Risk associations of obesity with sugar-sweetened beverages and lifestyle factors in Chinese: the 'Better Health for Better Hong Kong' health promotion campaign.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) increases risk of obesity. Similar data are lacking in Chinese populations with rapid nutritional transition. We aimed to examine the association between SSB intake, lifestyle factors and obesity in Hong Kong Chinese. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey on SSB intake with 2295 (49.6%) men and 2334 (50.4%) women (age: median 43.0 years, range 18-81 years). They were recruited from a territory-wide health promotion campaign in Hong Kong. All subjects completed a questionnaire and underwent simple health tests. Their SSB intake was based on a 1-week recall (1 unit of SSB=250 ml, frequent SSB consumption=daily intake ≥2 units). RESULTS: Men were more likely than women to smoke, drink alcohol, frequently consumed SSB (20.5 vs 9.5%) and ate more meat portions (2.32±0.57 vs 2.15±0.44) but were physically more active (no exercise: 31.2 vs 39.2%) (P-values: all <0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, frequent SSB intake remained independently associated with obesity in women (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.86 (1.36-2.55)) while physical inactivity (1.84 (1.41-2.39) for none vs regular), smoking (1.29 (1.05-1.58)) and high daily meat intake (2.15 (1.36, 3.42)) predicted obesity in men. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese of working age, SSB consumption in women and physical inactivity, smoking and high meat intake in men were associated with obesity.

Association between sleeping hours, working hours and obesity in Hong Kong Chinese: the 'better health for better Hong Kong' health promotion campaign.

OBJECTIVE: To study the inter-relationships between sleeping hours, working hours and obesity in subjects from a working population. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional observation study under the 'Better Health for Better Hong Kong' Campaign, which is a territory-wide health awareness and promotion program. SUBJECTS: 4793 subjects (2353 (49.1%) men and 2440 (50.9%) women). Their mean age (+/-s.d.) was 42.4+/-8.9 years (range 17-83 years, median 43.0 years). Subjects were randomly selected using computer-generated codes in accordance to the distribution of occupational groups in Hong Kong. RESULTS: The mean daily sleeping time was 7.06+/-1.03 h (women vs men: 7.14+/-1.08 h vs 6.98+/-0.96 h, P<0.001). Increasing body mass index (BMI) was associated with reducing number of sleeping hours and increasing number of working hours reaching significance in the whole group as well as among male subjects. Those with short sleeping hour (6 h or less) and long working hours (>9 h) had the highest BMI and waist in both men and women. Based on multiple regression analysis with age, smoking, alcohol drinking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean daily sleeping hours and working hours as independent variables, BMI was independently associated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women, whereas waist was associated with age, smoking and blood pressure. In men, blood pressure, sleeping hours and working hours were independently associated with BMI, whereas waist was independently associated with age, smoking, blood pressure, sleeping hours and working hours in men. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with reduced sleeping hours and long working hours in men among Hong Kong Chinese working population. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this relationship and its potential implication on prevention and management of obesity.

Non-thrombogenic hemofiltration system for acute renal failure treatment.

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) has become an accepted therapy for patients with acute renal failure. A major technical concern with CAVH is clotting of the hemofilter, resulting from blood-material interactions. This study compares the thromboresistance and performance characteristics of a Duraflo II heparin treated CAVH circuit with those of an untreated control circuit. The circuit consisted of a polysulfone hemofilter, tubing sets, and catheters. The heparin treatment did not change the mass transfer properties of the hemofilter. The thromboresistance of the heparin treated circuit was compared directly with that of an untreated circuit in a heparinless sheep model using bilateral circuits. The heparin treatment significantly enhanced the blood compatibility of the circuit, as indicated by the reduction in thrombus formation, prolonged work life, and superior performance in heparinless sheep. There was minimal heparin leaching from the hemo-filter. A heparin treated circuit may improve the safety and effectiveness of the CAVH procedure, and offers potential for a systemic heparin protocol to be modified for patients with bleeding disorders.

Evaluation of Duraflo II heparin immobilized cardiopulmonary bypass circuits.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) involves extensive contact between blood and synthetic surfaces and may result in blood cell activation and plasma protein alterations. This study determines the effect of Duraflo II heparin treated CPB circuits (Bentley Laboratories, Irvine, CA) on calves under simulated clinical conditions. Calves were placed on CPB for 4 hr, and activated clotting times were maintained above 480 sec with systemic heparin. Better preserved platelet number and function, lower fibrinopeptide A levels, and lack of thrombus deposition were observed in the Duraflo II treated group, relative to the untreated control group, during the entire bypass period. The results suggest that despite high doses of circulating heparin in calves during CPB, the use of extracorporeal circuits with improved blood compatibility still provides measurable benefit.