Large-Scale Pharmacogenomics Analysis of Patients With Cancer Within the 100,000 Genomes Project Combining Whole-Genome Sequencing and Medical Records to Inform Clinical Practice.

Purpose: As part of the 100,000 Genomes Project, we set out to assess the potential viability and clinical impact of reporting genetic variants associated with drug-induced toxicity for patients with cancer recruited for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as part of a genomic medicine service.

Methods: Germline WGS from 76,805 participants was analyzed for pharmacogenetic (PGx) variants in four genes (, , , ) associated with toxicity induced by five drugs used in cancer treatment (capecitabine, fluorouracil, mercaptopurine, thioguanine, irinotecan). Linking genomic data with prescribing and hospital incidence records, a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) was performed to identify whether phenotypes indicative of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were enriched in drug-exposed individuals with the relevant PGx variants.

Sialadenopapillary Ductal Tumors: Unifying the Spectrum of Sialadenoma Papilliferum-like Tumors With Low Malignant Potential.

Sialadenoma papilliferum is a tumor characterized by surface papillary projections and glandular/microcystic proliferation at the lesion base. Cases in which surface involvement is absent have been termed "sialadenoma papilliferum-like intraductal papillary tumor." Similar tumors that are present in the mandible have been termed "tubulopapillary hidradenoma-like tumor of the mandible.

Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders among patients with Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunct therapy for treating sleep disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: We conducted comprehensive searches in eight databases from inception through September 2023, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Wanfang Database. The objective was to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating HBOT's effectiveness in alleviating sleep disorder symptoms in PD patients as an adjunct therapy.

Ca-sensing receptor-TRP channel-mediated Ca signaling: Functional diversity and pharmacological complexity.

The Ca-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor activated by elevated concentrations of extracellular Ca, and was initially known for its regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) release. Ubiquitous expression of CaSR in different tissues and organs was later noted and CaSR participation in various physiological functions was demonstrated. Accumulating evidence has suggested that CaSR functionally interacts with transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are mostly non-selective cation channels involved in sensing temperature, pain and stress.

Scalability of nanopore osmotic energy conversion.

Artificial nanofluidic networks are emerging systems for blue energy conversion that leverages surface charge-derived permselectivity to induce voltage from diffusive ion transport under salinity difference. Here the pivotal significance of electrostatic inter-channel couplings in multi-nanopore membranes, which impose constraints on porosity and subsequently influence the generation of large osmotic power outputs, is illustrated. Constructive interference is observed between two 20 nm nanopores of 30 nm spacing that renders enhanced permselectivity to osmotic power output via the recovered electroneutrality.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for Parkinson's disease with neuropsychiatric symptoms: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common non-motor symptoms among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and significantly impact their overall quality of life detrimentally. Several studies have reported the clinical effect of acupuncture therapy in treating NPS in PD. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the potential inclusion of acupuncture therapy as an integral component of complementary treatment for PD with NPS.

The effect of epigenetic aging on neurodegenerative diseases: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Aging has always been considered as a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, but there are individual differences and its mechanism is not yet clear. Epigenetics may unveil the relationship between aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods: Our study employed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design to assess the potential causal association between epigenetic aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Enhanced Nanoparticle Sensing in a Highly Viscous Nanopore.

Slowing down translocation dynamics is a crucial challenge in nanopore sensing of small molecules and particles. Here, it is reported on nanoparticle motion-mediated local viscosity enhancement of water-organic mixtures in a nanofluidic channel that enables slow translocation speed, enhanced capture efficiency, and improved signal-to-noise ratio by transmembrane voltage control. It is found that higher detection rates of nanoparticles under larger electrophoretic voltage in the highly viscous solvents.

Communities of Care Approach: Developing a Place-based Model of Care and Building Partnerships in the Communities in Central Singapore.

The population in Singapore is ageing, adding pressure to community care as the health and social needs of its residents increase. This has accelerated the pace at which Regional Health Systems adopt and deliver its population health strategies from early prevention, chronic disease management, crisis care to end-of-life care. To this end, the Central Health Integrated Care Network (ICN) began its journey to develop Communities of Care (CoCs) with other health and social care partners to meet the needs of residents in the Central Zone of Singapore.

A systematic scoping review of group reflection in medical education.

Background: Reviewing experiences and recognizing the impact of personal and professional views and emotions upon conduct shapes a physician's professional and personal development, molding their professional identity formation (PIF). Poor appreciation on the role of reflection, shortages in trained tutors and inadequate 'protected time' for reflections in packed medical curricula has hindered its integration into medical education. Group reflection could be a viable alternative to individual reflections; however, this nascent practice requires further study.

Efficacy of acupuncture (Jin's three-needle) on motor symptoms and anxiety in patients with Parkinson's disease: protocol for a multicentre, randomised, assessor-blinded clinical trial.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) has a significant impact on a substantial number of individuals in China. Notably, 31% of patients with PD also grapple with the additional burden of anxiety. This dual challenge of managing both PD and anxiety underscores the complexity of the condition and the diverse range of symptoms patients may experience.

Awareness of Dementia Care Amongst the Staff Working at Day-care Centers and Nursing Homes in Macao.

Background: The staff working at day-care centers and nursing homes are in a key frontline for early detection of older people living with dementia, however, whether the staff were well prepared and if they were appropriately trained were still little known.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and the validated questionnaires exploring the awareness of dementia care, in terms of knowledge, attitude and preventive practice domain, were given to the staff working at day-care centers and nursing homes in Macao.

Results: 272 samples were approached and scores of knowledge was 76.

What Matters to Chinese and Korean American Dementia Caregivers: Navigating Cultural Influences in Dementia Care from Caregivers' Perspectives.

Background: Chinese and Korean Americans are among the fastest-growing minority groups in the US but face disparities in income and limited English proficiency, leading to health inequities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) care.

Objective: This study aims to understand cultural influences in ADRD care from the perspectives of Chinese and Korean American caregivers to inform culturally sensitive support for caregivers in Asian immigrant populations.

Methods: We conducted a study that was part of a broader project aimed at informing the cultural adaptation of the NYU Caregiver Intervention-Enhanced Support (NYUCI-ES) program specifically for Chinese and Korean American caregivers managing multiple chronic conditions.

Acupuncture therapy for Parkinson's disease: a case report demonstrating symptomatic improvement without medication.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) often necessitates immediate medical intervention following diagnosis. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in clinical investigations assessing the efficacy of acupuncture in PD, with many studies reporting positive outcomes. Ethical guidelines commonly endorse pharmaceutical therapies for PD, leading ongoing research to combine acupuncture with standard drug-based treatments.

Synthesis of 3,3'-dihydroxy-2,2'-diindan-1,1'-dione derivatives for tautomeric organic semiconductors exhibiting intramolecular double proton transfer.

To investigate potential applications of the 3,3'-dihydroxy-2,2'-biindan-1,1'-dione (BIT) structure as an organic semiconductor with intramolecular hydrogen bonds, a new synthetic route under mild conditions is developed based on the addition reaction of 1,3-dione to ninhydrin and the subsequent hydrogenation of the hydroxyl group. This route affords several new BIT derivatives, including asymmetrically substituted structures that are difficult to access by conventional high-temperature synthesis. The BIT derivatives exhibit rapid tautomerization by intramolecular double proton transfer in solution.

Protocol for preparation of solid-state multipore osmotic power generators.

Nanopore is an emerging energy-harvesting device that can create electricity directly from salt solutions. Here, we present a protocol for the preparation and structure optimization of solid-state multipore osmotic power generators. We describe steps for sculpting multiple pores at well-defined positions in a thin SiNx membrane using electron-beam lithography.

Using the Johns Hopkins ACG Case-Mix System for population segmentation in a hospital-based adult patient population in Singapore.

Objective: Population health management involves risk characterisation and patient segmentation. Almost all population segmentation tools require comprehensive health information spanning the full care continuum. We assessed the utility of applying the ACG System as a population risk segmentation tool using only hospital data.

Efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of Parkinson's disease-related constipation (PDC): A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in treating Parkinson's disease-related constipation (PDC).

Materials And Methods: This was a randomized, controlled trial in which patients, outcome assessors, and statisticians were all blinded. Seventy-eight eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the manual acupuncture (MA) or sham acupuncture (SA) groups and received 12 sessions of treatment over a 4-week period.

Depression and anxiety in older adults with cancer: Systematic review and meta-summary of risk, protective and exacerbating factors.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the risk factors of depression and anxiety in older adults with cancer.

Method: This PRISMA-adherent systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42022372747) involved a systematic database search for prospective and retrospective cohort studies.

Results: We included 33 cohort studies with 31 evaluating depression and seven evaluating anxiety.

Regulating Nonlinear Ion Transport through a Solid-State Pore by Partial Surface Coatings.

Using functional nanofluidic devices to manipulate ion transport allows us to explore the nanoscale development of blue energy harvesters and iontronic building blocks. Herein, we report on a method to alter the nonlinear ionic current through a pore by partial dielectric coatings. A variety of dielectric materials are examined on both the inner and outer surfaces of the channel with four different patterns of coated or uncoated surfaces.

A systematic scoping review of reflective writing in medical education.

Background: Reflective writing (RW) allows physicians to step back, review their thoughts, goals and actions and recognise how their perspectives, motives and emotions impact their conduct. RW also helps physicians consolidate their learning and boosts their professional and personal development. In the absence of a consistent approach and amidst growing threats to RW's place in medical training, a review of theories of RW in medical education and a review to map regnant practices, programs and assessment methods are proposed.

Sensitivity of Ca-sensing receptor-transient receptor potential-mediated Ca influx to extracellular acidity in bEND.3 endothelial cells.

Ca-sensing receptors (CaSRs) are G protein-coupled receptors activated by elevated concentrations of extracellular Ca. In our previous works, we showed protein and functional expression of CaSR in mouse cerebral endothelial cell (EC) (bEND.3); the CaSR response (high Ca-elicited cytosolic [Ca] elevation) was unaffected by suppression of phospholipase C but in part involved Ca influx through transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) channels.

Interference of electrochemical ion diffusion in nanopore sensing.

Stable and fast-responding ionic current is a prerequisite for reliable measurements of small objects with a nanopore. Here, we report on the interference of ion diffusion kinetics at liquid-electrode interfaces in nanopore sensing. Using platinum as electrodes, we observed a slow and large decrease in the ionic current through a nanopore in a salt solution suggestive of the considerable influence of the growing impedance at the liquid-metal interfaces via Cottrell diffusion.