Impact of Prophylactic Antibiotic Use in Ornamental Fish Tanks on Microbial Communities and Pathogen Selection in Carriage Water in Hong Kong Retail Shops.

Antibiotics are routinely added to ornamental fish tanks for treating bacterial infection or as a prophylactic measure. However, the overuse or subtherapeutical application of antibiotics could potentially facilitate the selection of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, yet no studies have investigated antibiotic use in the retail ornamental fish sector and its impact on microbial communities. The present study analyzed the concentrations of twenty antibiotics in the carriage water (which also originates from fish tanks in retail shops) collected monthly from ten local ornamental fish shops over a duration of three months. The antibiotic concentrations were correlated with the sequenced microbial community composition, and the risk of resistance selection in bacteria was assessed. Results revealed that the detected concentrations of tetracyclines were the highest among samples, followed by fluoroquinolones and macrolides. The concentrations of oxytetracycline (44.3 to 2,262,064.2 ng L-1) detected across three months demonstrated a high risk for resistance selection at most of the sampled shops. Zoonotic pathogens (species of Rhodococcus, Legionella, and Citrobacter) were positively correlated with the concentrations of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and enrofloxacin. This suggests that antibiotic use in retail shops may increase the likelihood of selecting for zoonotic pathogens. These findings shed light on the potential for ornamental fish retail shops to create a favorable environment for the selection of pathogens with antibiotics, thereby highlighting the urgent need for enhanced antibiotic stewardship within the industry.

Urokinase Is Safe and Effective in Reducing Recurrence in Chronic Subdural Hematoma After Burr-Hole Drainage.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of subdural urokinase in reducing the recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). METHODS: Consecutive adults with cSDH and burr-hole drainage from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical records, radiologic images, laboratory data, and medication records were reviewed. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate of cSDH in patients with or without urokinase instillation. Secondary outcomes included complication rates such as infection and acute intracranial hemorrhage. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify independent factors associated with cSDH recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 297 consecutive patients were identified for analysis. The average dosage of urokinase instillation via the subdural drain into the subdural space was 15,800 units (5000-60,000 units) over a mean duration of 2 days (1-6 days). The symptomatic recurrence rate of cSDH was significantly lower with urokinase at 3.0% versus 11.7% with no urokinase (odds ratio: 0.234; P = 0.022). Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that bilateral cSDH and the presence of underlying liver disease were significantly associated with higher recurrence, while the instillation of urokinase was significantly and independently associated with lower recurrence (odds ratio = 0.311; P = 0.005). Complication rates including infection and hemorrhage were comparable with patients with or without urokinase and had no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Instillation of urokinase was safe for patients with cSDH. The recurrence rate of cSDH was significantly lower with urokinase.

Borderline ankle-brachial index is associated with increased prevalence of micro- and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional analysis of 12,772 patients from the Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation Program.

Borderline ankle-brachial index is increasingly recognised as a marker of cardiovascular risk. We evaluated the impact of borderline ankle-brachial index in 12,772 Chinese type 2 diabetes patients from the Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation Program between 2007 and 2012. Cardiovascular risk factors, complications and health-related quality of life were compared between patients with normal ankle-brachial index (1.0-1.4), borderline ankle-brachial index (0.90-0.99) and peripheral arterial disease (ankle-brachial index < 0.9). The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease and borderline ankle-brachial index was 4.6% and 9.6%, respectively. Borderline ankle-brachial index patients were older, more likely to be smokers and hypertensive, had longer duration of diabetes, poorer kidney function and poorer health-related quality of life than patients with normal ankle-brachial index. After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, borderline ankle-brachial index was an independent predictor of diabetes-related micro- and macrovascular complications including retinopathy (odd ratios: 1.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.37)), macroalbuminuria (1.31 (1.10-1.56)), chronic kidney disease (1.22 (1.00-1.50)) and stroke (1.31 (1.05-1.64)). These findings suggest that patients with diabetes and borderline ankle-brachial index are at increased cardiovascular risk and may benefit from more intensive management.

Metabolic profiles and treatment gaps in young-onset type 2 diabetes in Asia (the JADE programme): a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of diabetes is increasing in young adults in Asia, but little is known about metabolic control or the burden of associated complications in this population. We assessed the prevalence of young-onset versus late-onset type 2 diabetes, and associated risk factors and complication burdens, in the Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) cohort. METHODS: JADE is an ongoing prospective cohort study. We enrolled adults with type 2 diabetes from 245 outpatient clinics in nine Asian countries or regions. We classified patients as having young-onset diabetes if they were diagnosed before the age of 40 years, and as having late-onset diabetes if they were diagnosed at 40 years or older. Data for participants' first JADE assessment was extracted for cross-sectional analysis. We compared clinical characteristics, metabolic risk factors, and the prevalence of complications between participants with young-onset diabetes and late-onset diabetes. FINDINGS: Between Nov 1, 2007, and Dec 21, 2012, we enrolled 41,029 patients (15,341 from Hong Kong, 9107 from India, 7712 from Philippines, 5646 from China, 1751 from South Korea, 705 from Vietnam, 385 from Singapore, 275 from Thailand, 107 from Taiwan). 7481 patients (18%) had young-onset diabetes, with age at diagnosis of mean 32·9 years [SD 5·7] versus 53·9 years [9·0] with late-onset diabetes (n=33,548). Those with young-onset diabetes had longer disease duration (median 10 years [IQR 3-18]) than those with late-onset diabetes (5 years [2-11]). Fewer patients with young-onset diabetes achieved HbA1c concentrations lower than 7% compared to those with late-onset diabetes (27% vs 42%; p<0·0001) Patients with young-onset diabetes had higher mean concentrations of HbA1c (mean 8·32% [SD 2·03] vs 7·69% [1·82]; p<0·0001), LDL cholesterol (2·78 mmol/L [0·96] vs 2·74 [0·93]; p=0·009), and a higher prevalence of retinopathy (1363 [20%] vs 5714 (18%); p=0·011) than those with late-onset diabetes, but were less likely to receive statins (2347 [31%] vs 12,441 [37%]; p<0·0001) and renin-angiotensin-system inhibitors (1868 [25%] vs 9665 [29%]; p=0·006). INTERPRETATION: In clinic-based settings across Asia, one in five adult patients had young-onset diabetes. Compared with patients with late-onset diabetes, metabolic control in those with young-onset diabetes was poor, and fewer received organ-protective drugs. Given the risk conferred by long-term suboptimum metabolic control, our findings suggest an impending epidemic of young-onset diabetic complications. FUNDING: The Asia Diabetes Foundation (ADF) and Merck.

Determinants of medication adherence to antihypertensive medications among a Chinese population using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Poor adherence to medications is one of the major public health challenges. Only one-third of the population reported successful control of blood pressure, mostly caused by poor drug adherence. However, there are relatively few reports studying the adherence levels and their associated factors among Chinese patients. This study aimed to study the adherence profiles and the factors associated with antihypertensive drug adherence among Chinese patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient clinic located in the New Territories Region of Hong Kong. Adult patients who were currently taking at least one antihypertensive drug were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire, consisting of basic socio-demographic profile, self-perceived health status, and self-reported medication adherence. The outcome measure was the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Good adherence was defined as MMAS scores greater than 6 points (out of a total score of 8 points). RESULTS: From 1114 patients, 725 (65.1%) had good adherence to antihypertensive agents. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. Younger age, shorter duration of antihypertensive agents used, job status being employed, and poor or very poor self-perceived health status were negatively associated with drug adherence. CONCLUSION: This study reported a high proportion of poor medication adherence among hypertensive subjects. Patients with factors associated with poor adherence should be more closely monitored to optimize their drug taking behavior.

Effectiveness of a pharmacist-led drug counseling on enhancing antihypertensive adherence and blood pressure control: a randomized controlled trial.

Adherence to antihypertensive medications represents a crucial success factor for optimal blood pressure (BP) control in clinical practice. This study evaluated whether an additional pharmacist-led medication counseling could achieve better optimal BP control and enhance compliance. In a designated family clinic in a region with similar resident characteristics to Hong Kong, patients taking ≥ one antihypertensive agent with suboptimal compliance were randomly allocated to a brief 3-minute drug advice (control; n = 161) or pharmacist counseling (intervention; n = 113). The two groups were compared by repeated measure ANOVA at 3-months and 6-months with BP control and medication compliance as outcome variables, respectively. The proportions of patients having optimal compliance increased from 0% to 41.1% at 3 months and 61.9% at 6 months (P < 0.001). The proportion of patients having optimal BP control improved from 64.1% at baseline to 74.0% at 3 months and 74.5% at 6 months (P = 0.023). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the changes of BP control and compliance levels. This study implied that even a brief 3-minute drug advice might lead to improved BP levels among patients on antihypertensive medications in general practice, but did not demonstrate additional effects by pharmacist counseling.

Ultrasonography in the management of exit site infections in peritoneal dialysis patients.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of using ultrasonography (USG) in monitoring the progress of exit site infection (ESI) in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: Twenty-two cases of newly diagnosed ESI and 20 cases with normal exit sites as controls were assessed by using USG. The exit sites were reassessed by using USG after finishing a course of antibiotic therapy, and the sonographic findings were correlated with the clinical outcome. RESULTS: Out of the 22 cases of ESI, 21 cases had definite sonolucent zones around the external cuffs, while one case had normal sonographic findings. Of the 20 control cases of normal exit sites, 16 had normal sonographic findings, and four had sonolucent zones around the external cuffs. Exit site infections correlated with positive sonographic findings as compared to normal exits (P <0.0001). The 21 cases of ultrasonic-positive ESI were re-examined after antibiotic therapy, and 10 of these had a post-treatment sonolucent rim around the distal cuff < or =1 mm thick, while 11 cases were persistently > mm thick. The former group was shown to have a more favourable outcome (P=0.013). And despite variable USG findings, all eight patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa-related ESI had an unfavourable clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography of the exit sites in CAPD patients is a useful adjunctive tool in the management of ESI. A sonolucent zone around the external cuff >1 mm thick following a course of antibiotic treatment and the involvement of the proximal cuff are associated with poor clinical outcome. In ESI caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the clinical outcome was uniformly poor irrespective of the sonographic findings.