Effects of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Purpose Of Review: Supplementation of nicotinamide mononucleotides (NMN) has been claimed to improve metabolic function. We reviewed human randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of NMN to evaluate its effect on markers of glucose and lipid metabolism.

Recent Findings: Eight RCTs on NMN (dosage ranged 250-2000 mg/d for a duration of 14 days to 12 weeks) involving a total of 342 middle-age/older adults (49% females, mainly non-diabetic) reporting at least one outcome on glucose control or lipid profile published in 2021-2023 were reviewed.

Psychometric properties of the variants of the Chinese UCLA Loneliness Scales and their associations with mental health in adolescents.

Loneliness is a pervasive and distressing emotional experience that affects individuals of all ages and can have significant consequences for both physical and mental health. The UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) is widely used to assess the subjective feelings of loneliness, but concerns have been raised about its structure and applicability in diverse cultural contexts. This study analysed the reliability and validity of the five Chinese versions of the UCLA-LS in a representative sample of 2,643 adolescents and young adults with Chinese as their first language in Hong Kong.

The Effects of Ketogenic Diets and Ketone Supplements on the Aerobic Performance of Endurance Runners: A Systematic Review.

Context: Ketogenic diets and ketone supplements have gained popularity among endurance runners given their purported effects: potentially delaying the onset of fatigue by enabling the increased utilization of the body's fat reserve or external ketone bodies during prolonged running.

Objective: This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effects of ketogenic diets (>60% fat and <10% carbohydrates/<50 g carbohydrates per day) or ketone supplements (ketone esters or ketone salts, medium-chain triglycerides or 1,3-butadiol) on the aerobic performance of endurance runners.

Data Sources: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Pro Quest, and Science Direct for publications up to October 2023.

An economic evaluation on sub-optimal breastfeeding in Hong Kong: Infant health outcomes and costs.

Aim: This study estimated the healthcare cost savings for the government due to the prevention of gastroenteritis (GE) infections and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in the first year of life, attributed to an increase in the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 4 months in Hong Kong.

Methods: The model used the best available data inputs, with uncertainty considered using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We additionally assessed the impact of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) on the economic benefits of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Online ethnography of breastfeeding discussions in social networking sites for Hong Kong mothers.

With the growth of social networking, parents are increasingly sharing their experiences and opinions or seeking help with childcare through online platforms. This study explored breastfeeding-related topics that Hong Kong mothers raise on social networking sites and how other mothers respond; and how these sites could be a facilitator or barrier to breastfeeding. An online ethnographic approach was used to collect breastfeeding-related discussions (posts and responses) among mothers from three sources: two closed moderated Facebook groups with more than 1000 members, and one open unmoderated forum (Baby Kingdom) (26 December 2021-26 May 2022).

A facile method to fabricate versatile keratin cryogels for tissue engineering applications.

Human hair keratin (HHK) has been extensively explored as a biomaterial for soft tissue regeneration due to their excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility. The possibility to fabricate HHK into three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels with physical properties resembling soft tissues has been well demonstrated. However, conventional keratin hydrogels often exhibit a dense architecture that could hinder cell filtration.

Iron status and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the association of genetically determined iron status with the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: We applied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated at genome-wide significance with iron status proxied by serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, and transferrin saturation from the Genetics of Iron status Consortium (N = 48 793), in a genome-wide association study of 1664 NAFLD cases and 400 055 controls from the United Kingdom Biobank. A SNP associated with multiple markers of iron status was only applied to one marker with the strongest association in the main analysis.

Rates and correlates of medication non-adherence behaviors and attitudes in adult patients with early psychosis.

Purpose: Literature on antipsychotic medication adherence in early psychosis primarily assessed adherence behaviors and focused on young patients. There is a paucity of research investigating negative medication attitude and its determinants in the early illness course, particularly in older-aged sample. We aimed to examine prevalence and correlates of medication non-adherence behaviors and negative medication attitudes separately in adult patients with early psychosis.

Erianin: A phytoestrogen with therapeutic potential.

Erianin, a phytoestrogen with therapeutic potential, is one of the major active components of Dendrobll caulis. Erianin has a variety of pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic retinopathy, anti-psoriasis, and antibacterial effects. Especially, in regard to the anti-tumor effect of erianin, the underlying molecular mechanism has been partly clarified.

Responses to Stress among East Malaysian Students: Psychometric Properties of the Responses to Stress Questionnaire.

Background: Academic stress is part of a student's life. Chronic stress may result in mental health problems, affecting the adolescent's well-being in adulthood. However, not all types of stress result in a negative effect.

Breastfeeding challenges and opportunities during COVID-19 in Hong Kong.

Barriers to sustain breastfeeding could be time and place specific. Here, we summarise new and old challenges to breastfeeding during COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, some of which were obtained from qualitative in-depth interviews with health-care professionals. We document how unnecessary massive mother-baby separations in hospitals and doubts in COVID-19 vaccine safety seriously harm breastfeeding.

Impact of early negative symptom patterns on the long-term outcomes of patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: A 12-year follow up study.

Given the strong prognostic value of early negative symptoms (NS), understanding their associations with long-term outcomes of schizophrenia is essential. The study examined early NS patterns in trajectory, severity and variability and their association with 12-year outcomes. NS in the first 36 months after onset and the symptomatology, cognitive function, and functioning at 12 years were examined in 330 patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

World variation in head circumference for children from birth to 5 years and a comparison with the WHO standards.

Objective: A recent review reported that the WHO 2006 growth standards reflect a smaller head circumference at 24 months than seen in 18 countries. Whether this happens in early infancy and to what extent populations differ is not clear. This scooping review aimed to estimate the rates of children in different populations identified as macrocephalic or microcephalic by WHO standards.

Effort-based decision making in schizotypy and its relationship with amotivation and psychosocial functioning.

Introduction: Suboptimal effort-based decision-making with reduced willingness to expend effort for high-probability/high-value reward is observed in schizophrenia patients and is related to diminished motivation, but is understudied in schizotypy. This study aimed to examine effort-allocation in schizotypy individuals and its association with amotivation and psychosocial functioning.

Methods: We recruited 40 schizotypy individuals and 40 demographically-matched healthy controls, based on Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) score (top and bottom 10% SPQ-B scores, respectively), from 2400 young people aged 15-24 years participating a population-based mental health survey in Hong Kong and examined effort-allocation using the Effort Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT).

Fitness of INTERGROWTH-21st birth weight standards for Chinese-ethnicity babies.

Objective: To determine the fitness of the INTERGROWTH-21st birth weight standards (INTERGROWTH21) for ethnic Chinese babies compared with a local reference (FOK2003).

Design: Population-based analysis of territory-wide birth data.

Setting: All public hospitals in Hong Kong.

The mechanism of Croci stigma in the treatment of melasma based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Purpose: To investigate the molecular mechanism of Croci stigma (CS) in the treatment of melasma by network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Methods: TCMSP, CTD, STITCH, SymMap, GeneCard, GenBank, OMIM and DrugBank databases were used to obtain the components and targets of CS and the targets of chloasma. STRING was used to build a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of intersecting targets between drugs and diseases.

Water-soluble extracellular vesicle probes based on conjugated oligoelectrolytes.

We developed a series of transmembrane conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) with tunable optical emissions from the UV to the near IR to address the false-positive problem when detecting nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles (EVs) by flow cytometry. The amphiphilic molecular framework of COEs is defined by a linear conjugated structure and cationic charged groups at each terminal site. Consequently, COEs have excellent water solubility and the absence of nanoaggregates at concentrations up to 50 μM, and unbound COE dyes can be readily removed through ultrafiltration.

Human hair proteins as natural reactive oxygen species scavengers for in vitro applications.

Human hair proteins are recognized for their intrinsically high cysteine content. They can be solubilized while preserving their highly reductive thiol groups for free radical scavenging applications. The presence of aromatic and nucleophilic amino acids such as methionine, serine, phenylalanine, and threonine further contribute to the antioxidative potential of this material.

Comparative Efficacy of Interventions for the Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic premalignant condition and is characterized by fibroblastic change of lamina propria and stiffness of oral mucosa. Though there are several treatment options available, the best agent is not yet identified. This study assessed the comparative efficacy and safety of medical interventions in the management of OSMF.

The impact of antenatal massage practice on intrapartum massage application and their associations with the use of analgesics during labour : Sub-analysis of a randomised control trial.

Background: Massage during labour is one form of intrapartum non-pharmacological pain relief but it is not known whether the frequency of practicing these massage techniques among couples during the antenatal period could enhance the effectiveness of intrapartum massage. This study was to evaluate the association between compliance of antenatal massage practice with intrapartum application and their impact on the use of analgesics during labour.

Methods: This was a sub-analysis of a childbirth massage programme which was carried out in two public hospitals with total births of around 8000 per year.

A multifaceted approach in promoting positive mental health culture in Hong Kong secondary schools: The Mindshift educational networking programme.

Aim: Many young people with mental health problems refuse to seek help because of stigma and leave the problem untreated. Previous research suggests that contact interventions with education could improve the stigma of mental illness in young people, thereby encouraging help-seeking in distress. The current study examined the effectiveness of a multifaceted programme, the Mindshift educational networking programme (MENP), in promoting a positive mental health culture in Hong Kong secondary schools.

Abnormal Expression and Prognosis Value of COG Complex Members in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC).

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is the most aggressive subtype of kidney tumours with poor prognosis as well as the increasing incidence rate in worldwide. The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex is an eight-subunit (Cog1-8) peripheral Golgi protein that controls membrane trafficking and protein glycosylation and plays vital roles in human disease including cancers. Therefore, to uncover the prognostic value of COG complex in KIRC, a series of databases, including UALCAN database, GEPIA database, and Kaplan-Meier plotter, were used to analyse the mRNA expression of COG complex subunits and their prognostic values in patients with KIRC in this study.

Clinical and psychological correlates of insight dimensions in patients with early psychosis.

Aim: To investigate correlates of insight dimensions in Chinese adult patients with early psychosis.

Methods: Insight dimensions including awareness of mental disorder (AMD), illness consequences (AIC) and medication effect (AME) were measured. A wide array of variables encompassing demographics, premorbid adjustment, onset profiles, symptomatology, treatment characteristics and psychological factors were comprehensively assessed.

Phosphorylation of Cofilin-1 Enhances Paclitaxel Resistance of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells by Inhibiting Apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of high phosphorylation levels of cofilin-1 (p-CFL-1) associated with paclitaxel resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells.

Methods: Cells displaying varying levels of p-CFL-1 and CFL-1 were created by plasmid transfection and shRNA interference. Cell inhibition rate indicating paclitaxel efficacy was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.