Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-76).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 81 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-48).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Univ. , 2009. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-178).

Thesis--M.D., University of Hong Kong. / Typewritten.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

 Genome-wide mapping of susceptibility genes was conducted in two complex disorders of hypertension and epilepsy, allowing the dissection of the genetic architecture of these common diseases and related quantitative traits. The study performed comprehensive genetic analyses in a genome-wide scale, using different structure of data – sib-pairs and case-control samples. To identify genes influencing hypertension and blood pressure, a combined linkage and association study was conducted using over half a million SNPs genotyped in 328 siblings. Regions of significant linkage were identified for blood pressure traits on chromosomes 2q22.3 and 5p13.2, respectively. Further family-based association analysis of the linkage peak on chromosome 5 yielded a significant association (rs1605685, P < 7  10-5) for hypertension. One candidate gene, PDC, was replicated in the family-based association tests. A two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed in a total of 1,087 cases and 3,444 controls, to identify common susceptibility variants of epilepsy in Chinese. The combined analysis identified two association signals in CAMSAP1L1, rs2292096 [G] (P=1.0×10-8, OR =0.63) and rs6660197 [T] (P=9.9×10-7, OR=0.69), which are highly correlated, achieving genome-wide significance. One SNP (rs9390754, P = 1.7 × 10-5) in GRIK2 was refined as a previously-implicated association. In addition to SNPs, the assessment of CNVs in GWAS was performed, which could provide valuable clues to discover genes contributing to the heritability of epilepsy. A genome-wide scan for epilepsy through the use of DNA pooling also provides an alternative approach to reducing the substantial cost and thus increase efficiency in large-scale genetic association studies. The genome-wide mapping studies in families and unrelated individuals are complementary and together offer a comprehensive catalog of common variations and structural variants implicated for both quantitative and qualitative traits. / published_or_final_version / Psychiatry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Consumer health information technologies (CHITs) are emerging as promising tools for delivering healthcare services and facilitating patient self-management of chronic diseases; however, the use of the CHITs is largely constrained by usability problems and unclear evidence on the effectiveness of the technologies. The ergonomics research team of The University of Hong Kong developed a patient-centered computerized self-monitoring system that appeared to be useful and easy to use; with the system, this thesis focuses on the examination of the short-term impacts of the technology on patient outcomes for diabetic and hypertensive patients. The self-monitoring technology was designed using user-centered approaches and relevant human factors principles. Iterative usability evaluations were conducted to assess and improve the usability of the technology with 97 chronically ill patients. Also, using data from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) of technology-based disease self-management to improve patients’ outcomes, this thesis compared the short-term effects of the use of a computerized self-monitoring system to usual care using 63 patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension for four weeks. Thirty-three patients were randomized into intervention group, whose disease care was supported by the self-monitoring system, while 30 patients into control group, who continued with their usual care. A pretest-posttest repeated measures design was employed to determine the effects of the technology on clinical, psychosocial, behavioral, usage, and technology perception outcomes over time. Measurements were obtained at baseline, and after 2 and 4 weeks. The iterative usability studies improved and verified the usability of the self-monitoring system for chronically ill patients. Results from the RCT showed that after four weeks, there were significant decreases in systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), self-efficacy for managing chronic disease (p = 0.001), and adherence to treatment (p = 0.001) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Significant differences in favor of intervention group after four weeks were also documented for changes of several quality of life subscales (i.e., general health (p = 0.010), role physical (p = 0.001), role emotional (p = 0.002), bodily pain (p = 0.050), and physical component summary score (p = 0.005)), and perceived ease of use (p = 0.007). No significant difference was found between groups for fasting blood glucose (p = 0.687), perceived usefulness (p = 0.661), frequency of self-monitoring of blood pressure (p = 0.230) and self-monitoring of blood glucose (p = 0.993), and several other quality of life subscales over time. The usability evaluation presented in this thesis report demonstrated that the method was effective and efficient in identifying potential usability problems at the early stage of system development for CHITs. The findings from the RCT indicated that the use of the human factored-engineered self-monitoring technology had short-term effectiveness in improving blood pressure control, self-efficacy for managing chronic disease, adherence to treatment, and quality of life for patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. A human factored-engineered self-management technology appears to be an effective tool in patient self-management of chronic diseases. / published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Hypertension is a common chronic health problem worldwide due to contributing factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and changes in lifestyle. The standard of care for hypertension in South Africa is prescription medication, as well as a stepwise programme; this treatment approach is for the treatment of hypertension according to severity using diuretics, beta-blockers, vasodilators in a stepwise progressive manner. In South Africa, traditional herbal medicines have been used to treat many ailments especially hypertension. Garlic and African olive has been reported as herbal medicines that have anti-hypertensive properties and may be used to control hypertension, either individually or in combination.The objective of this study is to 1) prevalence of these traditional herbal medicines will be investigated and 2) determine the prevalence of garlic and/ or African olive use among hypertensive patients lieu of/or in combination with prescription medication.The study design was cross-sectional, comprising of two phases. Phase one was the administration of questionnaires concerning the participants’ demographics, medical/clinical history, chronic illness and traditional herbal treatment. One hundred and eighty participants from Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological study (PURE) cohort were administered questionnaires. Of the 180 participants, 139 indicated that they are hypertensive, 30 hypertensive participants were selected to participate in the in-depth interviews. Phase two was divided into two parts which were detailed interviews including in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion. The focus group discussion was conducted with a convenience sample of 10 hypertensive patients who were available on the day of data collection. The questionnaire data was analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the interviews and focus group discussion was analysed using thematic content analysis.The results show that the participants with hypertension who are on prescription medication are also using traditional herbs, garlic and African olive as part of a dualistic health care treatment for their hypertension. The use of garlic is more prevalent than the use of African olive, as African olive was not well known among the participants.The results will facilitate in the acknowledgment of traditional herbal medicine use for hypertension, as either a home remedy for (other) chronic conditions or treatment in combination with prescription medication. It also highlights the necessity to educate participants and healthcare providers in the use of traditional herbal medicine. Furthermore, healthcare workers needs to be trained about THM and should also be obligated to ask about traditional herbal medicine among their patients. / >Magister Scientiae - MSc