Publications by authors named "Aw Lee"

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a multifaceted disease characterized by genetic and epigenetic modifications. While Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a known risk factor, recent studies highlight the significant role of DNA methylation in NPC pathogenesis. Aberrant methylation, particularly at CpG sites, can silence tumour suppressor genes, promoting uncontrolled cell growth.

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  • Clesrovimab is a new monoclonal antibody designed to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in infants, tested in a study with 183 healthy infants aged 2 weeks to 8 months.
  • The study found that Clesrovimab was well tolerated, with the most common side effect being irritability, and it demonstrated a long half-life of 44.9 days, along with improved serum neutralizing antibodies over time.
  • Infants who received Clesrovimab had lower rates of RSV-related illnesses compared to those given a placebo, indicating its potential effectiveness for further development in clinical trials.
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Background And Aims: The interaction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and concomitant medications such as antibiotics, metformin, statins, beta-blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and low-dose aspirin has been studied in other malignancies. Our study aims to investigate the relationship between these medications and ICI efficacy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC).

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who received at least one dose of ICIs between May 2015 and November 2019 was performed.

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rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP and Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo are WHO-prequalified vaccination regimens against Ebola virus disease (EVD). Challenges associated with measuring long-term clinical protection warrant the evaluation of immune response kinetics after vaccination.

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Purpose: Breast cancer mortality has significantly declined in the U.S. due in part to effective clinical screening methods.

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) not only posed major health and economic burdens to international societies but also threatens patients with comorbidities and underlying autoimmune disorders, including Crohn's disease (CD) patients. As the vaccinated population is gradually relieved from the stress of the latest omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 due to competent immune responses, the anxiety of CD patients, especially those on immunosuppressive treatment, has not subsided. Whether the use of immunosuppressants for remission of CD outweighs the potential risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has long been discussed.

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Background: Asian Americans have the highest ovarian cancer survival across the major racial groups although it is unclear whether this survival advantage is observed when each Asian ethnic subgroup is examined separately. Disaggregated survival analyses of this heterogeneous population is needed to ensure ethnic-specific disparities are not overlooked.

Methods: Data on ovarian cancer cases diagnosed from 2006 through 2020 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program were analyzed.

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  • Botulinum toxin type A is widely used for therapeutic and aesthetic treatments, but there are concerns about its potential to generate antibodies, leading to treatment failure and adverse reactions.
  • This review evaluates the immunogenicity of different botulinum toxin type A products and identifies factors that increase the risk of antibody formation.
  • The findings indicate that while the overall incidence of neutralizing antibody formation is low, it can vary based on factors like injection frequency and total dose, necessitating further research to enhance treatment efficacy and minimize antibody-related issues.
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Background: Ocular and periocular tattoos, involving ink application to the eyeball or surrounding skin, have gained popularity as forms of self-expression. However, this trend raises significant concerns about potential complications that can adversely affect ocular health and esthetics. Awareness of these risks is crucial for both patients and practitioners.

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  • Accurate staging for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is vital for treatment and prognosis, using the AJCC/UICC TNM system as a standardized approach, necessitating ongoing updates to reflect modern care practices.
  • The study aimed to enhance the accuracy and relevance of the TNM-8 system for NPC by analyzing patient data from 2014-2015 and undergoing rigorous validation processes leading to the development of TNM-9.
  • Results from over 4,900 patients highlighted that advanced extranodal extension was a key negative prognostic factor, prompting a proposed restructuring of staging for nonmetastatic cases from TNM-8 classifications.
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Poly-d,l-lactic acid (PDLLA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer that has garnered significant attention in dermatology due to its unique properties and versatile applications. This literature review offers a comprehensive analysis of PDLLA's roles in various dermatological conditions and wound-healing applications. PDLLA demonstrates significant benefits in enhancing skin elasticity and firmness, reducing wrinkles, and promoting tissue regeneration and scar remodeling.

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Background: The increasing popularity of laser- and light-based esthetic treatments for facial rejuvenation has raised concerns regarding ocular safety. Although these procedures are generally considered safe and effective, there is a growing body of evidence highlighting the potential for ocular complications. This review aims to systematically analyze the types and mechanisms of ocular injuries associated with such treatments, as well as to evaluate preventive measures and management strategies.

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  • High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a treatment that can help improve skin by lifting and tightening it.
  • In a study with 20 women, one group used HIFU with a special skin cream, while another group just used the cream alone.
  • The group that used HIFU saw much better results in reducing wrinkles and improving skin brightness compared to the group that only used the cream.
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  • Chronic inflammatory pain increases interleukin-1 levels, prompting the body to produce IL-1R antagonists to mitigate pain; autologous conditioned serum (ACS) enhances these natural reserves and shows potential in treating spinal pathologies.
  • A systematic review of six studies involving 684 patients highlighted that ACS injections, predominantly for lumbar issues, resulted in significant pain reduction compared to baseline, with minimal adverse effects.
  • The findings suggest that ACS injections are a safe and effective option for managing pain in various spinal conditions, outperforming traditional steroid treatments in some cases.
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  • Dermal fillers are popular for facial rejuvenation but can cause rare complications like visual impairment, including blindness, particularly with less-studied fillers like calcium hydroxylapatite and PLLA.
  • This systematic review investigates the prevalence, causes, and effects of visual impairment from these fillers, aiming to fill the knowledge gaps left by more commonly studied fillers like hyaluronic acid.
  • The findings indicate that while visual impairment is infrequent, it can happen unexpectedly or up to two weeks after the procedure, highlighting the importance of thorough post-procedure monitoring.
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Patient and public involvement in research refers to patients or caregivers with disease experience contributing to the design, conduct or dissemination of results from research. Patient and public involvement has given rise to new fields in healthcare-oriented research and has the potential to transform infectious diseases through interventional trials. Our recommendations and best practices from years of organizing respiratory syncytial virus parent networks are provided.

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Background: Tea and coffee are the most frequently consumed beverages in the world. Green tea in particular contains compounds with potential anti-cancer effects, but its association with survival after ovarian cancer is uncertain.

Methods: We investigated the associations between tea and coffee consumption before diagnosis and survival using data from 10 studies in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium.

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  • Locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) poses significant treatment challenges due to the absence of standardized guidelines for postoperative re-irradiation (re-RT).
  • This article reviews international recommendations for managing resectable cases of locally recurrent NPC, focusing on re-RT strategies and addressing controversial issues like surgical margins and resectability criteria.
  • The consensus suggests a clearer definition of resectability, optimal re-RT doses around 60 Gy, and emphasizes the potential benefits of hyperfractionation to minimize treatment toxicity, aiming to improve patient outcomes.
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Objective: This study aimed to characterize the changing landscape of circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages in the local community of Hong Kong throughout 2022. We examined how adjustments to quarantine arrangements influenced the transmission pattern of Omicron variants in a city with relatively rigorous social distancing measures at that time.

Methods: In 2022, a total of 4684 local SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore GridION sequencer.

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Motivation: Pooled designs for single-cell RNA sequencing, where many cells from distinct samples are processed jointly, offer increased throughput and reduced batch variation. This study describes expression-aware demultiplexing (EAD), a computational method that employs differential co-expression patterns between individuals to demultiplex pooled samples without any extra experimental steps.

Results: We use synthetic sample pools and show that the top interindividual differentially co-expressed genes provide a distinct cluster of cells per individual, significantly enriching the regulation of metabolism.

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Background: Lymphopenia is known for its significance on poor survivals in breast cancer patients. Considering full dosimetric data, this study aimed to develop and validate predictive models for lymphopenia after radiotherapy (RT) in breast cancer.

Material And Methods: Patients with breast cancer treated with adjuvant RT were eligible in this multicenter study.

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Context: Dyspnea, a prevalent and debilitating symptom in patients with advanced lung cancer, negatively affects symptom burden and prognosis. Physical activity has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing dyspnea.

Objectives: This study compared the effectiveness of two widely-recognized physical activity modalities, namely Tai Chi (TC) and aerobic exercise (AE) for treating dyspnea in patients with advanced lung cancer.

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Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment is prevalent in metastatic lung cancer survivors. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of aerobic exercise and Tai Chi on perceived cognitive function and the mediating role of psychoneurological symptoms with perceived cognitive impairment.

Methods: In a subgroup of a parent randomized clinical trial, participants who reported cognitive impairment underwent a 16-week aerobic exercise (n = 49), Tai Chi (n = 48), and control (n = 54) groups.

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Foodborne pathogens, particularly antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria, remain a significant threat to global health. Given the limitations of conventional culture-based approaches, which are limited in scope and time-consuming, metagenomic sequencing of food products emerges as a promising solution. This method provides a fast and comprehensive way to detect the presence of pathogenic microbes and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs).

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Background: Locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients undergoing radiotherapy are at risk of treatment failure, particularly locoregional recurrence. To optimize the individual radiation dose, we hypothesize that the genomic adjusted radiation dose (GARD) can be used to correlate with locoregional control.

Methods: A total of 92 patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer / International Union Against Cancer stage III to stage IVB recruited in a randomized phase III trial were assessed (NPC-0501) (NCT00379262).

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