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UM research shows adding dapagliflozin to conventional anti-diabetic drugs improves glycemic control without side effect of weight gain

Adding dapagliflozin to conventional drugs for type 2 diabetes may improve glycemic
control without causing significant weight gain, according to a new meta-analysis by a research team from the University of Macau (UM) Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine. The research team was headed by Dr. Siu-wai Leung, assistant professor at ICMS. Earlier, the research findings were reported by Reuters Health, and were also published on Medscape, a professional medical website widely used by clinicians around the world. Principal investigator Dr. Leung, along with postgraduate students Sun Yunan and Zhou Yi, as well as four other participants Chen Xi, Che Weng-si, Leong Kai-seng, and Chan Weng-hang, found that when used alone, dapagliflozin acting on the kidney is not as effective in lowering blood glucose levels as other anti-diabetic drugs which increase insulin sensitivity or act on the liver to lower blood glucose; however, when used in combination with conventional anti-diabetic drugs, it greatly improves glycemic control without causing significant weight gain. An anti-diabetic therapy without the side effect of weight gain is what type 2 diabetes patients with predisposition towards obesity have been awaiting for decades. The study by Dr. Leung and his research team was first published in BioMed Central's (part of Springer Science+Business Media) Systematic Reviews, and the British Medical Journal's BMJ Open journals. It was later reported by Reuters Health and media from around the world. The study has also been published as reference material on Medscape, a professional medical website widely used by clinicians around the world.


Registration and Exchange of Horse and Goat Zodiac Banknotes

To facilitate simplification of procedural flow and for the public's convenience, the online registration and exchange process of the Horse and Goat Zodiac Banknotes for the two Issuing Banks will be conducted jointly. For those who are interested to exchange for such banknotes (only limited to valid Macao permanent and non-permanent identity card holders), they can log onto the joint registration system of the two Issuing Banks via the webpage of the Monetary Authority of Macao (www.amcm.gov.mo) to conduct a one-time online registration within the registration period from 9:00 am on 16 June until 6:00 pm on 11 July 2014. Each Macao resident can only conduct a single registration, but it will simultaneously cover the exchange for both Horse and Goat banknotes of the two Issuing Banks. Each Macao resident can proceed with the exchange for 30 pieces of Horse and 30 pieces of Goat Banknotes of each Issuing Bank, namely 60 pieces of Horse and Goat Banknotes respectively from the two Issuing Banks in total after completing the online registration. The quantity has been predetermined and cannot be altered. Registrants are required to conduct the exchange for the two types of Zodiac Banknotes in one go, with no provision for separate exchange for only one type of note. While registrants should retain their registration records, they can also log onto the online registration system for inquiry of their confirmed registration details. Starting from 6 October 2014 till 31 December 2014, all participating banks will provide note exchange service to registrants during their business hours. Apart from the two Issuing Banks, other locations available for exchange include the selected branches of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited, Tai Fung Bank Limited, Weng Hang Bank Limited, Luso International Banking Limited, Banco Comercial de Macau, China Construction Bank Macau Branch and China Guangfa Bank Macau Branch. Under the new arrangement, the exchange for the Horse and Goat banknotes of the two Issuing banks can be conducted at the chosen location in one go. Registrants should bring along their valid ID card and can proceed in person to exchange for the notes by cash at the chosen location on the selected day. In respect of the note exchange conducted by authorized representatives, the latter will need to bring along their original ID card and submit the following documents to conduct the note exchange on the selected date and location: 1. Authorization form [downloaded from AMCM's website] signed by the registrant;
2. Registrant's ID copy bearing his / her signature;
3. Representative's ID copy bearing his / her signature.


False Information on Registration and Conversion of Zodiac Notes for the Year of the Horse

1. The AMCM has not yet announced the details and arrangements for registration and conversion of relevant zodiac notes, but will do so before long; 2. Recent rumours about zodiac notes on the Internet are false information. The AMCM, in accordance with the law, will pursue any illegal acts that disturb the normal monetary operation.


Consuls accredited to Hong Kong and Macau attend the 25th Macao Arts Festival

On 1 June, Sunday, members of the consular corps accredited to Hong Kong and Macao visited the territory to attend the 25th Macao Arts Festival (MAF). The trip, organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), included visits to the exhibition Collotype • Recurrence – Spatial Convergence of John Thomson and Wong Ho Sang held at the Macao Museum as well as the Pak Tai Temple, in front of which they had the chance to watch two films in the Dance Dome - 360° Cinema Experience, included in the Festival's programme. The delegation also attended the MAF closing performance, A Dream of Light, and showed their satisfaction with this visit which allowed them to experience and better understand Macao's cultural and artistic atmosphere. The exhibition Collotype • Recurrence – Spatial Convergence of John Thomson and Wong Ho Sang, presents works by British photographer John Thomson taken between 1868 and 1872 in China, depicting the social and cultural conditions of the time. It also presents wet plate photographic works specially created for this event by contemporary Macao photographer Wong Ho Sang. During the visit to Pak Tai Temple, the consuls, accompanied by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mr. Ung Vai Meng, the Head of IC's Cultural Events Department, Mr. Kent Ieong, were briefed about the history, culture and architectural features of Macao's temples. The visit was followed by two films, Pal O' Me Heart and The Beautiful, included in Dance Dome - 360° Cinema Experience, an intimate cinema set up at the Pak Tai Temple Square that offered viewers an extraordinary immersive experience. At the end of the day, IC organised a banquet in honour of the consular corps, after which guests attended the 25th MAF closing show, A Dream of Light. Representatives of MAVA, creators of the show, were also present at the banquet, sharing with the consular delegation the show's creative and design concepts, allowing these foreign guests to better understand the images and symbols, among others, present in the performance. Following the banquet, the guests headed for the Ruins of St. Paul's, the backdrop for A Dream of Light, to watch this extraordinary audiovisual architectural mapping show which reflects the city's multicultural atmosphere. The members of the consular delegation expressed their great satisfaction for attending the 25th the Macao Arts Festival.


Consumer Council released latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ Surveyed spots included over 10 supermarkets in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish

Consumer Council conducted its first 'Supermarket price survey' in June on 3 June for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Areia Preta and Avenida de Venceslau de Morais in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.


Macao Orchestra proceeds with its Chamber Music Series – Beethoven’s String Quartets

The Macao Orchestra (MO), under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents a concert entitled "Beethoven's String Quartet Series IV - Austro-German Airs" included in the orchestra's chamber music series, to be held on 6 June 2014 (Friday) at Dom Pedro V Theatre at 8:00pm. The MO chamber music concert series has been widely acclaimed in the past few years and therefore the Orchestra proceeds with the series for music lovers to experience the magic of the "Father of the String Quartets". In this concert the MO will perform exquisite string quartets from the classical and romantic periods. Beethoven's string quartets are the first choice of music lovers. The composer's String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 is an early work, influenced by Haydn and Mozart and thus containing certain features of Mozart's works. The programme also features Mendelssohn's String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2, and Schubert's unfinished piece, the String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, D. 703 'Quartettsatz', offering the public a diversified musical journey. Tickets for this concert are available at Kong Seng Ticketing at MOP 80, and MOP 60; for reservations, please call (853) 2855 5555. For more information and enquiries, please visit Macao Orchestra's website: www.icm.gov.mo/om.


Monetary and Financial Statistics – April 2014

According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, broad money supply rebounded in April. As total loans increased at a faster pace than total deposits, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector rose from a month earlier. Money supply Currency in circulation grew 0.8% whereas demand deposits dropped 2.6%. M1 thus decreased 2.1% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities grew 2.7%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, increased 2.1% to MOP465.0 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 rose 4.9% and 17.3% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 24.3%, down 0.3 percentage points from a month ago or 0.4 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 49.3%, down 0.5 percentage points month-to-month or 5.5 percentage points year-on-year. Deposits Resident deposits increased 2.1% from the preceding month to MOP455.4 billion. Of which, MOP deposits, HKD deposits and other foreign currency deposits increased at respective rates of 0.7%, 1.2% and 5.3%. Non-resident deposits rose 3.0% to MOP202.5 billion. Public sector deposits with the banking sector also increased 0.7% to MOP86.0 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector grew 2.2% from a month earlier to MOP743.9 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 18.6% and 40.2% respectively. Loans Domestic loans to the private sector increased 2.9% from a month ago to MOP292.1 billion. Among which, MOP82.9 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP183.9 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 28.4% and 62.9% of the total respectively. On the other hand, external loans rose 3.5% to MOP306.2 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 1.8% (MOP5.4 billion) and 22.6% (MOP69.2 billion) respectively. Loan-to-deposit ratios The loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-April rose 0.5 percentage points from the previous month to 54.0%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors also grew, by 0.8 percentage points to 80.4%.


Cultural Affairs Bureau promotes series of activities in celebration of China Cultural Heritage Day

June 14 marks the 9th China Cultural Heritage Day. To commemorate this date, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) organizes for the ninth consecutive year a series of activities in local heritage sites, museums and libraries, including themed exhibitions and lectures, guided tours and free admission to certain attractions, thereby increasing the public's knowledge about Macao's cultural heritage, revealing its meaning and charm as well as implementing this year's China Cultural Heritage Day's theme, "Let the Cultural Heritage Live". Lectures on architecture at the Mandarin's House; exhibition on the history of past typhoons The lecture series Communication with the Masters – The Inner Beauty of Traditional Chinese Architecture takes place on 14 June at the Mandarin's House, comprising three different topics: Wu Guozhi, Professor at the Chaozhou Architecture Design Institute and senior engineer will speak about 'The Beauty of Scale and Proportion of Chaozhou Traditional Residential Architecture'; Hsu Yu-Chien, Professor at the Architecture Department of Huafan University, addresses 'The Beauty of Scale and Proportion of Taiwanese Traditional Residential Architecture'; both academics, together with Professor David Lung Ping-yee, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong, will dwell on the subject 'Communication with the Masters – The Inner Beauty of Traditional Chinese Architecture'. Admission is free and seat reservations are available through the number 2896 8820, during office hours. A tea ceremony and a guqin performance will also be held on the same day and venue, as well as the opening of the "Chinese Buildings and Construction Exhibition", which will run until July 13. In commemoration of the China Cultural Heritage Day and the International Archives Day, and to unveil the history and evolution of typhoons in Macao throughout the times, the Historical Archives of Macao organise the exhibition The Times of Typhoons – Exhibition of Macao Archival Materials. Through written documents, photographs and other typhoon related materials, this exhibition allows visitors to gain a better understanding of the development of Macao's typhoon warning signals as well as the impact of past typhoons on the city. Lectures are also scheduled during the exhibition period. The splendour of cultural heritage; streets and lanes talk about history The Macao Cultural Heritage Protection Law came into force on 1 March, opening a brand new chapter in the cultural heritage protection works of Macao. In order to promote this diploma more extensively among citizens, IC organises an exhibition on the Cultural Heritage Protection Law from June 13 to July 13, and an exhibition on the Historic Centre of Macao, both to be held at the Ruins of St. Paul, as well as the exhibition '10 Items of Macao's Intangible Cultural Heritage' to be held at the Lou Kau Mansion. These exhibitions will give citizens the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about the new law and, simultaneously, about Macao's valuable cultural and world heritage.
The guided tours 'Through Streets and Lanes' will lead tourists and residents on a walk through the Historic Centre of Macao, starting at the Ruins of St. Paul's, through the Na Tcha Temple, Na Tcha Exhibtion Hall, Section of the Old City Walls, Travessa da Paixão and Pátio da Eterna Felicidade, sharing each building's unique stories. Interested parties can register on the website www.mhaa.org.mo or download the application form from the same site and submit it, duly completed, at the information desk at the Ruins of St. Paul. Free admission. Places are limited and assigned on a first come, first served basis.
The Macao Museum receives, from May 30 to August 31, the exhibition Collotype • Recurrence – Spatial Convergence of John Thomson and Wong Ho Sang, which presents more than 200 wet plate photographs by British photographer John Thomson taken in the 1860s and 1870s in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macao, Xiamen, Shanghai, Beijing and other places. The second section presents photographs taken using the same process by Macao photographer Wong Ho Sang, who produced a collection of photography artworks integrating the new and old with early photography skills and contemporary creative concepts. Macao was the inspiration for this project, specially conceived for this exhibition. On 14 and 15 June, admission to the Macao Museum is free and guided tours will also be available. Lecture on digital archives; free admission in several attractions
The lecture on Taiwan's National Digital Archives Programme: Past, Present and Future takes place on 21 June, at 11am, at the Multi-Function Hall of the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library (2nd floor). Hsieh Kuo-hsing, Research Fellow and Director of the Institute of Taiwan History at the Academia Sinica Digital Centre, examines the strategies and development of the Digital Museum Project over the past 15 years since its launch in 1998, and discusses its significant achievements as well as future challenges. Interested parties can register between 7 and 20 June through number 2837 7117, during office hours, or in person at the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library.
Several world heritage sites and museums offer free admission on June 14 and 15, including the Guia Fortress, open from 10m to 5pm, the Macao Museum and the Heritage Exhibition of a Traditional Pawnshop Business. These last two also offer, free guided tours during the same period. Additionally, the Ruins of St. Paul's, the Mandarin's House and the Lou Kau Mansion host quiz games, giving participants the opportunity to win free souvenirs (available while stocks last). Admission is free for many activities integrated in the China Cultural Heritage Day. For more information, please call 8399 6699, during office hours, or visit www.icm.gov.mo/chd.


Macao to resume imports of Mainland live poultry from 1 June

After discussions with relevant mainland departments, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) will resume imports of live poultry from mainland China on 1 June. The batch of live poultry imported on that day will be kept in the wholesale market for quarantine, and will be available for sale in the market on 2 June provided the quarantine results is normal.
The IACM detected H7 subtype avian influenza virus in the environment samples from three poultry booths in Patane Provisional Market a month ago. To ensure public heath and safety, the Government immediately activated the emergency mechanism, and decided to temporarily suspend live poultry trade in Macao on 19 April. The IACM also carried out cleaning and sterilisation at wholesale, slaughtering and retail premises, while the Health Bureau conducted medical surveillance of poultry retailers in Patane Provisional Market. Before resuming retail of live poultry, the poultry booths in wet markets will again be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised. Currently, poultry booths are cleaned and sterilised every day after market closure, and large-scale cleaning and sterilisation is conducted biweekly. To minimise the risk of spread of virus, poultry booths at the eight wet markets and the wholesale market in Macao also undergo large-scale cleaning and sterilisation on the same day, to break the biological chain of the virus in order to protect citizens' health and environmental hygiene. As sporadic cases of avian flu have recently occurred in neighbouring areas, the IACM actively communicates with the mainland departments regarding setting up long-term measures to ensure stable imports of live poultry. In future, if there are positive test results for H5 or H7 subtype avian influenza viruses in samples from wet markets, shops or other retail venues, and the samples are proved to be from live poultry that was held under normal quarantine, imports from the registered source of the poultry will be suspended. This will enable the source of the virus to be traced, after reaching a consensus with the relevant mainland inspection and quarantine institutions. Both the authorities in the mainland and Macao should then confirm whether the source is suitable for supplying poultry. Imports of live poultry from other registered farms will resume in three days, after thorough cleaning and sterilisation.


External Merchandise Trade Statistics for April 2014

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for April 2014 amounted to MOP836 million, up by 16% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP683 million) increased by 25%, but that of domestic exports (MOP153 million) decreased by 12%. Total merchandise import was MOP7.35 billion, up by 13% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP6.51 billion for April 2014. In the first four months of 2014, total value of merchandise export increased by 8% year-on-year to MOP3.32 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP2.70 billion) increased by 11%, but that of domestic exports (MOP619 million) decreased by 2%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 16% to MOP29.20 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP25.88 billion for the first four months of 2014. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP2.05 billion) and the EU (MOP103 million) in the first four months of 2014 increased by 18% and 19% respectively year-on-year, while export to Mainland China (MOP431 million) and the USA (MOP101 million) decreased by 9% and 19% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles (MOP3.06 billion) increased by 11% year-on-year, of which exports of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP586 million) and Clocks & watches (MOP372 million) rose by 34% and 70% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP255 million) decreased by 14%, of which exports of Non-knitted or non-crocheted garments (MOP137 million) declined by 12%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP9.23 billion) and the EU (MOP7.53 billion) increased by 12% and 25% respectively year-on-year in the first four months of 2014. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 20% to MOP18.90 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP3.74 billion) and Watches (MOP2.85 billion) increasing by 54% and 71% respectively. Moreover, imports of Construction materials (MOP1.14 billion) grew by 45%. External merchandise trade reached MOP32.52 billion in the first four months of 2014, up by 16% compared with MOP28.14 billion a year earlier.


All information on this site is based on the official language of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The English version is the translation from the Chinese originals and is provided for reference only. If you find that some of the contents do not have an English version, please refer to the Traditional Chinese or Portuguese versions.