Natural history of low-risk branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and indeterminate pancreatic cysts: Implications on surveillance intervals by cyst size.

Background: The optimal surveillance strategy for low-risk branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN) remains unclear. We aim to evaluate the natural history of low-risk BD-IPMN/indeterminate pancreatic cysts to determine optimal surveillance intervals.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with radiologically-diagnosed low-risk BD-IPMN/indeterminate pancreatic cysts from 1998 to 2021 at a tertiary referral center.

Pregnancy loss and risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity in Chinese women: the China Kadoorie Biobank study.

Background: While the association between pregnancy loss and individual cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) is well-established, its impact on the risk of coexisting CMDs remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the association between pregnancy loss with the risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity in Chinese women.

Method: We analyzed the cross-sectional data of 299,582 female participants aged 30-79 years old from the China Kadoorie biobank.

Liposomal delivery of self-peptide and calcitriol as tolerogenic immunotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis: an exploration using sensory science.

Immunology research holds significant potential for enhanced inclusivity at the beginning of the science literacy journey, but persistent challenges stem from limited awareness that improvement is needed in this field. At the 2023 Monash Sensory Science Exhibition, we had the opportunity to present several tactile posters, using simple materials, for visually impaired participants to showcase our research on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis as a result of immune tolerance breakdown and liposome-based tolerogenic immunotherapy. The posters stimulated lively discussions about autoimmune arthritic diseases and our research.

A quasi-experimental study on the effectiveness of a standardized comprehensive sexuality education curriculum for primary school students.

Introduction: Although the importance of sexuality education has been recognized, Chinese rural students have limited access to sexual and reproductive information. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized comprehensive sexuality education curriculum package featuring cartoon animation on sexuality-related knowledge and skills, attitudes, and practices of primary school students.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study recruited 1725 students in grades 4-6 (aged 9-13) from eight primary schools sampled as school clusters in 2020 in China.

Role of glucose in daily torpor of Djungarian hamsters (): challenge of continuous in vivo blood glucose measurements.

Djungarian hamsters use daily torpor to save energy during winter. This metabolic downstate is part of their acclimatization strategy in response to short photoperiod and expressed spontaneously without energy challenges. During acute energy shortage, torpor incidence, depth, and duration can be modulated.

Pregnancy Loss and Risk of All-Cause Mortality in Chinese Women: Findings From the China Kadoorie Biobank.

Pregnancy loss is a common obstetric complication that may be associated with maternal mortality. However, evidence is sparse and inconsistent. This study aims to investigate the association between pregnancy loss with the risk of all-cause mortality among Chinese women.

Effects of Sexuality Education on Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Attitudes, and Sexual Behaviors of Youths in China: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: There is a lack of trained educators and age-appropriate teaching materials for sex education in China. This study aims to assess the effects of an internet-based sexuality education programme on sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among adolescents in China.

Methods: We undertook a multicentre, cluster-randomized controlled trial in 29 vocational high schools in Guangdong and Yunnan, China.

Association between pregnancy and pregnancy loss with COPD in Chinese women: The China Kadoorie Biobank study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease characterized by airflow blockage. Pregnancy and pregnancy loss may be related to an elevated risk of COPD, although studies have yet to report on this association. Hence, this study aims to investigate the association between pregnancy and pregnancy loss with the risk of COPD among Chinese women.

Comparing access to sexual and reproductive health services among sexual minority youths and their peers: findings from a national survey in China.

Background: Little is known about the access to measures of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among sexual minority communities in China, where sexuality-related stigma and discrimination remains high. The aim of this study is to investigate access to measures of SRH services among Chinese sexual minority youths (SMY) aged 17 to 24 years old.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilizes data on 54,580 youths from the 2019-2020 National College Student Survey on Sexual and Reproductive Health, conducted across 31 provinces in mainland China.

Factors associated with age-specific maternal health-seeking behaviours among women: A Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey-based study in 10 African countries.

Background: Maternal health-seeking behaviours (MHSB) are crucial for maintaining maternal health and reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR). However, little is known about age-specific MHSB in African countries. This study aims to examine the association between composite indicators of maternal characteristics, household conditions, and socioeconomic factors with MHSB among women from different childbearing age groups in 10 African countries.

The mediating role of sexually selected traits in the association of androgynous tendencies with lower sexual activeness among Chinese youths.

Androgynous tendencies and persistently low fertility rates have been observed in many countries, causing major social concerns. The theory of sexual selection suggests a possible mechanism between androgyny and decreased sexual activeness, as masculinity and femininity constitute an important aspect of reproductive strategies. This theory has also been proven by evolutionary and societal evidence.

Pregnancy loss and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese women: findings from the China Kadoorie biobank.

Considering the female preponderance of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and disease onset typically after the reproductive years, pregnancy and childbirth may play a role in the aetiology of the disease. Adverse outcomes of pregnancy have been found to precede the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, including RA, but the evidence is scant and inconsistent. Therefore, we investigate whether pregnancy loss is associated with the risk of RA in Chinese women.

Difference in the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Only-Child Students and Students With Siblings, According to Sex and Region: Findings From the National College Student Survey.

Objective: The differences in sexual knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, seeking behaviors for sex-related knowledge, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among only-child students and students with siblings in China, was examined for sex- and region- specific effects.

Research Design And Methods: Data on 49,569 students from the 2019 National College Student Survey on Sexual and Reproductive Health, conducted across 31 provinces in mainland China was utilized. Multivariable regression and stratified analyses were employed to analyze the differences in sexual and reproductive health between only-child students and students with siblings.

Influence of Maternal Exposure to Mass Media on Growth Stunting Among Children Under Five: Mediation Analysis Through the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program.

Background: The issue of malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo is severe. Meanwhile, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene program has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the rates of growth stunting among children.

Objective: We aimed to explore the association between maternal exposure to mass media and stunting in children through water, sanitation, and hygiene behaviors.

Viperin triggers ribosome collision-dependent translation inhibition to restrict viral replication.

Innate immune responses induce hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Viperin, a member of the radical S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) superfamily of enzymes, is the product of one such ISG that restricts the replication of a broad spectrum of viruses. Here, we report a previously unknown antiviral mechanism in which viperin activates a ribosome collision-dependent pathway that inhibits both cellular and viral RNA translation.

The metabolic potential of plastics as biotechnological carbon sources - Review and targets for the future.

The plastic crisis requires drastic measures, especially for the plastics' end-of-life. Mixed plastic fractions are currently difficult to recycle, but microbial metabolism might open new pathways. With new technologies for degradation of plastics to oligo- and monomers, these carbon sources can be used in biotechnology for the upcycling of plastic waste to valuable products, such as bioplastics and biosurfactants.

Women's Empowerment and Children's Complete Vaccination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

(1) Background: The empowerment of women contributes to better child health and wellness. This study aimed to examine the association between women's empowerment and complete vaccination of children, as recommended in the National Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on data from the Multiple-Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS-6) to determine the dimensions of women's empowerment.

Effects of an Internet-Based and Teacher-Facilitated Sexuality Education Package: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an internet-based and teacher-facilitated sexuality education package on the sexual knowledge and attitudes of Chinese adolescents.

Methods: Six middle schools where no sexuality education had been performed with a total of 501 adolescent students (245 males and 256 females) were included in the trial. In total, 14 classes were randomly assigned to the intervention (internet-based sexuality education package) or the control group (classes were conducted as per normal).

Metabolic syndrome and its effect on the outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis in a multi-ethnic cohort in Singapore.

Introduction: Over-expression of common inflammatory mediators in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may lead to mutually adverse outcomes.

Aim: We investigate the prevalence of MetS in a multi-ethnic population of RA patients and its effect on clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Method: Six hundred sixty RA (561 women) patients from a public-sector specialist clinic in a hospital in Singapore were assessed for MetS according to the 2009 Joint Consensus (JC) and the 2004 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) definitions.

Socio-economic inequalities in children's nutritional status in Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017-2018: an analysis of data from a nationally representative survey.

Objective: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has one of the highest levels of child undernutrition globally; however, little information exists on the underlying socio-economic inequalities resulting in undernutrition. This study aims to examine the differences in the nutritional statuses of children across different wealth quintiles and explores the association between malnutrition in children and related factors.

Design: We utilised the 2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data.

The Effects of Conflicts and Self-Reported Insecurity on Maternal Healthcare Utilisation and Children Health Outcomes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced political unrest, civil insecurity, and military disputes, resulting in extreme poverty and a severely impaired health care system. To reduce the morbidity and mortality in women and children by strengthening healthcare, this study aimed at exploring the relationship between self-reported insecurity of mothers and maternal health-seeking behaviours and diseases in children in the DRC. Data collected from 8144 mothers and 14,403 children from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in 2017-2018, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), was used.

Assessing Professionalism in Medicine - A Scoping Review of Assessment Tools from 1990 to 2018.

Background: Medical professionalism enhances doctor-patient relationships and advances patient-centric care. However, despite its pivotal role, the concept of medical professionalism remains diversely understood, taught and thus poorly assessed with Singapore lacking a linguistically sensitive, context specific and culturally appropriate assessment tool. A scoping review of assessments of professionalism in medicine was thus carried out to better guide its understanding.

Enhancing Mentoring in Palliative Care: An Evidence Based Mentoring Framework.

Background: Growing concerns over ethical issues in mentoring in medicine and surgery have hindered efforts to reinitiate mentoring for Palliative Care (PC) physicians following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Ranging from the misappropriation of mentee's work to bullying, ethical issues in mentoring are attributed to poor understanding and structuring of mentoring programs, underlining the need for a consistent approach to mentoring practices.

Methods: Given diverse practices across different settings and the employ of various methodologies, a novel approach to narrative reviews (NR)s is proposed to summarize, interpret, and critique prevailing data on novice mentoring.