Publications by authors named "Lau M"

Point mutations in the ligand binding domain of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) are linked to breast fibroepithelial tumor development, but their role in solid tumorigenesis is unclear. In this study, we assessed the functional effects of known RARα mutations on retinoic acid signaling using biochemical and cellular assays. All tested mutants exhibited reduced transcriptional activity compared to wild-type RARα and showed a dominant negative effect, a feature associated with developmental defects and tumor formation.

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This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a questionnaire on patient acceptance of orthodontic retainers. The original questionnaire was forward- and backward-translated, followed by four validity tests (content validity, face validity, construct validity, criterion validity) and two reliability tests (test-retest reliability, internal consistency). Content validity was assessed by nine orthodontists who appraised the questionnaire's representativeness, relevance, clarity, and necessity.

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Background: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare inherited arrhythmia disorder characterized by ventricular arrhythmia triggered by adrenergic stimulation.

Case Presentation: A 9-year-old boy presented with convulsions following physical exertion. Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (VT) during a treadmill test led to the diagnosis of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).

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: The emergence and dissemination of carbapenem-resistant organisms, particularly and , pose a significant threat to healthcare systems worldwide. This retrospective study aims to characterise carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) and carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) strains in a teaching hospital and to determine the risk factors associated with patients' in-hospital mortality. : A total of 90 CRAB and 63 CRKP were included in this study.

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Background/objectives: Consumers of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are susceptible to dysglycemia. The aim was to characterize 24-h glucose profiles of HPN consumers using continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and to identify factors that influence glucose.

Subjects/methods: Glucose profiles of 20 adults with short bowel syndrome (SBS) without diabetes were assessed using the Freestyle Libre Pro CGM.

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Article Synopsis
  • Measles is a complex infectious disease that poses significant public health challenges, and traditional models often fail to effectively capture its intricate dynamics during outbreaks.
  • This study introduces a high-dimensional neural network model (SFNN) that demonstrates better forecasting accuracy compared to a classical mechanistic model (TSIR) when analyzing measles data from England and Wales between 1944-1965.
  • The findings suggest that combining mechanistic and machine learning approaches, like using TSIR to enhance Physics-Informed-Neural-Networks (PINN), can further improve predictions and understand underlying disease dynamics without rigid assumptions.
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  • * A novel approach was developed for the ICD-10-AM in Victoria, Australia, aggregating 12,716 codes into 406 Clinical Diagnosis Group (CDG) sets based on clinical features and associated health risks.
  • * This methodology revealed that 82.2% of unique diagnoses and 91.2% of codes linked to death or complications fit within the new CDG sets, enhancing the understanding and analysis of healthcare data over a 36-month period.
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  • * The article presents nine prevalent myths about ICU nutrition and recommends starting enteral feeding immediately upon ICU admission unless contraindicated, emphasizing early and adequate nutrition as vital for recovery.
  • * It suggests that enteral nutrition should continue for most patients post-surgery and among those with severe conditions, as this can enhance recovery and reduce complications, especially prior to extubation.
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Background: Cognitively combined/engaged physical activity (CC/CE-PA) has been used as an intervention for children/adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: This review aimed to quantify the effects of CC/CE-PAs on enhancing executive and physical function and alleviating ADHD symptoms in children/adolescents with ADHD. An extensive literature search of online databases identified 32 studies (75 % high-quality studies), of which 22 (pooled n=968) were included in the meta-analysis.

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: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer globally. Radiotherapy is a common treatment strategy for patients but factors such as gene expressions and molecular mechanism effects may affect tumor radioresponse. The aim of this review is to systematically identify genes suggested to have molecular mechanism effects on the radioresponsiveness of CRC patients.

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Liver diseases cause millions of deaths globally. Current treatments are often limited in effectiveness and availability, driving the search for alternatives. Herbal preparations offer potential hepatoprotective properties.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Residency programs offer structured research support, but many new practitioners still find it intimidating to start research independently.
  • * The article outlines strategies for integrating research into practice, including collaboration, professional opportunities, and planning, to help new pharmacists successfully incorporate scholarly activities early in their careers.
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Objective: Many adolescent patients view their rheumatologist as their primary physician, and therefore it is important to screen youth for sexual activity and substance use as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We implemented an electronic social history questionnaire (SHQ) and alert system to identify at-risk behaviors in adolescents with rheumatic disease.

Methods: The SHQ was administered to adolescents 14 years and older with a goal to survey patients' sexual activity and alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.

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VIVALDI (ISRCTN14447421) is a government-funded longitudinal open observational cohort study of staff and residents in care homes for older people in England. The study aimed to describe epidemiology (including seroprevalence) and immune responses to COVID-19 in a subset of care homes, in the context of extremely high mortality in this setting, in the first 12-18 months of the pandemic. Data linkage to routine health data was undertaken for all staff and residents and a subset of individuals who consented to sequential blood sampling to investigate SARS-CoV-2 immunity.

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  • * Four NC-CRKP isolates were sequenced and analyzed, revealing different sequence types and the presence of non-carbapenemase β-lactamase, but no carbapenemase genes were found.
  • * Resistance mechanisms were linked to chromosomal mutations affecting efflux pump proteins and porin loss, highlighting the need for whole-genome sequencing in monitoring carbapenem resistance in clinical settings.
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, a traditional medicine in Asian countries, has been used to prevent and treat various ailments for centuries. (synonym ), also known as purple Lingzhi, is a species that is currently underutilised when compared to (Lingzhi). However, in recent decades, this mushroom has garnered significant attention due to its ethnomedicinal uses, especially in Southeast Asia regions like Malaysia.

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  • - The study introduces the Zebra II system, an advanced device designed for electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis in zebrafish, which includes features like temperature sensors and a perfusion system for better control during experiments.
  • - It successfully extends ECG data collection time to 1 hour, allowing for more detailed analysis of the effects of anesthetics and temperature on zebrafish heart activity, compared to the traditional 5-minute limit.
  • - The cloud-based automated analysis system enables simultaneous examination of four zebrafish, enhancing the efficiency of drug testing and cardiovascular research, and improving the detection of drug-induced heart issues in these models.
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Water quality degradation by decommissioned mining sites is an environmental issue recognized globally. In the Ore mountains of Central Europe, a wide array of contaminants is released by abandoned under- and aboveground mining sites threatening the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater resources. Here, we focus on the less-explored internal pollution processes within these mines involving organic carbon and microorganisms in trace metal(loid)s mobilization processes.

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Background: The administration of repository corticotropin injection (Acthar Gel) via a single-dose prefilled injector (SelfJect) is intended to provide a simple, ergonomic alternative to traditional injection. Iterative human factors (HF) studies were conducted to identify potential use deviations and ensure appropriate device use.

Research Design And Methods: This article presents seven formative studies, a validation study (with prior pilot validation studies), and a supplemental validation study with participants including lay users, patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

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Background: Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare cancer with surgical options that affect patients' quality-of-life. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are uncommonly utilized in this cohort despite their several patient-centered benefits and there are recommendations to further digitalize PROMs. This prospective, population-based study aimed to report the development and feasibility of a novel electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) questionnaire for patients with PeCa.

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In the near future, pedestrians will face highly automated vehicles on the roads. Highly automated vehicles (HAVs) should have safety-enhancing communication tools to guarantee traffic safety, e.g.

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Equitable and accessible education in life sciences, bioengineering, and synthetic biology is crucial for training the next generation of scientists, fostering transparency in public decision-making, and ensuring biotechnology can benefit a wide-ranging population. As a groundbreaking technology for genome engineering, CRISPR has transformed research and therapeutics. However, hands-on exposure to this technology in educational settings remains limited due to the extensive resources required for CRISPR experiments.

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