Structural Variations Identified in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Chinese Population: A Systematic Review of Case-Control Studies.

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability characterised by the impairment of social interaction and communication ability. The alarming increase in its prevalence in children urged researchers to obtain a better understanding of the causes of this disease. Genetic factors are considered to be crucial, as ASD has a tendency to run in families.

Establishing a Health Information Technology for the Vaccination of National Institutes of Health Staff.

Introduction: Healthcare organizations faced unique operational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assuring the safety of both patients and healthcare workers in hospitals has been the primary focus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The NIH Vaccine Program (VP) with the Vaccine Management System (VMS) was created based on the commitment of NIH leadership, program leadership, the development team, and the program team; defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the VP and the VMS; and the NIH Clinical Center's (NIH CC) interdisciplinary approach to deploying the VMS.

Association of genetic polymorphisms with psychological symptoms in cancer: A systematic review.

Cancer patients suffer from a repertoire of symptoms, including such psychological and psychiatric symptoms as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Exploration of genetic factors that modify the risk and severity of these symptoms may facilitate the development of personalised care plans for managing these symptoms. This review aims to provide an overview on the variations in genes that may contribute to the occurrence and severity of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among cancer patients.

Association between genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 enzymes and survivals in women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tamoxifen is commonly prescribed for preventing recurrence in patients with breast cancer. However, the responses of the patients on tamoxifen treatment are variable. Cytochrome P450 genetic variants have been reported to have a significant impact on the clinical outcomes of tamoxifen treatment but no tangible conclusion can be made up till now.

Hypericin and Pheophorbide a Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Fighting MRSA Wound Infections: A Translational Study from In Vitro to In Vivo.

High prevalence rates of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and lack of effective antibacterial treatments urge discovery of alternative therapeutic modalities. The advent of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising alternative, composing rapid, nonselective cell destruction without generating resistance. We used a panel of clinically relevant MRSA to evaluate hypericin (Hy) and pheophobide a (Pa)-mediated PDT with clinically approved methylene blue (MB).

Exploration of Potential Genetic Biomarkers for Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.

Patients with heart failure (HF) often present with signs and symptoms that are often nonspecific and with a wide differential diagnosis, making diagnosis and prognosis of HF by clinical presentation alone challenging. Our knowledge on genetic diversity is rapidly evolving with high-throughput DNA sequencing technology, which makes a great potential for genetic biomarker development. The present review attempts to provide a comprehensive review on the modification of major genetic components in HF patients and to explore the potential application of these components as clinical biomarkers in the diagnosis and in monitoring the progress of HF.

Effects of a Rice Bran Dietary Intervention on the Composition of the Intestinal Microbiota of Adults with a High Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Pilot Randomised-Controlled Trial.

Rice bran exhibits chemopreventive properties that may help to prevent colorectal cancer (CRC), and a short-term rice bran dietary intervention may promote intestinal health via modification of the intestinal microbiota. We conducted a pilot, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial to assess the feasibility of implementing a long-term (24-week) rice bran dietary intervention in Chinese subjects with a high risk of CRC, and to examine its effects on the composition of their intestinal microbiota. Forty subjects were randomised into the intervention group ( = 19) or the control group ( = 20).

Association of early-life gut microbiome and lifestyle factors in the development of eczema in Hong Kong infants.

Childhood eczema is common but its prevalence is variable in different regions of the world. In this study, we explore the associations of various risk factors such as the microbiome, environment, lifestyle, diet and maternal stress with the development of eczema among infants in Hong Kong. Upon enrolment in the study, the infants' parents provided demographic data by self-reporting.

Process Evaluation and Experience Sharing on Utilizing Information Communication Technologies and Digital Games in a Large Community Family Health Event: Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project.

Information communication technologies (ICT) are increasingly used in health promotion, but integration is challenging and involves complex processes. Large community health promotion events are often held but the experiences and processes have rarely been evaluated and published. No reports have described and systematically evaluated an ICT-supported health promotion event using digital games.

Role of oxidative stress in clofazimine-induced cardiac dysfunction in a zebrafish model.

Background: Clofazimine (CFZ), a riminophenazine, is now commonly used in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. However, its use may be potentially associated with cardiac dysfunction in some individuals. In this study, the zebrafish heart, by merit of its developmental and genetic characteristics being in homology with that of human, was chosen as an animal model for evaluation of such dysfunction.

Effects of gut microbiome and environment on the development of eczema in Chinese infants.

Background: Eczema is a relapsing and persistent inflammatory skin disease affecting about one-fifth of children worldwide. As in other developed countries, the prevalence of this chronic disease in Hong Kong is approximately 30%. Moreover, the number of local cases reported has been on a rising trend since 1995.

Tamoxifen-related endocrine symptoms in Chinese patients with breast cancer: Study protocol clinical trial (SPIRIT Compliant).

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in females and disease recurrence remains a significant problem. To prevent recurrence, tamoxifen is prescribed for at least 5 years. However, among patients who receive tamoxifen, individual responses are highly variable.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide as One Hypothetical Link for the Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota and Cancer - Where We Are and Where Shall We Go?

Previous epidemiological studies had provided evidence for a link between the microbial dysbiosis and cancer, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC), yet the molecular basis of this link remains elusive. Recently, the association between plasma levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an oxidised form of trimethylamine (TMA), and risks of various cancers was demonstrated. The discovery could potentially provide an alternative explanation for the aforementioned link, as TMA production is attributed to intestinal bacteria.

Adapted Feeding Utensils for People With Parkinson's-Related or Essential Tremor.

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of four adapted feeding utensils with participants with essential tremor (ET) or tremor related to Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Participants performed a simulated feeding task under five conditions: (1) standard spoon (control condition), (2) weighted spoon with standard handle, (3) weighted spoon with built-up handle, (4) swivel spoon, and (5) Liftware Steady™ spoon, a product using active tremor cancellation technology. Participants rated each adapted utensil in comparison with the standard spoon regarding performance, ease of use, speed, neatness, and aesthetics.

Health in Action: Evaluation of a Participatory Grant-Making Project in East Harlem.

Decision-making processes that include resident input have been shown to be effective in addressing community needs. However, few examples discuss the role of a local health department in leading a participatory decision-making process. In 2016, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene implemented a participatory grant-making process to allocate grant funds to community organizations in East Harlem.

Regulation of TLR4 in silica-induced inflammation: An underlying mechanism of silicosis.

Silicosis is an incurable lung disease affecting millions of workers in hazardous occupations. It is caused by chronic exposure to the dust that contains free crystalline silica. Silica-induced lung damage occurs by several main mechanisms including cell death by apoptosis, fibrosis and production of cytokines.

Chromosome-level reference genome of the Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens, a model species for the study of aggression.

Background: Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens are notorious for their aggressiveness and accordingly have been widely used to study aggression. However, the lack of a reference genome has, to date, limited the understanding of the genetic basis of aggression in this species. Here, we present the first reference genome assembly of the Siamese fighting fish.

Novel Kunitz-like Peptides Discovered in the Zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum through Transcriptome Sequencing.

Palythoa caribaeorum (class Anthozoa) is a zoanthid that together jellyfishes, hydra, and sea anemones, which are venomous and predatory, belongs to the Phyllum Cnidaria. The distinguished feature in these marine animals is the cnidocytes in the body tissues, responsible for toxin production and injection that are used majorly for prey capture and defense. With exception for other anthozoans, the toxin cocktails of zoanthids have been scarcely studied and are poorly known.

Balance and Functional Outcomes for Older Community-Dwelling Adults Who Practice Tai Chi and Those Who Do Not: A Comparative Study.

Background And Purpose: A growing body of literature substantiates that Tai Chi is a form of exercise that may help older adults increase strength, improve balance, lower fall rates, and experience less fear of falling. Few studies, however, offer controlled experimental design and simultaneously investigate multiple factors known to contribute to fall risk. The purpose of this study was to compare performance on measures relating to fall risk (strength, balance, functional mobility, and fear of falling) in older community-dwelling adults who participated in a community-based Tai Chi program with a control group of their peers who had no Tai Chi training over the same time period.

RNA-Seq revealed ATF3-regulated inflammation induced by silica.

Background: Millions of workers are exposed to dust containing silica. Chronic and over-exposure to silica will lead to silicosis, which is an irreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease. The disordered physiological processes of silicosis consist of accumulation of silica particles in the alveoli of the lung.

Evaluating Efficacy and Safety of Combination Medication of Atorvastatin and a Herbal Formula Containing Salvia miltiorrhiza and Pueraria lobata on Hyperlipidemia.

Despite being a potent hypolipidemic drug, atorvastatin (AS) possesses certain adverse effects. Using AS and an herbal formula (Danshen and Gegen, DG) in combination may achieve potentiated hypolipidemic effects and also reduce its adverse effects. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of an AS and DG combination on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia.

Evaluation in zebrafish model of the toxicity of rhodamine B-conjugated crotamine, a peptide potentially useful for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Crotamine is defensin-like cationic peptide from rattlesnake venom that possesses anticancer, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Despite these promising biological activities, toxicity is a major concern associated with the development of venom-derived peptides as therapeutic agents. In the present study, we used zebrafish as a system model to evaluate the toxicity of rhodamine B-conjugated (RhoB) crotamine derivative.

Profiling of the silica-induced molecular events in lung epithelial cells using the RNA-Seq approach.

Silicosis is a prolonged, irreversible and incurable occupational disease, and there is a significant number of newly diagnosed cases every year in Hong Kong. Due to the long latency of the disease, the diagnosis can be missed until detailed clinical examination at a later stage. For a better control of this deadly disease, detailing the pro-inflammatory and fibrotic events in the macrophage would be instrumental in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and essential for the significant biomarkers discovery.