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Hyperglycemia, Hypertension, and Hyperlipidemia Markedly Increase Cardiovascular Risk. HKU’s P-CARDIAC AI Model Enables Personalised Risk Stratification and Resource Optimised Care.

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2025 – The metabolic “Three Highs” – hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia – demonstrate a strong collective impact on cardiovascular diseases. An interim report from the HEARTWISE study, led by the School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine at The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), reveals that patients presenting with this metabolic triad face up to 70% risk of recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events within ten years. The study further establishes that different risk factor combinations yield significantly varied recurrence patterns. These findings, powered by the locally developed AI-driven P-CARDIAC risk assessment model, highlight new opportunities for precision treatment planning to reduce recurrence rates and alleviate long-term pressures on Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

Professor Celine Chui Sze-ling, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing (middle), and Dr David Lui Tak-wai (right), Specialist in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, and both from the LKS Faculty of Medicine at The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) and Biu, patient with cardiovascular disease (left), present interim HEARTWISE findings. They encourage expanded patient participation to broaden P-CARDIAC’s implementation, supporting long-term goals of enhancing cardiovascular disease management and reducing Hong Kong’s healthcare burden.

High Prevalence and Clinical Complexity of the Metabolic Triad

The “Three Highs” represent a substantial health burden in Hong Kong. According to 2020–2022 population health survey, 8.5%, 29.5%, and 51.9% of residents aged 15–84 are affected by hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia respectively. These conditions collectively drive cardiovascular mortality, accounting for one in five deaths in Hong Kong. Stroke alone claimed over 3,000 lives in 2023, ranking as the city’s fourth leading cause of death.

Dr David Lui Tak-wai, Specialist in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed, explained the underlying pathology: “The ‘Three Highs’ damage the vascular endothelium through distinct biological pathways, accelerating atherosclerosis, luminal narrowing, and plaque formation. This significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease” He further detailed specific stroke risks, “Hyperglycemia increases the risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke by 2.3-fold and 1.6-fold respectively, while hyperlipidemia substantially elevates ischemic stroke risk as well.”

“Mitigating severe event risk requires moving beyond individual biomarker management to embrace holistic vascular protection,” Dr Lui emphasised. “Current assessment relies heavily on physician experience and internationally-derived tools. A precision model built on local data and AI can transform this paradigm, enabling superior risk evaluation, tailored treatment strategies, and more effective patient communication – particularly regarding underappreciated risks such as lipid control.

Biu (pseudonym), a patient living with hypertension and diabetes, was hospitalized earlier this year after experiencing sudden chest tightness. During his stay, medical professionals discovered that two of his coronary arteries were severely blocked, necessitating immediate coronary angioplasty surgery.

This cardiovascular event has significantly altered Biu’s lifestyle. He now relies on long-term medication and has completely transformed his daily habits. Despite these changes, he continues to grapple with anxiety and uncertainty, as his condition places him at a higher risk for further health complications.

Biu believes that a risk prediction tool could serve as a valuable reference point, helping him gain clarity in planning his health goals. Such a tool would not only provide him with reassurance but also offer peace of mind to his family, whom he treasures deeply. ”

P-CARDIAC: Personalised Risk Stratification for Precision Treatment

Professor Celine Chui Sze-ling, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, HKUMed, explained that P-CARDIAC was developed using up to 13 million electronic medical records from the Hospital Authority. By analysing over 120 risk variables while incorporating individual patient characteristics, the model generates personalised risk scores specifically validated for Chinese populations. To establish clinical utility, the HKU School of Nursing launched the HEARTWISE study in 2024. In collaboration with cardiologists, endocrinologists, pharmacists, and nurses, the study enrolled patients with previous cardiovascular events from public hospitals.

HEARTWISE Interim Findings: Personalised Risk Patterns Emerge

1) Over 90% of cardiovascular patients presented with at least one “Three Highs” condition
By August 2025, the study had recruited 1,248 patients, with 94% exhibiting at least one metabolic disorder. Among these, approximately one-fourth presented with all three conditions while 42% had two concurrent disorders.

2) Ten-Year Recurrence Risk Reaches 70%, with Significant Variation Across Risk Profiles
P-CARDIAC analysis revealed a 70% overall ten-year recurrence risk among patients with “Three Highs” components. This risk escalated to 72% for patients with all three disorders. Notably, patients with only hypertension and hyperlipidemia demonstrated an equally elevated 73% risk, underscoring the need for individualised management strategies based on specific risk combinations.

3) Stroke Survivors Face Particularly High Recurrence Rates
Analysis of the 10% of participants who were stroke survivors showed a 74% risk of subsequent cardiovascular events within ten years, indicating a critical need for intensified monitoring and secondary prevention.

Professor Chui emphasised the clinical implications, “These findings demonstrate AI’s transformative potential in clinical decision-making. We recommend healthcare professionals from both public and private healthcare systems integrate P-CARDIAC into their practice for predicting major cardiovascular event risks and developing personalised treatment plans. We anticipate P-CARDIAC will enable multidisciplinary teams to optimise prevention strategies, improve resource allocation, and ultimately reduce the healthcare system’s long-term burden.”

The HEARTWISE study continues recruitment across six public hospitals: Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kwong Wah Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, and Pok Oi Hospital. The research aims to further validate P-CARDIAC’s effectiveness in improving patient outcomes and expanding its precision treatment applications. Patients receiving cardiovascular care in cardiology, internal medicine, or endocrinology departments at these institutions may participate. Interested individuals can contact the HKU School of Nursing research team at 3917 6643 or [email protected].

Hashtag: #ThreeHighs #CardiovascularDisease #ArtificialIntelligence #HKU #UniversityOfHongKong #RiskPrediction #ProfCelineChui #DrDavidLui #P-CARDIAC #Stroke #HeartDisease

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About P-CARDIAC and HEARTWISE Study

The P-CARDIAC initiative represents a significant advancement in cardiovascular risk assessment tailored specifically for the Hong Kong population. Developed through a collaborative effort between academic institutions and healthcare partners, P-CARDIAC utilises machine learning to provide personalised 10-year cardiovascular risk predictions for individuals with established acute coronary syndrome. The HEARTWISE study aims to validate the clinical utility of P-CARDIAC in real-world settings, ensuring that healthcare providers can effectively utilise this tool to enhance patient outcomes. By integrating pharmacist-led services into the management of cardiovascular conditions, HEARTWISE seeks to alleviate the burden on healthcare systems while improving the quality of care for patients.

The P-CARDIAC model represents a significant collaboration among key stakeholders aimed at improving cardiovascular risk assessment in Hong Kong. This initiative is led by principal investigator, Professor Celine Chui Sze-ling, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, HKUMed, and co-principal investigator, Professor Ruibang Luo, Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong.

The development of P-CARDIAC was supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, with matching fund from Amgen Hong Kong, an international biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing pipeline medicines to address unmet medical needs while leveraging state-of-the-art science to drive solutions that improve health outcomes.

With the use of P-CARDIAC, the HEARTWISE study benefits from the active involvement of six hospitals under the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, which facilitates real-world implementation, data collection and comprehensive data analysis. Together, this study symbolises a multidisciplinary collaboration to commit advancing innovative and evidence-based strategies to address the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases.

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Paymentology Powers GoTyme Bank’s Apple Pay Launch in the Philippines

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GoTyme Bank becomes the first digital bank in the Philippines to enable Apple Pay, expanding secure and seamless digital payments for 10 million customers

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, today announced the successful launch of Apple Pay for GoTyme Bank in the Philippines. Through this launch, GoTyme becomes one of the first issuers in the Philippine market to enable Apple Pay, giving 10 million customers an easy, secure and private way to pay using their Apple devices.

As one of the country’s fastest-growing digital banks, GoTyme continues to accelerate its digital payments strategy by expanding secure, seamless and convenient payment experiences for Filipino consumers. Customers can now securely add their GoTyme debit card to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments in stores, within apps and online wherever Apple Pay is accepted.

Apple Pay uses industry-leading tokenisation technology, meaning card numbers are never stored on devices or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, with every transaction authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, providing an additional layer of security while delivering a fast, frictionless checkout experience.

Nate Clark, President and CEO at GoTyme Bank commented: “At GoTyme Bank, we’re constantly looking for ways to make banking simpler, safer and more rewarding for our customers. Bringing Apple Pay to GoTyme Bank customers in the Philippines gives them an easy and secure way to pay wherever they shop while continuing to earn rewards points on all their transactions. This is another step in our commitment to making everyday banking more beautiful and convenient for our customers.

The launch comes as digital payments continue to reshape the Philippine economy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital payments now account for more than half of all retail payment transactions, as consumers increasingly embrace mobile-first banking and contactless payments. Meanwhile, smartphone penetration continues to rise, supporting growing demand for digital wallets and tokenised payment experiences. As digital commerce accelerates, enabling secure mobile payments through services such as Apple Pay is becoming an increasingly important differentiator for financial institutions.

Minh-Ha Truong, Head of Growth, APAC at Paymentology, added: “As a long-standing partner to GoTyme, we’re proud to support another significant milestone in its growth journey. Bringing Apple Pay to market demonstrates how modern, cloud-native issuer processing enables digital banks to rapidly deliver innovative payment experiences while maintaining the highest standards of security, scalability and performance. Together, we’re helping shape the future of digital payments in the Philippines.”

The launch further strengthens GoTyme’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital banks and highlights the value of Paymentology’s cloud-native issuer processing platform in helping banks and fintechs rapidly introduce innovative payment capabilities that meet evolving customer expectations.

Hashtag: #Paymentology



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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New Documentary Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun From Discovery to Debut on August 20 in Southeast Asia

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun, a brand-new three-part documentary by Discovery produced in partnership with the Hakka Affairs Council in Taiwan, takes audiences deep into Liugdui, a historic Hakka settlement region in southern Taiwan that has been home to Hakka communities for more than 300 years. Through stories of water stewardship, agricultural innovation, and food traditions, the documentary reveals how one community continues to adapt, thrive, and pass on its cultural heritage across generations.

Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of southern Taiwan, Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun highlights how the people of Liugdui have thrived alongside the land for over 300 years. Following local scholars, farmers, and artisans, the documentary explores how this community adapts its deep-rooted traditions—from water stewardship to food heritage—in response to environmental and economic change, offering vital modern insights on sustainability, rural revitalization, and cultural continuity.

Across three episodes—Water, agriculture, and food—the documentary explores how the people of Liugdui blend tradition with modern innovation. Viewers meet groundwater experts, farmers pioneering sustainable crops, and artisans repurposing local materials like betel nut, alongside culinary practitioners who preserve Hakka identity through ancestral rituals, communal feasts, and family traditions that unite generations.

Audiences will discover a community that views tradition not as something fixed in the past, but as a living legacy that continues to evolve. From innovative groundwater management and botanical dyeing to ritual feasts and modern interpretations of Hakka cuisine – the documentary celebrates the creativity, resilience, and values that have sustained Liugdui for centuries.

Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun premieres in Southeast Asia on Discovery Channel, Thursday, August 20 at 7:10pm; TLC Channel, Monday, August 24 at 7:10pm; and Discovery Asia, Tuesday, August 25 at 9:25pm.

Hashtag: #Discovery

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About Discovery Channel

Across every platform, Discovery Channel is dedicated to connecting audiences who have a passion for adventure and crave a connection to the world around them. Popular series including Deadliest Catch, Expedition Unknown and Gold Rush, along with Shark Week, the annual tentpole programming event, serve as trusted portals that transport viewers directly into thrilling, real, high stakes moments. Through smart, authentic characters whose stories inform and inspire, Discovery celebrates the men and women who will stop at nothing to explore new spaces and achieve their dreams. For more information, please visit

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2026 Taiwan Four-Season Springs Travel Campaign Officially Launches

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TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 August 2026 – The Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters , Tourism Administration, MOTC Aug.13 announced the launch of the 2026–2027 “Greetings from Taiwan Springs” campaign. Highlighting “Four-Season Springs Travel” and “Taiwanese Healing Wellness,” the initiative connects 19 unique spring destinations across Taiwan, integrating culinary experiences, cultural tours, and distinctive accommodations to establish hot spring travel as a year-round attraction.

Edward Lee and Andrew Chau Serve as Hot Spring Travel Guides, Exploring Local Terroir and Regional Specialties across Taiwan

The launch press conference broke away from tradition with a vibrant runway show featuring celebrity “Hot Spring Travel Navigators,” including acclaimed chef Edward Lee from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, visual identity creative director Yen Po-Chun, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Taiwan Chairman Kazuma Otsuka, and actor-host Andrew Chau. Together with local businesses, they showcased regional agriculture, specialties, and lifestyle products.

The official launch celebration kicks off on September 4 at Guguan Park in Taichung, featuring a themed parade with over 500 participants and the lighting ceremony for the Lishan–Guguan Light Art Festival, which stars a massive eight-meter “OhBear” light installation. The festivities continue on September 5 with a guided tribal trekking tour in Guguan, offering participants an exclusive NT$500 accommodation discount.

To promote four-season wellness tourism globally, the campaign partners with the East Asia Hot Spring Association for an international symposium on September 4. Key promotions also include complimentary LINE POINTS for new followers, curated packages starting at NT$299, and a flash sale of 800 limited NT$1 Hot Spring Vouchers for the Double 11 Shopping Festival. Furthermore, cross-sector collaborations offer half-price entry to national forest areas, limited-edition Taiwan Railway bento boxes, and Guanziling mud spring skincare products to enrich the travel experience.Hashtag: #TaiwanFourSeasonSprings

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