Causes and prevention of herb-induced aconite poisonings in Asia

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2023-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas YK Chan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
The Public ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Aconitum Alkaloids ◽  
Contributory Factors ◽  
Herbal Medicinal ◽  
The Impact

The recent reports from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Korea were reviewed to determine the causes and prospects for prevention of herb-induced aconite poisonings. The contributory factors included overdose (use of greater than the recommended doses), faulty processing (after harvest and during decoction), use of tincture (herbal medicinal wine), use of crude aconite roots (for preparing decoction, proprietary medicines and tincture), lack of standardisation in processing of aconite roots and preparation of tincture and proprietary medicines, unsupervised use of aconite roots and contamination or mix-up with aconite roots. As tincture (herbal medicinal wine) made from aconite roots contains a much larger amount of Aconitum alkaloids, the public should be strongly discouraged from making their own and taking it by mouth. Aconite roots should only be used after post-harvest processing and proper decoction. The public should be educated on the hazards from unsupervised use and improper decoction of processed aconite roots. There should be regular publicity measures to promote awareness among the herbalists and to publicise the risk of serious cardiotoxicity if the recommended doses of processed aconite roots are exceeded. The processing of aconite roots and their proprietary preparations should be standardised. Quality control of processed aconite roots and their proprietary preparations should be strengthened. National reporting or monitoring systems can be used to identify the causes of aconite poisonings and assess the impact of preventive measures.

Mediascape and Movement

2019 ◽  
pp. 100-122
Author(s):  
Francis L. F. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Political Communication ◽  
Protest Movements ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter reviews the relationship between the media and the Umbrella Movement. The mainstream media, aided by digital media outlets and platforms, play the important role of the public monitor in times of major social conflicts, even though the Hong Kong media do so in an environment where partial censorship exists. The impact of digital media in largescale protest movements is similarly multifaceted and contradictory. Digital media empower social protests by promoting oppositional discourses, facilitating mobilization, and contributing to the emergence of connective action. However, they also introduce and exacerbate forces of decentralization that present challenges to movement leaders. Meanwhile, during and after the Umbrella Movement, one can also see how the state has become more proactive in online political communication, thus trying to undermine the oppositional character of the Internet in Hong Kong.

scholarly journals In/Visible Physical Education and the Public Health Agenda of Physical Literacy Development in Hong Kong

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim-Wai Raymond Sum ◽  
Ming-Hui Li ◽  
Siu-Ming Choi ◽  
Yan Huang ◽  
Rui-Si Ma
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Physical Literacy ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Health Agenda

In this article, we will explore the recent development of physical literacy in the Hong Kong context and how the concept and operation of physical literacy implicitly exist at different levels of the Hong Kong education system. The Physical Education profession will be introduced. The development of physical literacy in terms of research and operationalization in primary, secondary, and tertiary education will then be discussed. We will go on to explore the challenges of extending the impact of physical literacy to the field of public health in Hong Kong. The article will end with a closing remark adopting the Chinese philosophies of Confucianism and Taoism to justify the belief that physical literacy is both implicitly and invisibly rooted in the Hong Kong Chinese culture.

The Impact of Differentiation and Differential on Hong Kong's Career Public Service

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-233
Author(s):  
Brian Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
The Public ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
One Country Two Systems ◽  
The One ◽  
Career Employment ◽  
The Impact

The public administration principles characteristic of many Commonwealth countries served as the foundations for building the Hong Kong civil service. These have continued to operate in line with the `one country two systems' concept under which Hong Kong has been administered, since 1997, as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. Career employment, hierarchy and public service values combined to provide an overarching unity to a system that nevertheless has developed considerable differentiation over time. This article examines the developments that are currently modifying Hong Kong's public sector. The discussion draws on documentary sources and a recently completed qualitative study on the experiences and perspectives of senior Hong Kong managers working in a dozen government departments and agencies. The discussion addresses questions about whether greater differentiation across government departments, in combination with increasing differential within these organizations, will ultimately bring about the demise of the traditional civil service system.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Prevention of COVID-19 Infection on Households: Evidence From Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 004695802110624
Author(s):  
Hafiz Jaafar ◽  
Nur Amalina Abd Laziz ◽  
Muslimah Ithnin ◽  
Amirah Azzeri
Keyword(s):  
Cost Sharing ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

COVID-19 infection resulted in significant economic implications to patients as well as a considerable financial burden to the general population for preventive measures. A descriptive study was conducted among staff at one of the public universities in Malaysia to estimate the monthly out-of-pocket expenditures for preventive measures used for COVID-19 infection. The study tool includes questions on household out-of-pocket expenditure and the measurements of the impact of the expenditure on household income. It was found that the average cumulative monthly expenditures related to the preventive measures were US$ 45.90 (Ringgit Malaysia 187.77), which was 4.3% of the household income. The highest expenditures were for traditional and complementary medicine followed by nutraceutical/supplements and disposable facemask. 8% of the households in this study incurred more than ten per cents of their monthly household income for expenditures related to COVID-19 preventive measures. Several households are experiencing substantial financial implications for preventive measures related to COVID-19 infection. This study highlights the out-of-pocket expenditures incurred for preventive measures were substantial for certain households. Effective initiatives from the government on providing subsidized protective personal equipment and a cost-sharing approach could help to alleviate the household financial burden.

scholarly journals Tackling COVID-19 risk in Hong Kong: Examining distrust, compliance and risk management

2021 ◽  
pp. 001139212199002
Author(s):  
Raymond KH Chan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
The Public ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Medical Facilities ◽  
The Government

Proximity to mainland China places Hong Kong at the forefront of the COVID-19 threat, and it has survived the test most of the time. It appears that public compliance with government advice on preventive measures and social distancing, plus the availability of tests and medical facilities, contributed to the successful handling of the crisis. While it is generally believed that trust is crucial for successful compliance and collaboration, a critical review of the case of Hong Kong shows that it was distrust, due to a lack of confidence and skepticism with regard to the government’s values, that caused the public to take early self-protective measures and initiated societal-wide self-help campaigns. Their compliance was actually with measures that the public themselves had demanded and agreed. The government was criticized for doing too little, too late; as well as for failing to put local people’s interests first, and acting for political motives. Despite the success in combating the virus, the government did not enjoy a proportionate gain in trust. This article argues that distrust in government was very much shaped by the perceived dissimilarity in salient values between the government and the public. A lack of transparency and participation in the decision-making process, as well as a lack of emotional connection with the public, also contributed to the distrust.

scholarly journals NMR-Based Plant Metabolomics in Nutraceutical Research: An Overview

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Valentino ◽  
Vittoria Graziani ◽  
Brigida D’Abrosca ◽  
Severina Pacifico ◽  
Antonio Fiorentino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Human Metabolism ◽  
The Public ◽  
Plant Metabolomics ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
The Many ◽  
New Compounds ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Analytical Approaches ◽  
Significant Effort

Few topics are able to channel the interest of researchers, the public, and industries, like nutraceuticals. The ever-increasing demand of new compounds or new sources of known active compounds, along with the need of a better knowledge about their effectiveness, mode of action, safety, etc., led to a significant effort towards the development of analytical approaches able to answer the many questions related to this topic. Therefore, the application of cutting edges approaches to this area has been observed. Among these approaches, metabolomics is a key player. Herewith, the applications of NMR-based metabolomics to nutraceutical research are discussed: after a brief overview of the analytical workflow, the use of NMR-based metabolomics to the search for new compounds or new sources of known nutraceuticals are reviewed. Then, possible applications for quality control and nutraceutical optimization are suggested. Finally, the use of NMR-based metabolomics to study the impact of nutraceuticals on human metabolism is discussed.

Minor works control in Hong Kong: a preliminary evaluation

Facilities ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 320-336
Author(s):  
Johnny Kwok Wai WONG ◽  
Ringo W.H. Shum
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Control System ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Building Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Building Control System ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Regime ◽  
Minor Works

Purpose – This study aims to understand the impacts of the Minor Works Control System (MWCS) on the performance of minor works contractors following its implementation in 2011, and specifically the initiatives adopted by minor works contractors in response to the new building control regime. Suggestions are made for the further improvement of the MWCS. Like many Western countries and Asian counterparts, Hong Kong has recently implemented a new building control system (the MWCS), which aims to restructure the building proposal approval process and shift the responsibility for building control from the public to the private sector. The effectiveness of the MWCS has been strongly questioned by the industry and the public. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed method including a questionnaire survey (quantitative) and focus group discussions (qualitative) was adopted to provide an initial evaluation of the impact of the MWCS on practitioners and the industry. Findings – The results suggest that implementation of the new control system has helped increase safety awareness and the technical capacity of minor works contractors. Despite these benefits, registered contractors are encountering challenges under the MWCS, such as manpower arrangement problems and higher business operating costs. Initiatives that include maintaining a sound financial background, an adequate in-house supervisory staff and a safe working environment are considered critical by practitioners to maintain their competitive edge under the new control regime. Originality/value – This study is one of the first studies in Hong Kong to evaluate the impact of the new building control system. The feedback and suggestions provided by the practitioners and experts during the research provide valuable insights for the government on how to provide support to practitioners under the MWCS to achieve a better built environment in Hong Kong.

scholarly journals Changes in knowledge, perceptions, preventive behaviours and psychological responses in the pre-community outbreak phase of the H1N1 epidemic

2010 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. F. LAU ◽  
S. GRIFFITHS ◽  
D. W. H. AU ◽  
K. C. CHOI
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
H1n1 Infection ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Areas ◽  
Pooled Sample ◽  
H1n1 Outbreak

SUMMARYTo investigate the changes in community responsiveness during the pre-community-outbreak phase of the H1N1 epidemic in Hong Kong, a pooled sample of 999 adults was interviewed in three surveys (S1, S2, S3) from 7 May to 6 June 2009. Over time, fewer people felt confident in staying free from H1N1 infection in the following year (S1, 63·3%; S3, 46%; P<0·001). The level of distress due to H1N1 remained modest throughout the study period. People's confidence in the government's ability to control a large-scale H1N1 outbreak declined slightly at the third survey (S1, 80·5%; S3, 73·8%; P=0·025). Across the three surveys, respondents remained vigilant with frequent adoption of preventive measures (e.g. wearing face masks in public areas when suffering from influenza-like symptoms and frequent hand-washing). The public was generally supportive of the Hong Kong government although misconceptions regarding the disease were common. Provision of evidence-based public-health education is still warranted as the disease outbreak unfolds.

MULTI-TENANTED RESIDENTS IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN LAGOS: THE RECEPTION AND PRECAUTIONS THROUGH MUSIC DURING COVID 19 ERA.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Ewomazino Nweke ◽  
Gbenga Nubi Timothy ◽  
Basirat Oyalowo
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Radio Stations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Children And Young Adults ◽  
The Impact

Music generally served as a crucial tool of enlightenment, especially in awakening consciousness on COVID-19 preventive measures. The research was motivated by concern about the capacity of residents of multi-tenanted houses to adhere to these instructions via music presented in the form of jingles to an environment that lacks basic amenities and is overcrowding. The remarkable silence on coping strategies for these people emanating from both the state and the federal government and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) directives on COVID-19 protection at the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown necessitated the use of music. Many residents of multi-tenanted housing in Lagos continue to bear the impact of the six-week lockdown of 2020. Through an online survey as well as a virtual focus group discussion with selected members of the public and engagement through radio call-in programs on selected radio stations, the study concludes that the lockdown allowed people some quality time with their family. Many families experienced a significant loss of income, increased business instability, emotional stress, increased expenditure on food, and restiveness by homebound children and young adults. The role music played during the Ebola epidemic breakout was mentioned by callers during the call-in programs on radio, adding the influential role of music in enlightening the public on preventive measures. Such measures were imbibed by some of these residents who listened to musical jingles way back.

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