Human exposure to microplastics via the consumption of nonalcoholic beverages in various packaging materials: The case of Hong Kong.

There is growing concern over microplastics in food and beverages, with potential implications for human health. However, little is known about microplastics in nonwater, nonalcoholic packaged beverages. This study addresses this research gap by implementing a dual-method approach that includes laboratory analysis to quantify microplastics in 50 packaged nonalcoholic beverages sold in Hong Kong, coupled with a beverage frequency questionnaire survey to provide a more accurate estimate of microplastic intake from these beverages. The beverages analysed spanned five categories-juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas, soda waters, soft drinks, and sports and energy drinks-and were packaged in four forms: aluminium cans, aseptic cartons, plastic bottles and glass bottles. The results showed that all beverage samples contained microplastics, with an average abundance of 42.1 ± 41.2 n/L (interquartile range [IQR]: 17.8-54.1 n/L), and these particles were predominantly smaller than 150 µm in size. Additionally, based on an annual beverage consumption rate of 157.3 ± 209.7 L/capita (IQR: 42.9-183.0 L/capita), it is estimated that Hong Kong adults ingest approximately 6200 microplastics per capita each year. The potential primary sources of these microplastics are atmospheric fallout and the packaging materials that endure mechanical stresses during the manufacturing and transportation of beverages. Compared to other known routes of exposure, including air, seafood, sugar, salt and honey, packaged nonalcoholic beverages present a comparable level of microplastic exposure, being lower than the first three but higher than the latter two. Nevertheless, the high prevalence of smaller microplastics in the samples is concerning. This study is considered to be important for food safety and human health, as it not only raises public awareness about microplastic contamination in packaged beverages but also serves as a call to action for the beverage industry to adopt more robust safety measures and for policymakers to revise packaging standards to reduce microplastic contamination and safeguard public health.

Contingent valuation of dolphin watching activities in South China: The difference between local and non-local participants.

Ecotourism has seen both demand and attention increase globally and locally. Dolphin watching tours, as a type of nature-based activity, have become popular in Tai O of Hong Kong. However, little attention has been paid to the quality and pricing of the tour operators in relation to the expectations of visitors. This study seeks to understand the willingness to pay (WTP) of local and non-local visitors and the relationship between WTP and environmentally responsible behavioural intentions (ERBI) and satisfaction. The key findings include a positive correlation between WTP and ERBI for local visitors and a positive correlation between WTP and satisfaction for non-local visitors. These differences between local and non-local visitors are the result of the affective connection of local visitors to the environment, as such connection is not found among non-local visitors. These findings provide important clues to help improve pricing strategies and service quality towards achieving a sustainable ecotourism industry in Hong Kong, and they offer implications for ecotourism elsewhere.

Human adipose stem cell and ASC-derived cardiac progenitor cellular therapy improves outcomes in a murine model of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue is an abundant and potent source of adult stem cells for transplant therapy. In this study, we present our findings on the potential application of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) as well as induced cardiac-like progenitors (iCPs) derived from ASCs for the treatment of myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells, ASCs, and iCPs generated from ASCs using three defined cardiac lineage transcription factors were assessed in an immune-compromised mouse myocardial infarction model. Analysis of iCP prior to transplant confirmed changes in gene and protein expression consistent with a cardiac phenotype. Endpoint analysis was performed 1 month posttransplant. Significantly increased endpoint fractional shortening, as well as reduction in the infarct area at risk, was observed in recipients of iCPs as compared to the other recipient cohorts. Both recipients of iCPs and ASCs presented higher myocardial capillary densities than either recipients of BM-derived stem cells or the control cohort. Furthermore, mice receiving iCPs had a significantly higher cardiac retention of transplanted cells than all other groups. CONCLUSION: Overall, iCPs generated from ASCs outperform BM-derived stem cells and ASCs in facilitating recovery from induced myocardial infarction in mice.

A feasibility study to investigate the acceptability and potential effectiveness of a telecare service for older people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AIMS: To investigate the feasibility, acceptance and potential effectiveness of delivering a telecare service on the health outcomes and hospital service utilization of community-dwelling patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: Eligible participants were older people, with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and who had been admitted to hospital at least once for exacerbation during the previous year. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received a telecare device kit and they were asked to monitor their oxygen saturation, pulse rate and respiration rate using the device and to transmit the data to an online network platform. A medication and purse-lip breathing reminder with a feedback function is also provided in the device kit. A community nurse monitors changes in the physiological parameters and takes immediate action to address the patients' needs. Participants in the control group received no other extra care. Study outcomes include user satisfaction, health-related quality of life, pulmonary function, hospital re-admission and use of emergency room services. RESULTS: Twenty-two participants in the intervention group and 18 in the control group were included in the analysis. The mean age of all 40 participants was 72.93 years. Overall, the participants in the intervention group expressed satisfaction with the telecare service. Some patients reported difficulty in reading the screen of the mobile phone and manipulating the tiny key-in buttons. No significant differences were found between the two time points (baseline and post-test period) with regard to health-related quality of life. No significant differences in pulmonary function and in the number of emergency department visits and hospital re-admissions between the study groups were found. CONCLUSION: The high level of user satisfaction indicated the feasibility of conducting a large-scale randomized control trial to evaluate the effects of a telecare service on health outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Accelerated postnatal growth increases lipogenic gene expression and adipocyte size in low-birth weight mice.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the hormonal milieu and adipose gene expression in response to catch-up growth (CUG), a growth pattern associated with obesity and diabetes risk, in a mouse model of low birth weight (LBW). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: ICR mice were food restricted by 50% from gestational days 12.5-18.5, reducing offspring birth weight by 25%. During the suckling period, dams were either fed ad libitum, permitting CUG in offspring, or food restricted, preventing CUG. Offspring were killed at age 3 weeks, and gonadal fat was removed for RNA extraction, array analysis, RT-PCR, and evaluation of cell size and number. Serum insulin, thyroxine (T4), corticosterone, and adipokines were measured. RESULTS: At age 3 weeks, LBW mice with CUG (designated U-C) had body weight comparable with controls (designated C-C); weight was reduced by 49% in LBW mice without CUG (designated U-U). Adiposity was altered by postnatal nutrition, with gonadal fat increased by 50% in U-C and decreased by 58% in U-U mice (P < 0.05 vs. C-C mice). Adipose expression of the lipogenic genes Fasn, AccI, Lpin1, and Srebf1 was significantly increased in U-C compared with both C-C and U-U mice (P < 0.05). Mitochondrial DNA copy number was reduced by >50% in U-C versus U-U mice (P = 0.014). Although cell numbers did not differ, mean adipocyte diameter was increased in U-C and reduced in U-U mice (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CUG results in increased adipose tissue lipogenic gene expression and adipocyte diameter but not increased cellularity, suggesting that catch-up fat is primarily associated with lipogenesis rather than adipogenesis in this murine model.

Intergenerational transmission of glucose intolerance and obesity by in utero undernutrition in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease during adult life. Moreover, this programmed disease risk can progress to subsequent generations. We previously described a mouse model of LBW, produced by maternal caloric undernutrition (UN) during late gestation. LBW offspring (F(1)-UN generation) develop progressive obesity and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) with aging. We aimed to determine whether such metabolic phenotypes can be transmitted to subsequent generations in an experimental model, even in the absence of altered nutrition during the second pregnancy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We intercrossed female and male F(1) adult control (C) and UN mice and characterized metabolic phenotypes in F(2) offspring. RESULTS: We demonstrate that 1) reduced birth weight progresses to F(2) offspring through the paternal line (Cfemale -Cmale = 1.64 g; Cfemale -UNmale = 1.57 g, P < 0.05; UNfemale -Cmale = 1.64 g; UNfemale -UNmale = 1.60 g, P < 0.05), 2) obesity progresses through the maternal line (percent body fat: Cfemale -Cmale = 22.4%; Cfemale -UNmale = 22.9%; UNfemale -Cmale = 25.9%, P < 0.05; UNfemale -UNmale = 27.5%, P < 0.05), and 3) IGT progresses through both parental lineages (glucose tolerance test area under curve Cfemale -Cmale = 100; Cfemale -UNmale = 122, P < 0.05; UNfemale -Cmale = 131, P < 0.05; UNfemale -UNmale = 151, P < 0.05). Mechanistically, IGT in both F(1) and F(2) generations is linked to impaired beta-cell function, explained, in part, by dysregulation of Sur1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal undernutrition during pregnancy (F(0)) programs reduced birth weight, IGT, and obesity in both first- and second-generation offspring. Sex-specific transmission of phenotypes implicates complex mechanisms including alterations in the maternal metabolic environment (transmaternal inheritance of obesity), gene expression mediated by developmental and epigenetic pathways (transpaternal inheritance of LBW), or both (IGT).

Postmortem intubation training: patient and family opinion.

OBJECTIVE: Endotracheal intubation is a life-saving skill which requires training to master. Learning opportunities for endotracheal intubation must be balanced with patient rights and intentions. This study was conducted to explore patient and family opinions about postmortem endotracheal intubation training. METHODS: We carried out an observational, cross-sectional survey study in an urban, teaching hospital, on the day of hospital discharge. Subjects were neurologically unimpaired neurosurgical patients discharged from hospital in 2004-2005, and their relatives. We carried out interviews using a standardised script to determine whether subjects would permit postmortem intubation training on themselves or relatives, and whether permission should be granted by relatives before training. RESULTS: A total of 85% of patient and family respondents would allow intubation training after death on themselves, 76% would allow endotracheal intubation to be practised on a relative, and 81% felt the deceased's next-of-kin should be asked for permission prior to endotracheal intubation training. Subjects responded consistently as to what they would allow on self and family. Knowledge that the deceased person would have agreed to his or her body being used in endotracheal intubation training increased their likelihood of granting permission for training (P = 0.008). White subjects were 4.6 times more likely than non-Whites to allow intubation training on themselves (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients and families are agreeable to postmortem intubation training; however, most expect to be asked for permission. Utilising existing mechanisms which communicate desired treatment, such as advance directives, hospital admissions documents, donor registries or community health fairs may facilitate training opportunities and altruistic patient intentions.

Influence of polymerization mode on flexural properties of esthetic resin luting agents.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Dual-polymerized esthetic resin luting agents have become popular. However, it is not clear whether the autopolymerized versions of such products have adequate strength to meet clinical requirements. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different polymerization modes on the flexural properties of esthetic resin luting agents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten esthetic resin luting agents were studied. Materials with 3 polymerization modes (dual, auto, and light) were Appeal, Calibra, Illusion, Lute-It, and Variolink-II; those with 2 polymerization modes (dual and auto) were Bistite-II-DC, Cement-It-C&B, Clearfil-DC-Cement, Linkmax, and Nexus2-Dual-Syringe. Five flexural strength specimens (2 x 2 x 25 mm) were made for every available polymerization mode for each material. The specimens were stored in distilled water for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. The specimens were then tested for flexural strength (MPa) and flexural modulus (GPa) using the 3-point bending method on a universal material testing machine at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (alpha=.05). RESULTS: Flexural strength values were the highest for dual-polymerized Nexus2-Dual-Syringe (155 MPa), whereas the values were lowest for autopolymerized Bistite-II-DC (56 MPa) and light-polymerized Appeal (63 MPa). Flexural moduli values ranged from 4.3 to 10.0 GPa. The polymerization mode and luting agent influenced flexural strength and modulus significantly (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Dual-polymerized resin luting agents had higher or equal flexural strength compared to the autopolymerized mode. All the groups tested passed the flexural strength requirement of the ISO 4049 specification.