ORCID Profile
0000-0002-8730-5805
Current Organisations
IT University of Copenhagen
,
Technical University of Denmark, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis
,
Lingnan University
,
Lingnan University, Hong Kong
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Publications
Multiple independent analyses reveal only transcription factors as an enriched functional class associated with microRNAs
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-07-2012
Abstract: Transcription factors (TFs) have long been known to be principally activators of transcription in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The growing awareness of the ubiquity of microRNAs (miRNAs) as suppressive regulators in eukaryotes, suggests the possibility of a mutual, preferential, self-regulatory connectivity between miRNAs and TFs. Here we investigate the connectivity from TFs and miRNAs to other genes and each other using text mining, TF promoter binding site and 6 different miRNA binding site prediction methods. In the first approach text mining of PubMed abstracts reveal statistically significant associations between miRNAs and both TFs and signal transduction gene classes. Secondly, prediction of miRNA targets in human and mouse 3’UTRs show enrichment only for TFs but not consistently across prediction methods for signal transduction or other gene classes. Furthermore, a random s le of 986 TarBase entries was scored for experimental evidence by manual inspection of the original papers, and enrichment for TFs was observed to increase with score. Low-scoring TarBase entries, where experimental evidence is anticorrelated miRNA:mRNA expression with predicted miRNA targets, appear not to select for real miRNA targets to any degree. Our manually validated text-mining results also suggests that miRNAs may be activated by more TFs than other classes of genes, as 7% of miRNA:TF co-occurrences in the literature were TFs activating miRNAs. This was confirmed when thirdly, we found enrichment for predicted, conserved TF binding sites in miRNA and TF genes compared to other gene classes. We see enrichment of connections between miRNAs and TFs using several independent methods, suggestive of a network of mutual activating and suppressive regulation. We have also built regulatory networks (containing 2- and 3-loop motifs) for mouse and human using predicted miRNA and TF binding sites and we have developed a web server to search and display these loops, available for the community at rth.dk/resources/tfmirloop .
COVID-19-Related Health Literacy of School Leaders in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-10-2022
Abstract: To date, we know little about COVID-19-related health literacy among school leaders, particularly in East Asia. The present study aimed to assess the level of COVID-19-related health literacy and associated factors (vaccine hesitancy, self-endangering behaviour, and work satisfaction) among school leaders in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional study of 259 school leaders was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic between April 2021 and February 2022. COVID-19-related health literacy using HLS-COVID-Q22, three subscales of self-endangering work behaviour scales (i.e., “extensification of work”, “intensification of work” and “quality reduction”), and two dimensions of Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) (i.e., psychosomatic complaints and exhaustion) were used. The study employed independent s le t-test, ANOVA, and multilinear regression models. The findings show that more than half (53.7%) of school leaders had insufficient health literacy. Participants with insufficient health literacy scored significantly higher in the following factors: exhaustion related to work situation (p = 0.029), psychosomatic complaints (p 0.001), attitude about vaccination (i.e., less agree with vaccination) (p 0.001), level of informing on COVID-19 related information (i.e., felt less informed) (p 0.001), and level of confusion about COVID-19-related information (i.e., felt more confused) (p 0.001). In a linear regression model predicting attitude about coronavirus vaccination, age (β, −0.188, 95% CI, −0.024, −0.005, p = 0.002) and health literacy (β, −0.395, 95% CI, −0.716, −0.361, p 0.001) were the negative predictors, F(5, 214) = 11.859, p 0.001. For the linear regression model adjusted for sex and age for predicting health literacy, the model was insignificant. Despite being a highly educated group, this study reveals that one in two Hong Kong school leaders have insufficient health literacy. Inadequate health literacy was strongly associated with a negative attitude about vaccination, low information, and confusion about COVID-19-related information. Additionally, insufficient health literacy was associated with the two secondary symptoms of burnouts. The study highlights an urgent need to develop intervention programmes to promote the COVID-19-specific as well as overall health literacy of the school leaders.
The effect-modification of physical activity on the association of pain with impaired physical function in aging adults
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.EXGER.2022.111791
Abstract: Pain is prevalent among older adults and may result in impairment in physical function. However, little is known about the effect-modification of this relationship by physical activity (PA) participation. This large and representative study sought to estimate the effect of pain on physical function among older adults in Ghana and evaluate whether PA modifies this association. Data came from 1201 adults aged ≥50 years participating in the AgeHeaPsyWel-HeaSeeB Study in Ghana. Pain constructs were defined using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36). PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF) and physical function impairment was measured by seven-item domains based on the activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL). Adjusted hierarchical OLS regressions were fitted to estimate the direct and moderating relationships between pain facets, PA, and impaired physical function. The relationships of pain severity (β = 0.348, p < .001), and pain interference (β = 0.424, p < .001) with impaired physical function were robust after full adjustment for confounding variables. Persons with pain experiences had significantly increased impaired physical function risks. PA significantly modified the association between pain severity (β = -0.232, p < .001) and pain interference (β = -0.143, p < .001) with impaired physical function. Our data indicate that the relationships of pain with physical function impairment are modified by PA intensity. Future studies are warranted to understand the indirect effect of pain on functional limitations and how PA promotion could manage pain and improve functional ability in aging adults.
Digital Health Literacy and Health-Related Well-Being Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Socioeconomic Status Among University Students in Hong Kong and Macao
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-05-2021
Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2012
DOI: 10.1038/NATURE11622
A Comparative Analysis of Student and Practising Nurses’ Health Literacy Knowledge in Ghana
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-01-2021
DOI: 10.3390/HEALTHCARE9010038
Abstract: This study examined student and practising nurses’ health literacy knowledge, and its correlates in Ghana. It was underpinned by an adapted version of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) conceptual framework of health literacy. We used convenience and snowball s ling techniques to collect data from 876 nurses (477 student nurses and 399 practising nurses) in a cross-sectional survey from February 2019 to June 2019. The respondents were drawn from all the former ten administrative regions of Ghana. Approximately 75.4% of the respondents had heard of health literacy. However, health literacy knowledge was generally low (average score of 6.6 out of 20) among both groups, with student nurses (average score of 5.8 out of 20) having significantly lower scores than practising nurses (average score of 7.4 out of 20). Factors associated with health literacy knowledge among student nurses included gender (male, B = −0.499, p 0.01), trust in others (B = −0.874, p 0.001), cultural values (B = 0.276, p 0.001), year of study (B = 0.244, p 0.05), and frequency of curative care use (B = −0.236, p 0.05). For practising nurses, trust (B = −1.252, p 0.01), cultural values (B = 0.357, p 0.01), and working experience (B = 0.612, p 0.01) were associated with their health literacy knowledge. Thus, responses targeted at gaps in health literacy knowledge of student and practising nurses must be sensitive to personal characteristics (e.g., gender), social values (e.g., issues of trust, and cultural beliefs and practices), as well as factors relating to nursing education and experience.
Gauging the dispositions between indigenes, Chinese and other immigrant traders in Ghana: towards a more inclusive society
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-08-2018
Teachers’ Well-Being and Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hong Kong, China
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 08-11-2022
Abstract: School teachers have faced many challenges due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and public health-related containment measures. Recent studies have demonstrated high levels of stress and mental health issues among school teachers. To better understand teacher well-being and inform practices to support them in the face of the ongoing pandemic, we aimed to assess perceived stress, well-being and associated factors among school teachers in Hong Kong, China. For this cross-sectional study, we employed a self-reported questionnaire to assess teacher well-being as an indicator of mental health. Drawing on quantitative data obtained from 336 teachers in Hong Kong from April 2021 to February 2022, we assessed workloads, work-related sense of coherence, perceived stress, secondary burnout symptoms (i.e. intensification of work and exhaustion related to work situation), self-endangering work behaviours and satisfaction with work. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the associations between well-being, demographic and work characteristics. A high percentage (87.6%) of teachers had high levels of perceived stress, which was positively associated with extensification of work (r = 0.571, p 0.01), intensification of work (r = 0.640, p 0.01) and exhaustion related to work situation (r = 0.554, p 0.01). A multilinear regression model adjusted for age and gender was computed to detect predictors of teachers’ well-being index values (F(12, 296) = 41.405, p 0.001, R2 = 0.627). A higher WHO-5 score was associated with (1) higher teaching hours (B = 0.235, 95% CI = 0.093, 0.413, p = 0.002) (2) higher work-related sense of coherence (B = 2.490, 95% CI = 0.209, 4.770, p = 0.032) (3) higher work satisfaction (B = 5.410, 95% CI = 2.979, 7.841, p 0.001) (4) lower level of exhaustion related to work situations (B = −9.677, 95% CI = −12.279, −7.075, p 0.001) and (5) lower level of psychosomatic complaints (B = −4.167, 95% CI = −6.739, −7.075, p = 0.002). These findings highlight the critical need to allocate more attention and resources to improve the mental health of school teachers in Hong Kong. The findings can also inform the development of psychological and organisational interventions and support mechanisms for teachers during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and in preparation for future stressful scenarios. Safeguarding the well-being and mental health of teachers is important for improving the quality of teaching and learning environments and the mental health of school students.
Are People With Chronic Diseases Satisfied With the Online Health Information Related to COVID‐19 During the Pandemic?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-12-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JNU.12616
A Cross-Sectional Study of the Perceived Stress, Well-Being and Their Relations with Work-Related Behaviours among Hong Kong School Leaders during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 27-11-2022
Abstract: The health and well-being of school leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic have been largely neglected compared to the health and well-being of students and teachers. This study assessed the magnitude of perceived stress and well-being and the associated factors, including number of working hours, work-related sense of coherence (work-SoC), perceived stress, self-endangering work behaviour, secondary burnout symptoms, and satisfaction with work, among school leaders in Hong Kong, China during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic data and mental health measurements from 259 eligible school leaders in Hong Kong from April 2021 to February 2022. Pearson’s correlation analyses, multilinear regression models, and independent-s les Student’s t-tests were performed. The findings revealed that school leaders’ perceived stress was negatively correlated with their well-being (r = −0.544, p 0.01) and work-related SoC (r = −0.327, p 0.01) but positively correlated with their extensification of work (r = 0.473, p 0.01), exhaustion related to work situations (r = 0.559, p 0.01), and psychosomatic complaints (r = 0.439, p 0.01). In a model that adjusted for gender and age, student leaders with higher subjective well-being scores had a lower level of perceived stress (B = −0.031 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.59, −0.02 p = 0.034), whereas leaders in schools with a larger student population had a higher level of perceived stress (B = 0.002 95% CI, 0.000, 0.003 p = 0.030). School leaders with a higher likelihood of performing the self-endangering work behaviour of ‘intensification of work’ had higher perceived stress levels (B = 1.497 95% CI, 0.717, 2.278 p 0.001). School leaders with a higher work-related SoC (B = 4.20 95% CI, 1.290, 7.106 p = 0.005) had a higher level of well-being. School leaders with higher levels of perceived stress (B = −0.734 95% CI, −1.423, −0.044 p = 0.037), a higher likelihood of performing the self-endangering work behaviour of ‘extensification of work’ (B = −4.846 95% CI, −8.543, −1.149 p = 0.010), and a higher score for exhaustion related to work (B = −10.449 95% CI, −13.864, −7.033 p = 0.000) showed lower levels of well-being. The finding of a high incidence of stress among school leadership justifies the need for more societal attention to the well-being of school leaders in Hong Kong. It is important that policies and initiatives are designed to enhance the well-being of school leaders and that they are supported in leading the management of schools and coping with stress in school settings.
Dementia literacy of racially minoritized people in a Chinese society: a qualitative study among South Asian migrants in Hong Kong
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-11-2022
DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2022.2139818
Abstract: Research on dementia literacy in Chinese societies is still emerging, and this is especially the case among racially minoritized groups. The present study explored the knowledge, causal beliefs, and help-seeking behaviors of South Asian migrants in Hong Kong about dementia. It also investigated existing community barriers related to dementia knowledge and help-seeking. We conducted a qualitative study from a purposive s le of 38 older people and family caregivers from India, Pakistan, and Nepal who lived in Hong Kong. Focus groups and in idual in-depth interviews were used to gather information, while thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Five main themes were identified: normalization with stigmatization of dementia spiritual and psychosocial attributions of dementia familial responsibility despite potential caregiving burden uncertainties versus openness to professional care and barriers and opportunities in dementia literacy. Ethnic minorities recognized dementia as a disease of normal aging or a mental disorder. They also perceived spiritual and psychosocial factors as their main causes. While participants recognized the potential burden of dementia caregiving, families were their first point of help-seeking, as many of them expressed contrasting feelings of confidence or doubt toward professional services. Utilization of health education strategies, together with collaboration with community leaders, could address the barriers to dementia literacy. This is the first study to explore how ethnic minorities in Asia perceive dementia and its related help-seeking behaviors in their communities. South Asian migrants in Hong Kong have a limited understanding of dementia and may experience delays in obtaining relevant community services. While culture influenced their knowledge, health education may address their misperceptions and help-seeking behaviors toward dementia. Culture- and language-specific programs could also improve dementia knowledge and health service access.
Related Organisations
Technical University Of Denmark, Center For Biological Sequence Analysis
Location: Denmark
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Padmore Adusei Amoah.