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Two new meroterpenoids, hyrtamide A (1) and hyrfarnediol A (2), along with two known ones, 3-farnesyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester (3) and dictyoceratin C (4), were isolated from a South China Sea sponge Hyrtios sp. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS data. Compounds 2–4 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against human colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116), showing IC50 values of 41.6, 45.0, and 37.3 μM, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 3 and 4 significantly suppressed the invasion of HCT-116 cells while also downregulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1) and vimentin proteins, which are key markers associated with angiogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our findings suggest that compounds 3 and 4 may exert their anti-invasive effects on tumor cells by inhibiting the expression of VEGFR-1 and impeding the process of EMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study developed and evaluated an adventure-based cognitive behavioral intervention (aCBI) program to respond to the higher education mental health crisis in Hong Kong. Methods: The aCBI program was delivered in the form of a 13-week general education (GE) course and was evaluated at pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up. A total of 544 undergraduate students who experienced psychological distress were randomized to either the aCBI group (n = 197) or the wait-list control group (WLC) (n = 347). Results: Compared with their WLC counterparts, the aCBI participants showed significantly stronger improvements in psychological distress, perceived stress, positive and negative emotions, and resilience at the posttest and 3-month follow-up. Positive and negative thoughts and sense-making coping partially mediated the treatment effects of aCBI. Conclusions: The aCBI program shows promise for inclusion in higher education curriculums to bridge the mental health service gaps for Chinese university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to translate and test the reliability and validity of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness-Cantonese (ISMI-C). Methods: The original English version of ISMI is translated into the ISMI-C by going through forward and backward translation procedure. A cross-sectional research design is adopted that involved 295 participants randomly drawn from a population of Chinese consumers participated in different kinds of community-based mental health services. Results: Results show that the Cronbach's a coefficient of the ISMI-C is 0.93. With regard to validity test, the ISMI-C shows significant and negative correlation with measures on self-esteem and quality of life. Also, an explorative factor analysis yields five factors that are consistent with previous research results. Discussion: This study shows that the ISMI-C is a reliable and valid measure. ISMI-C can facilitate the development of interventions in reducing self-stigma for people with mental illness across Chinese societies.

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) in improving mental health and promoting postmigration growth for Mainland university students in Hong Kong. Methods: Thirty-six Mainland students with mild-to-moderate levels of psychological distress have completed an 8-session CBI group. Various mental health measures have been administered at the pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up tests. Results: The levels of psychological distress, acculturative stress, and negative emotions and negative thoughts of the participants were significantly reduced, while their positive emotions and postmigration growth were significantly increased upon completion of the CBI group. The positive effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: CBI group appears to be an effective intervention approach for improving the mental health and promoting postmigration growth for Mainland university students in Hong Kong. Implications for social work practices when engaging with Chinese international students were provided.

Objectives: The concept of recovery has begun shifting mental health service delivery from a medical perspective toward a client-centered recovery orientation. This shift is also beginning in Hong Kong, but its development is hampered by a dearth of available measures in Chinese. Method: This article translates two measures of recovery (mental health recovery measure and the recovery subscale of peer outcomes protocol) and one measure of recovery-promoting environments (recovery self-assessment) into Chinese and investigates their psychometric properties among 206 Hong Kong Chinese people with severe mental illness. Result: Multifactor solutions from earlier studies were not replicated; our evidence pointed to one-factor solutions. Since all recovery measures demonstrated high internal consistency reliability (0.92 to 0.96), we analyzed total scale scores. Conclusion: Moderately high correlations among the recovery measures (0.33 to 0.56) provide some support for construct validity, yet further investigation of recovery measures in a Chinese population is needed. (Contains 2 tables.)

Objective: There are few studies comparing cross-cultural adaptation of migrant groups in two different cultural settings. This study compares the level of negative affect and acculturative stressors between Chinese international students in Australia and Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong. The predictive effects of acculturative stressors and acculturative strategies on negative affect were also compared between the two groups. Method: A total of 606 graduate students were recruited for a cross-sectional survey in Melbourne, and Hong Kong, China. The measurement included the Acculturative Hassles Scale for Chinese Students, Acculturative Strategy Scale, and Chinese Affect Scale. Independent t-tests and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted for data analysis. Results: Chinese international students in Australia were found to encounter more acculturative stressors and experience a higher level of negative affect than their counterparts in Hong Kong. The acculturative stressor of academic work and a marginalization strategy significantly predicted negative affect in both groups. The acculturative stressor of cultural difference predicted negative affect in the Hong Kong sample, and assimilation strategy predicted negative affect in the Australian sample only. Conclusion: It is more difficult for Chinese international students to adapt to a host society with greater cultural distance. Cross-cultural comparative study helps to find out culture-general and culture-specific predictors of acculturation and helps design tailor-made intervention programs for international students across cultures. (Contains 2 tables.)

Objective: The authors compared the predictive effects of acculturative stressors and meaning of life on life satisfaction between Chinese students in Australia and in Hong Kong. Participants: In 2006, the researchers recruited 606 Chinese students studying abroad at the University of Melbourne in Australia and at 6 universities in Hong Kong. Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire that included measures of acculturative stressors, meaning of life, life satisfaction, and demographic information. Results: The Australian sample experienced a significantly higher level of acculturative stressors than did the Hong Kong sample, but life satisfaction did not differ significantly between the 2 samples. Meaning of life had a strong positive contribution and acculturative stressors had a negative contribution in predicting life satisfaction in both samples. Meaning of life partially mediated the relationship between acculturative stressors and life satisfaction in both samples. Conclusions: The authors discuss the theoretical and practical implications for Chinese students studying abroad. (Contains 2 figures and 4 tables.)

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop and validate the Chinese Making Sense of Adversity Scale (CMSAS) to measure the cognitive coping strategies that Chinese people adopt to make sense of adversity. Method: A 12-item CMSAS was developed by in-depth interview and item analysis. The scale was validated with a sample of 627 Chinese international students in Australia and Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong. Results: Exploratory factor analysis identified two factors: making positive sense and making negative sense of adversity. The CMSAS exhibited high internal consistency reliability and good concurrent validity. Conclusion: The CMSAS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the coping strategies used by Chinese people to make sense of adversity. However, further validation of the scale is needed. (Contains 2 tables.)

Objectives: This pilot study developed an adventure-based cognitive behavioral intervention (aCBI) program and tests its effectiveness in improving the mental health of Chinese university students in Hong Kong. Method: A total of 217 undergraduate students participated in an aCBI program in the form of an interdisciplinary general education course in a university in Hong Kong. A battery of standardized online questionnaires was administered to the students before joining and upon completion of the course, and at a 3-month follow-up test. Results: The participants showed a significant reduction of psychological distress, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions and a significant increase of positive thoughts upon immediate completion of the program. The positive effects maintained at the 3-month follow-up test. Conclusion: The integration of cognitive behavioral intervention and adventure training in a class setting might be an effective and feasible approach for the mental health counseling of university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the drug resistance and genotype of Bordetella pertussis strains in Wuhu city, and to provide evidence for effective prevention and control of pertussis. Methods A total of 70 suspected pertussis cases admitted to Wuhu First People's Hospital from May 2018 to December 2018 were selected as the study subjects. All the enrolled subjects were collected pharyngeal swabs of pertussis immediately after admission, and Bordetella pertussis culture and PCR detection were performed, and the drug sensitivity and genotype of 4 retained strains were detected. Results There were 70 suspected cases of pertussis, aged from 0.1 to 12.0 years old, with an average age of (2.38±2.61) years old, among which 7 cases were infants under 4 months old who had not been vaccinated. The number of positive cases in bacterial culture was 18, with a positive rate of 25.71%, and the number of positive cases in PCR detection was 20, with a positive rate of 28.57%. The difference between the two methods was not statistically significant (χ²=2.751, P>0.05). The positive rates of bacterial culture and PCR of 41 children who were given macrocyclic antibiotics were 12.20%(5/41) and 17.07% (7/41), respectively. The bacterial culture and PCR positive rates of 29 children who did not use macrocyclic antibiotics were both 44.83% (13/29), whether antibiotics were used or not had a statistically significant difference in the effect of bacterial culture and PCR positive rate(χ²=9.469, 6.411, P<0.05). Four of the 18 positive bacterial culture cases were tested for drug sensitivity and genotype, and all the four strains of Bordetella pertussis were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin, but sensitive to levofloxacin and cotrimoxazole. The genotypes (ptxA1 /ptxC1/ptxP1/prn1 /fim2-1 /fim3-1 /tcfA2) of the 4 strains isolated during this time were different from current pertussis Bordetella vaccine strains (ptxA2 / ptxC1 / ptxP1 / prn1 /fim2-1 /fim3-1 / tcfA2) in China. Conclusions In the current vaccine era, the reliability of clinical diagnostic criteria for pertussis is insufficient, and it is necessary to conduct laboratory tests for confirmation; and the phenomenon that people were infected with Bordetella pertussis after vaccination needs to be paid more attention; The current prevailing strains in the region does not match the vaccine strain, so it needs to be further monitored to provide a reference for vaccine preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study developed a culturally appropriate cognitive behavioral group prevention program for Mainland Chinese university students in Hong Kong and tested its effectiveness. Method: A total of 74 Chinese students were recruited and randomly assigned to an 8-week cognitive behavior prevention program (experimental group) or a waiting list control (WLC) group. Results: Compared with the WLC group, participants in the experimental group significantly reduced psychological distress, acculturative stress, negative emotions, and negative thoughts and increased positive emotions, positive thoughts, and postmigration growth, with medium to large effect sizes. Upon immediate completion of the program, about 46% and 30% of the participants in the experimental group and WLC group, respectively, were classified as non-at-risk cases for developing mental health problems. Discussion: The positive intervention effects and clinical implication of cultural adaptation of cognitive behavioral group therapy to Chinese students are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) in improving mental health and promoting postmigration growth for Mainland university students in Hong Kong. Methods: Thirty-six Mainland students with mild-to-moderate levels of psychological distress have completed a 8-session CBI group. Various mental health measures have been administered at the pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up tests. Results: The levels of psychological distress, acculturative stress, and negative emotions and negative thoughts of the participants were significantly reduced, while their positive emotions and postmigration growth were significantly increased upon completion of the CBI group. The positive effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: CBI group appears to be an effective intervention approach for improving the mental health and promoting postmigration growth for Mainland university students in Hong Kong. Implications for social work practices when engaging with Chinese international students were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to translate and test the reliability and validity of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness-Cantonese (ISMI-C). Methods: The original English version of ISMI is translated into the ISMI-C by going through forward and backward translation procedure. A cross-sectional research design is adopted that involved 295 participants randomly drawn from a population of Chinese consumers participated in different kinds of community-based mental health services. Results: Results show that the Cronbach’s α coefficient of the ISMI-C is .93. With regard to validity test, the ISMI-C shows significant and negative correlation with measures on self-esteem and quality of life. Also, an explorative factor analysis yields five factors that are consistent with previous research results. Discussion: This study shows that the ISMI-C is a reliable and valid measure. ISMI-C can facilitate the development of interventions in reducing self-stigma for people with mental illness across Chinese societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The prevalence rate of mental illness in Chinese communities is high, but Chinese clients tend to underutilize mental health services. Caregivers may play an important role in mental health early detection and intervention, but few studies have investigated their roles in community mental health services. This study compared the effectiveness of an early detection and intervention programme, the Community Mental Health Intervention Project, for two groups in the context of Hong Kong - clients with and without caregivers. Method A comparison group pre-post-test design was adopted. A total of 170 service users joined this study, including 100 with caregivers and 70 without caregivers. Results Both groups showed a significant decrease in psychiatric symptoms and increase in community living skills; the group without caregivers indicated a greater reduction in psychiatric symptoms. Different social work intervention components had different predictive effects on these changes. Conclusion The Community Mental Health Intervention Project is an effective early detection and intervention programme in working with Hong Kong Chinese people who are suspected of having mental health problems, especially for those without caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study validated the combined version of the 8-item Automatic Thought Questionnaire (ATQ) and 10 positive items from the ATQ-revised among Chinese university students. Method: A total of 412 Mainland Chinese university students were recruited in Hong Kong by an online survey. Results: A 14-item Chinese ATQ was derived via item analysis. Satisfactory internal consistency reliability and good split-half reliability were obtained. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 3-correlated-factor solution for the Chinese ATQ: negative thought, positive thought (emotional), and positive thought (cognitive). The negative ATQ subscale score was positively correlated with negative affect, and negatively correlated with positive affect and life satisfaction. The two positive ATQ subscale scores were negatively correlated with negative affect, and positively correlated with positive affect and life satisfaction. Conclusion: The 14-item ATQ is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring automatic thoughts in the Chinese context of Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: University students are at high risk of various mental health problems due to high levels of psychological distress. However, university counseling services are often inadequate to meet their mental health needs due to shortage of mental health professionals, especially in Hong Kong. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) has shown similar effects as those of face-to-face CBT in addressing these mental health concerns, but few iCBT programs have been developed for Hong Kong university students., Objective: This study protocol aims to develop and evaluate a culturally and linguistically appropriate iCBT program called "REST Online" to reduce the psychological distress and improve the mental health of Chinese university students in Hong Kong in a randomized controlled trial (RCT)., Method: The contents and functionality of the "REST Online" program which includes both web- and app-based versions, are described. A blended mode of service delivery is adopted, with 8 online modules and 2 counseling sessions. Therapist support will be provided by a CBT therapist. A total of 338 Chinese university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress will be openly recruited and randomized to three groups: the (1) web-based and (2) app-based "REST Online" groups, and (3) waitlist control group. The program effectiveness is evaluated in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and positive and negative emotions and positive and negative thoughts at pre-, post- and 3-month follow-up tests. Linear mixed effect models will be conducted for data analysis., Discussion: The "REST Online" program is among the first of its kind to address the mental health needs of Hong Kong university students by an internet intervention. Theoretically, this study will provide some empirical evidence for the effectiveness of this iCBT program in the Hong Kong context for Chinese clients. Practically, if proven effective, this program can be provided to local university counselors as an option for service delivery. Strengths and limitations are also discussed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)