Design and fabrication of customizable microneedles enabled by 3D printing for biomedical applications.

Microneedles (MNs) is an emerging technology that employs needles ranging from 10 to 1000 μm in height, as a minimally invasive technique for various procedures such as therapeutics, disease monitoring and diagnostics. The commonly used method of fabrication, micromolding, has the advantage of scalability, however, micromolding is unable to achieve rapid customizability in dimensions, geometries and architectures, which are the pivotal factors determining the functionality and efficacy of the MNs. 3D printing offers a promising alternative by enabling MN fabrication with high dimensional accuracy required for precise applications, leading to improved performance.

Factors affecting duration of SARS-Cov-2 viral shedding in mildly symptomatic patients isolated in a community facility.

Introduction: Mildly symptomatic cases of Covid-19 in previously-well individuals form the majority of infections and also serve as potent vectors of transmission. The factors affecting the duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA viral shedding (DVS) in these patients remain largely unknown.

Objectives: To perform a systematic analysis of the clinical, radiologic, laboratory investigations in patients with few comorbidities infected with mild Covid-19 to identify factors associated with the DVS.

Biological functions of Arabidopsis thaliana MBP-1-like protein encoded by ENO2 in the response to drought and salt stresses.

Arabidopsis thaliana ENO2 (AtENO2) plays an important role in plant growth and development. It encodes two proteins, a full-length AtENO2 and a truncated version, AtMBP-1, alternatively translated from the second start codon of the mRNA. The AtENO2 mutant (eno2 ) exhibited reduced leaf size, shortened siliques, a dwarf phenotype and higher sensitivity to abiotic stress.

Impact of a pharmacy-led smoking cessation clinic in a dermatology centre.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and has a deleterious effect on dermatological conditions, such as skin cancers, hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a pharmacist-led smoking cessation clinic in reducing cigarette smoking at a tertiary referral dermatology centre. We described the impact of this clinic to provide guidance on how such a model could be further improved and implemented more widely.

A retrospective clinico-pathological study comparing lichen planus pigmentosus with ashy dermatosis.

Background/objectives: Controversy persists as to whether lichen planus pigmentosus and ashy dermatosis are separate clinical entities. This study was conducted to examine the clinicopathological features and treatment outcome of the two conditions.

Methods: A retrospective medical chart review of all patients who were diagnosed with lichen planus pigmentosus or ashy dermatosis was conducted.

Dermatological problems of asylum seekers arriving on boats: a case report from Australia and a brief review.

Assessing the skin of asylum seekers, immigrants, migrant workers, tourists or even locals who return from abroad, can be a confronting task due to the possibility of such people having non-autochthonous diseases. Primary-care physicians and dermatologists need to have a systematic approach in the assessment of such dermatoses. This article describes an interesting case of possible kerosene-induced and diesel-induced skin injury in an asylum seeker arriving on a boat.

Low vitamin D levels are associated with atopic dermatitis, but not allergic rhinitis, asthma, or IgE sensitization, in the adult Korean population.

Background: The effect of vitamin D on allergic conditions is unclear. In particular, large-scale, population-based studies examining this relationship in adult Asian populations are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and allergic conditions in the general adult Korean population.

Isolated laryngeal amyloidosis in a patient with a hoarse voice.

We present a case of a 59-year-old woman with a hoarse voice of 3 weeks duration. A polypoid lesion involving the anterior aspect of the left vocal cord was detected by flexible fibreoptic endoscopic examination. Flexible bronchoscopic examination was unremarkable.

Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord following recreational nitrous oxide use.

We describe a case of a young woman who developed myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy following 1 year of recreational nitrous oxide (N2O) use. She presented with uncomfortable tingling sensation in her feet and poor balance. Physical examination revealed mild weakness and hyper-reflexia in the lower limbs.

An unusual cause of a lump in the parotid gland.

We present a case of a 50-year-old man with a lump in the left parotid gland. A 4 cm soft mobile lump was identified in the left parotid gland clinically. CT of the parotid glands and neck was arranged confirming a 4 cm mass, predominantly situated within the superficial lobe anterosuperiorly but extending deep to the expected plane of the facial nerve.