Attitudes, acceptance, and registration in relation to organ donation in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the discrepancy between individuals with positive attitudes towards organ donation and the actual number of registered organ donors in Hong Kong, and to investigate the best modalities for promoting more organ donor registrations. METHODS: This cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted in Hong Kong. Telephone numbers were selected randomly. Upon successful contact with a household, the eligible household member who had the most recent birthday was selected to participate in the telephone interview. RESULTS: A total of 1000 Hong Kong Chinese residents were interviewed successfully. The response rate was 53.8%. The majority of the respondents were female (68.3%) and were aged 51 to 60 years (24%) or ≥61 years (43.6%). Among the respondents, 31.3% were willing to donate their organs after death; 43.3% were indecisive, and 25.4% refused. Among those who were willing to donate organs after death, only 34.2% had registered with the Centralised Organ Donation Register (CODR). Among those who were willing to donate organs after death but had not yet registered on CODR, 52.2% said they were not determined enough to take action, 47.8% said they were too busy, 37.8% said they were too lazy, and 20.4% said they were always forgetful about registering. In all, 32.8% of the interviewees were not aware of the ways to register as a prospective organ donor. Among non-messenger social media platforms, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram were the most commonly used. Most participants believed that Facebook and YouTube were effective for engaging audiences. CONCLUSIONS: More effort should be made to facilitate organ donor registration in face-to-face settings via promotional booths and in online settings via appropriate social media platforms.

Characterization and androgenic regulation of soluble protein kinases and protein phosphorylation in rat ventral prostate gland.

The soluble protein kinase activities for protamine and casein, the histone kinases modulated by cAMP or Ca2+ and phospholipid, as well as the phosphorylation patterns of endogenous proteins were measured in rat ventral prostates from normal adults, castrates, and dihydrotestosterone-treated castrates. In normal prostate, the ratio of cAMP-dependent type I and II kinases was approximately 1:5. After a 3-week period of castration-induced regression, the concentrations of both enzymes were increased, but on a total organ basis, type I was decreased to 56%, while type II was reduced to 20% of normal levels. Casein kinase activity in unfractionated cytosol was not significantly altered by castration but when partially resolved into type I and II enzymes, there appeared to be a selective reduction in the type I component. In contrast, the total organ activities of protamine kinase or Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent kinase, two measures of protein kinase C enzyme, were significantly increased (64 and 71%, respectively) above sham controls in regressed organs of castrates. All of the castration-induced changes in protein kinases were restored toward normal by dihydrotestosterone treatment. Castration effects on protein kinase C and the cAMP-dependent kinases appeared to be manifest in the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins. Castration resulted in a qualitative shift in the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation patterns as measured by gel electrophoresis, with increases in four major bands and decreases in two others, whereas the Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation patterns were all enhanced. It is concluded that the androgenic regulation of protein kinase C differed qualitatively from that of other kinases, and its activation upon withdrawal of the androgenic stimulus may be involved in autophagic mechanisms in the prostate.