The association of physical function and physical performance with DNA methylation clocks in oldest-old living in Singapore - the SG90 cohort.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation (DNAm) clocks estimate biological age according to DNA methylation. This study investigated the associations between measures of physical function and physical performance and ten DNAm clocks in the oldest-old in Singapore. The SG90 cohort included a subset of community-dwelling oldest-old from the Singapore Chinese Health Study (SCHS) and Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study (SLAS).

Measuring physical activity, automaticity and memory are determinants for physical activity promotion among physical therapists in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation: a cross-sectional survey.

Purpose: The study aims to identify determinants of implementation behavior among physical therapists frequently promoting physical activity (PA) in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey incorporating the Determinants of Implementation Behavior Questionnaire (DIBQ) and anchored by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was sent to physical therapists working in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation practices in Australia and Singapore. All items on the DIBQ were scored on a 7-point Likert scale from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree.

Incense Use and the Risk of Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

Background: Epidemiologic studies have shown that daily exposure to incense smoke is associated with greater risk of cardiovascular mortality, which suggests that chronic exposure to incense could be linked to atherosclerosis. We studied the association between home incense use and the risk of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), the most severe outcome of peripheral arterial disease.

Methods: We used data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, which recruited 63,257 Chinese participants 45-74 years old from 1993-1998.

Relationship between handgrip strength and timed up-and-go test on hospitalization costs in older adults: a population-based study.

Background: Weak handgrip strength and slow timed up-and-go (TUG) time are known risk factors for hospitalization among older adults; however, few studies have investigated the relationships between these physical tests and future hospitalization costs.

Methods: We used data from 13,613 participants in the population-based Singapore Chinese Health Study who underwent assessment for handgrip strength and TUG time at a mean age of 74 years. Hospitalization costs for the subsequent year, among those who survived for at least one year thereafter, were ascertained via linkage with administrative healthcare finance data.

Bilayer 3D co-culture platform inducing the differentiation of normal fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblast like cells: New in vitro source to obtain cancer-associated fibroblasts.

This study presents a novel in vitro bilayer 3D co-culture platform designed to obtain cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)-like cells. The platform consists of a bilayer hydrogel structure with a collagen/polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel for fibroblasts as the upper layer and an alginate hydrogel for tumor cells as the lower layer. The platform enabled paracrine interactions between fibroblasts and cancer cells, which allowed for selective retrieval of activated fibroblasts through collagenase treatment for further study.

Bio-Orchestration of Cellular Organization and Human-Preferred Sensory Texture in Cultured Meat.

For cultured meat to effectively replace traditional meat, it is essential to develop scaffolds that replicate key attributes of real meat, such as taste, nutrition, flavor, and texture. However, one of the significant challenges in replicating meat characteristics with scaffolds lies in the considerable gap between the stiffness preferred by cells and the textural properties desired by humans. To address this issue, we focused on the microscale environment conducive to cell growth and the macro-scale properties favored by humans.

Validity of Pleth Variability Index to Predict Fluid Responsiveness in Patients Undergoing Cervical Spine Surgery in the Modified Prone Position.

: The modified prone position, which is an alteration of the standard prone position, reduces cardiac preload. Dynamic variables including stroke volume variation (SVV), pulse pressure variation (PPV), and pleth variability index (PVI) are reliable predictors for fluid responsiveness during surgery. To the best of our knowledge, no studies assessing dynamic variables for fluid responsiveness have been conducted in the modified prone position.

Reconfiguring van der Waals Metal-Semiconductor Contacts via Selenium Intercalation/Deintercalation Post-Treatment.

To achieve the commercialization of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, the identification of an appropriate combination of 2D semiconductors and three-dimensional (3D) metals is crucial. Furthermore, understanding the van der Waals (vdW) interactions between these materials in thin-film semiconductor processes is essential. Optimizing these interactions requires precise control over the properties of the vdW interface through specific pre- or post-treatment methods.

Reproductive factors and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: results from the Asia Cohort Consortium.

Background: There are scarce data on risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in Asian populations. Our goal was to advance knowledge on reproductive -related risk factors for EOC in a large population of Asian women.

Methods: This study used pooled individual data from baseline questionnaires in 11 prospective cohorts (baseline years, 1958-2015) in the Asia Cohort Consortium.

Corticosteroids in critically ill patients with community-acquired pneumonia: A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis.

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adjunct systemic corticosteroid therapy in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Method: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published from the databases' inception to February 2024. All RCTs evaluating the effect of systemic corticosteroids on mortality, compared to standard of care among adult bacterial CAP patients admitted to ICU were included.

Gelatin nanofibers coated with hyaluronic acid as a mesenchymal stromal cell scaffold for corneal regeneration.

Electrospun gelatin nanofibers coated with hyaluronic acid (GelNF-HA) were synthesized as a scaffold for delivering human corneal mesenchymal stromal cells (C-MSCs) directly to deep corneal injuries. Aligned GelNFs were produced by electrospinning, crosslinked using vapor of glutaraldehyde, coated with HA, and crosslinked with EDC/NHS. The GelNF-HA was characterized by SEM, mechanical, and optical properties.

Feasibility and accuracy of pediatric core temperature measurement using an esophageal probe inserted through the gastric lumen of a second-generation supraglottic airway device: a prospective observational study.

Background: Accurate core temperature measurement in children is crucial; however, measuring esophageal temperature (TE) using a supraglottic airway device (SAD) can be challenging. Second-generation SADs, which have a gastric channel, can measure TE, and reduce gastric air volume. This study aimed to compare TE, measured using a probe inserted through the SAD gastric channel, with tympanic membrane (TTM) and forehead (TZHF) temperatures, measured using a zero-heat-flux cutaneous thermometer, with rectal temperature (TR).

Non-Exercise-Based Interventions to Support Healthy Aging in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Objectives: Healthy aging is a multidimensional construct, where various factors play a role in influencing well-being in older age. Many studies heavily emphasize the importance of physical activity, negating other aspects such as psychosocial or cognitive influences. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of non-exercise-based interventions on the quality of life (QoL) and life satisfaction of community-dwelling, healthy older adults.

"It's just getting the word out there": Self-disclosure by people with young-onset dementia.

Background: Sharing a dementia diagnosis with others is a prerequisite to accessing important support for social, cognitive, and physical activity. However, due to the stigma associated with dementia, individuals may be hesitant to disclose their diagnosis. Despite the importance of this issue, there is limited research on personal experiences with sharing one's diagnosis.

Impact of Functional Status at the Time of Transplant on Short-Term Pediatric Lung Transplant Outcomes in the USA.

Purpose: Poor functional status is associated with pediatric lung transplant (LTx) waitlist mortality. We investigate how pre-transplant functional status affects post-LTx survival.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Registry data.