetes but decreased in type 1 diabetes and LADA. In autoimmune diabetes, the reduction in circulating FGF21 is closely associated with markers of pancreatic β-cell autoimmunity.

Sense of community (SOC) has been one of the most studied topics in community psychology. However, no empirical study to date has investigated SOC in Hong Kong and its relations with community characteristics and residents' psychological well-being. A representative sample of 941 Hong Kong Chinese based on a randomized household survey was conducted in all 18 districts in Hong Kong. Results of hierarchical linear modeling indicated that SOC was not associated with sociodemographic indicators on both the individual-level (i.e., gender, age, family income, education level, type of residence, and area-to-capita ratio of residence) and the community-level (i.e., proportion of individuals with tertiary education, median family income, ownership of residence, population density, and resident stability). SOC was negatively related to daily hassles and positively with social support and quality of life. Conceptualization of SOC in Hong Kong was discussed.

Plasma PEDF was significantly associated with the presence of the MetS and predicted the development of the MetS in Chinese men.

Objective. Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are pathogenic mechanisms common to systemic sclerosis (SSc) and atherosclerosis. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between coronary atherosclerosis, as assessed by the coronary artery calcium score (CACS), and conventional cardiovascular and disease-specific risk factors in SSc patients.Methods. The CACS was measured by computed tomography, and cardiovascular risk factors were examined in SSc patients and compared with controls matched for age, sex, and glycemic status. Disease activity score, antiphospholipid antibodies, highsensitivity C-reactive protein level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured in SSc patients. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were determined.Results. We recruited 53 SSc patients (50 women and 3 men) and 106 controls. The patients had a mean ؎ SD age of 53.1 ؎ 12.9 years and a median disease duration of 9 years. Compared to controls, SSc patients had significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (P ‫؍‬ 0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P ‫؍‬ 0.01), diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and body mass index and were more likely to be receiving vasodilators (all P < 0.001). There was a significantly higher proportion of SSc patients among subjects with more severe coronary calcification (CACS >101) compared to those with lesser severity (CACS <100) (56.5% versus 29.4%; P ‫؍‬ 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed SSc to be an independent determinant for a CACS >101 (OR 10.89 [95% CI 2.21-53.75], P ‫؍‬ 0.003) together with age and LDL cholesterol level after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors. Among diseasespecific factors, only disease duration (OR 1.14 [95% CI 1.02-1.27], P ‫؍‬ 0.02) was independently associated with more severe coronary calcification (CACS >101).Conclusion. Our findings indicate that SSc is an independent risk factor for coronary calcification, in addition to the conventional risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis, such as age and hypertension.