The Chinese University of Hong Kong

About: The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a education organization based out in Hong Kong, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Computer science. The organization has 43411 authors who have published 93672 publications receiving 3066651 citations.

Cultural and leadership predictors of corporate social responsibility values of top management: a GLOBE study of 15 countries

Abstract: This paper examines cultural and leadership variables associated with corporate social responsibility values that managers apply to their decision-making. In this longitudinal study, we analyze data from 561 firms located in 15 countries on five continents to illustrate how the cultural dimensions of institutional collectivism and power distance predict social responsibility values on the part of top management team members. CEO visionary leadership and integrity were also uniquely predictive of such values.

Predictors of left ventricular reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy for heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy

Abstract: Biventricular pacing results in left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling in heart failure patients with wide QRS complexes. This study examines potential predictors of reverse remodeling. Echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging was performed at baseline and 3 months after biventricular pacing in 30 patients (21 men and 9 women, mean age 62 +/- 14 years). There were 17 responders to reverse remodeling (defined as a reduction in LV end-systolic volume by >15%) and 13 nonresponders. Responders had significant improvement in 6-minute hall-walking distance (p = 0.006), metabolic equivalents (p = 0.02), peak oxygen uptake (p = 0.02), New York Heart Association functional class (p <0.001), and quality of life (p <0.001); an increase in the sphericity index (p = 0.007), ejection fraction (p <0.001), and diastolic filling time (p = 0.03); a decrease in myocardial performance index (p = 0.02), isovolumic relaxation time (p = 0.004), and mitral regurgitation (p = 0.007); and an improvement in systolic dyssynchrony (SD of the time to peak myocardial systolic contraction of the 12 LV segments as dyssynchrony index) (45.0 +/- 8.3 vs 32.5 +/- 14.5 ms, p = 0.003). In contrast, nonresponders only had a small degree of clinical improvement in New York Heart Association class (p = 0.03) and quality-of-life scores (p = 0.03), without any change in cardiac function, and worsening of systolic dyssynchrony (24.8 +/- 4.5 vs 34.1 +/- 13.5 ms, p = 0.02). When all the above factors were put into univariate and multivariate analyses models, systolic dyssynchrony was the only independent predictor of reverse remodeling (r = -0.76, p <0.001) (beta = -1.54, p = 0.007). A preimplant dyssynchrony index of 32.6 ms (+2 SDs from mean of 88 normal controls) was able to totally segregate responders from nonresponders of biventricular pacing. Thus, responders of LV reverse remodeling were associated with improvement in clinical status, cardiac function, and systolic synchronicity. Direct assessment of systolic synchronicity by tissue Doppler imaging is highly accurate in predicting responders to therapy.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Abstract: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a highly lethal respiratory disease caused by a novel single-stranded, positive-sense RNA betacoronavirus (MERS-CoV). Dromedary camels, hosts for MERS-CoV, are implicated in direct or indirect transmission to human beings, although the exact mode of transmission is unknown. The virus was fi rst isolated from a patient who died from a severe respiratory illness in June, 2012, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As of May 31, 2015, 1180 laboratory-confi rmed cases (483 deaths; 40% mortality) have been reported to WHO. Both community-acquired and hospital-acquired cases have been reported with little human-to-human transmission reported in the community. Although most cases of MERS have occurred in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, cases have been reported in Europe, the USA, and Asia in people who travelled from the Middle East or their contacts. Clinical features of MERS range from asymptomatic or mild disease to acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure resulting in death, especially in individuals with underlying comorbidities. No specifi c drug treatment exists for MERS and infection prevention and control measures are crucial to prevent spread in health-care facilities. MERS-CoV continues to be an endemic, low-level public health threat. However, the virus could mutate to have increased interhuman transmissibility, increasing its pandemic potential.

Peritoneal dialysis-related infections recommendations: 2005 update

Abstract: Peritonitis remains a leading complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). It contributes to technique failure and hospitalization, and sometimes is associated with death of the patient. Severe and prolonged peritonitis can lead to peritoneal membrane failure. Therefore, the PD community continues to focus attention on prevention and treatment of PD-related infections.