Publications by authors named "Joseph Leung"

Article Synopsis
  • Brain pericytes can change into multiple cell types after injury, but different subsets might have varied abilities to do so based on their characteristics.
  • Using an ischemic stroke model and advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers identified two main pericyte subpopulations (NG2 and Tbx18) that respond differently to brain injury: NG2 pericytes are more likely to turn into neurons, while Tbx18 pericytes can become endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and microglia.
  • Additionally, by manipulating AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) activity, the study found ways to enhance the conversion of pericytes into functional neurons, implying that targeted treatments could improve neuron formation from pericytes after
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Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a bile duct malignancy with a dismal prognosis. This study systematically investigated the role of the ribosomal protein S6 () gene, which is dependent in CCA. We found that RPS6 upregulation in CCA tissues was correlated with a poor prognosis.

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Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug which may be associated with thyroid dysfunction. Type I amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) is treated with thionamides and type II AIT is treated with glucocorticoids. Combined therapy is used in mixed or indeterminate forms.

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  • Biliary fibrosis is a significant yet often overlooked aspect of liver and bile duct diseases, which can lead to serious health issues like organ failure.
  • Understanding the causes and development of biliary fibrosis is essential for improving prevention and treatment options for various biliary disorders.
  • The review highlights the clinical signs, demographics, and key cellular elements involved in biliary fibrosis, while also discussing crucial signaling pathways and future treatment strategies.
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Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) is an essential enzyme to detoxify methylglyoxal (MGO), a cytotoxic byproduct of glycolysis. Accumulating studies have shown an important role of Glo1 in regulating cortical development and neurogenesis, potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) when impaired. We have previously shown that prenatal exposure to non-apoptotic low-dose methylmercury (MeHg), an environmental pollutant, induces premature cortical neurogenesis and ASD-like behaviors in a rodent model.

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Background And Aims: Water exchange (WE) and cap-assisted colonoscopy separately have been shown to reduce pain during insertion in unsedated patients. We hypothesized that compared with WE, WE cap-assisted colonoscopy (WECAC) could significantly lower real-time maximum insertion pain (RTMIP).

Methods: Veterans without escort were recruited, randomized, blinded, and examined at 3 U.

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  • Scientists studied lung cells from healthy human fetuses to learn how lungs develop and how diseases can affect them.
  • They found different types of lung cells that come from special starting cells which have a key protein called CFTR.
  • This research helps create a detailed map of how human lungs grow, which could help in understanding and treating lung diseases.
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Background: Gut microbiome dysbiosis has been implicated in various gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal diseases, but evidence on the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for therapeutic indications remains unclear.

Methods: The gutMDisorder database was used to summarize the associations between gut microbiome dysbiosis and diseases. We performed an umbrella review of published meta-analyses to determine the evidence synthesis on the efficacy and safety of FMT in treating various diseases.

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Objective: We used administrative data to 1) establish a cohort of individuals with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in British Columbia (BC), and 2) define T1D-related clinical practice measures.

Methods: We applied a validated diabetes case-finding definition and differentiating algorithm to linked administrative data (1992-1993 to 2019-2020). Cases were removed when they did not meet inclusion criteria for childhood-onset T1D.

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Background: Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients' recovery.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers.

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Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor, and its diagnosis is still a challenge. This study aimed to identify a novel bile marker for CCA diagnosis based on proteomics and establish a diagnostic model with deep learning.

Methods: A total of 644 subjects (236 CCA and 408 non-CCA) from two independent centers were divided into discovery, cross-validation, and external validation sets for the study.

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Background: Mechanical lithotripsy produces stone fragments that are not easily detected by cholangiography and is a potential cause of recurrence of common bile duct stones (CBDS). This study aims to clarify whether 100 ml saline irrigation after mechanical lithotripsy reduces the recurrent rate of CBDS.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial performed at the Surgical Endoscopy Center, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between May 10, 2019, and Dec 31, 2020, patients undergoing endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy were randomly assigned to receive saline irrigation (study group) or no irrigation (control group).

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Aberrant neurodevelopment is a core deficit of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we ask whether a non-genetic factor, prenatal exposure to the environmental pollutant methylmercury (MeHg), is a contributing factor in ASD onset. We showed that adult mice prenatally exposed to non-apoptotic MeHg exhibited key ASD characteristics, including impaired communication, reduced sociability, and increased restrictive repetitive behaviors, whereas in the embryonic cortex, prenatal MeHg exposure caused premature neuronal differentiation.

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Goals: We tested the hypothesis that water exchange (WE) achieved a significantly higher right colon flat polyp detection rate (rFPDR) than water immersion (WI).

Background: Current endoscopy methods provide real-time morphology but not histopathology. Flat serrated polyps are difficult to find during colonoscopy.

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Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EPT) combined with endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation (EPBD) are used to remove large common bile duct (CBD) stones. This meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of EPT+EPBD versus EPT alone in the removal of stones based on stone size. Twenty-two studies (11 randomized control trials [RCTs] and 11 non-RCTs) were identified and reviewed based on searches of Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science.

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Mitochondria take part in a network of intracellular processes that regulate homeostasis. Defects in mitochondrial function are key pathophysiological changes during AKI. Although Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediates mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic kidney fibrosis, little is known of the influence of β-catenin on mitochondrial function in AKI.

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Background: Patient awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is low in part due to suboptimal testing for CKD among those at risk and lack of discussions about kidney disease between patients and clinicians. To bridge these gaps, the National Kidney Foundation developed the Kidney Score Platform, which is a web-based series of tools that includes resources for health care professionals as well as an interactive, dynamic patient-facing component that includes a brief questionnaire about risk factors for kidney disease, individualized assessment of risk for developing CKD, and self-management tools to manage one's kidney disease.

Objective: The aim of this study is to perform usability testing of the patient component of the Kidney Score platform among veterans with and at risk for kidney disease and among clinicians working as primary care providers in Veterans Affairs administration.

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We examine whether social data can be used to predict how members of Major League Baseball (MLB) and members of the National Basketball Association (NBA) transition between teams during their career. We find that incorporating social data into various machine learning algorithms substantially improves the algorithms' ability to correctly determine these transitions in the NBA but only marginally in MLB. We also measure the extent to which player performance and team fitness data can be used to predict transitions between teams.

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Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an established treatment for common bile duct (CBD) stones. Post- ERCP cholecystitis (PEC) is a known complication of such procedure and there are no effective models and clinical applicable tools for PEC prediction.

Methods: A random forest (RF) machine learning model was developed to predict PEC.

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Adverse events are uncommon with cold snaring, but cold techniques are generally reserved for lesions ≤ 9 mm out of concern for incomplete resection or inability to mechanically resect larger lesions. In a non-distended, water-filled lumen, colorectal lesions are not stretched, enabling capture and en bloc resection of large lesions. We assessed the effectiveness and safety of underwater cold snare resection (UCSR) without submucosal injection (SI) of ≥ 10 mm non-pedunculated, non-bulky (≤ 5 mm elevation) lesions with small, thin wire snares.

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Background And Aim: Endoscopy featured water-aided colonoscopy (WAC) as novel in the Innovation Forum in 2011. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy published a modified Delphi consensus review (MDCR) that supports WAC for clinical practice in 2021. We tested the hypothesis that experience was an important predictor of WAC use, either as water immersion (WI), water exchange (WE), or a combination of WI and WE.

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Lipotoxicity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity-related kidney damage and propagates chronic kidney injury like diabetic kidney disease; however, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. To date, reduction of lipid acquisition and enhancement of lipid metabolism are the major, albeit non-specific, approaches to improve lipotoxic kidney damage. In the kidneys of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and tubule cells cultured with palmitic acid (PA), we observed a dramatic upregulation of the long intergenic non-coding RNA-p21 () through a p53-dependent mechanism.

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