Publications by authors named "Lin V"

Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has reduced COVID-19 infection, though facial nerve palsy (FNP) has emerged as a notable side effect of the vaccine. We evaluated the current literature on the clinical presentation and outcomes of FNP related to COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: A comprehensive search of seven databases was conducted for studies up to January 2023.

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Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medicine that can reduce HIV transmission. Given the disproportionate impact of HIV on minority communities, health equity is an important consideration in PrEP research. We aimed to assess equity reporting in systematic reviews of PrEP using the PROGRESS Plus framework.

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: Uveal melanomas (UMs) are rare but often deadly malignancies that urgently require viable treatment options. UMs often exhibit tumour heterogeneity, with macroscopic and microscopic differences in morphology between different regions of the same tumour. However, to date, the clinical significance of this and how it may help guide personalised therapy have not been realised.

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Background: We implemented a quality improvement project to transition from routine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling to indication-based sampling in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients with an external ventricular drain (EVD).

Methods: Forty-seven patients were assessed across 2 epochs: routine (n=22) and indication-based (n=25) CSF sampling. The primary outcome was the number of CSF samples, and secondary outcomes included cost reductions and ventriculostomy-associated infections.

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Cellulitis is a common skin infection often requiring antibiotic treatment. However, misdiagnosis and inappropriate antibiotic use contribute to antibiotic resistance and healthcare costs. We aimed to evaluate the impact of dermatology consultation on treatment modification in patients with suspected cellulitis and to determine whether dermatologists' evaluation can be used as a reference to diagnose suspected cellulitis.

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( ) is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), the leading cause of infectious-disease related deaths worldwide. TB infections present as a spectrum from active to latent disease. In the human host, faces hostile environments, such as nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and low pH.

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Objectives: Compare two remote programming methods as a clinical service for user satisfaction, ease of use, preparation time and accessibility.

Method: Method 1 (Portable Laptop): A 'Programming Kit' including laptop was shipped to cochlear implant users' homes ( = 20). The audiologist at the implant center used remote desktop control of this laptop to adjust subjects' speech processors.

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Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) metastasizing to the parotid gland can cause facial nerve (FN) dysfunction secondary to direct invasion, perineural spread, or surgical ablation. This study aims to characterize the prevalence of preoperative FN involvement in metastatic cSCC to the parotid and identify risk factors resulting in FN sacrifice.

Methods: Patients with parotid metastases from cSCC, treated surgically with parotidectomy with curative intent were identified through a retrospective cohort analysis of a prospectively maintained Sydney Head and Neck database from 1992 to 2021.

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Objective: We performed a systematic literature review to identify and describe pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design: Systematic literature review.

Methods: We searched PubMed for studies evaluating pharmacist-led ASP interventions in LMICs from January 1, 2012, to November 4, 2023.

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Androgen deprivation therapies, the key treatment options for prostate cancer, have shown resistance and disease progression in many patients receiving these treatments. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new targetable pathways. Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (Eps8) is one such potential target.

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Objectives: We assessed the effectiveness of heterologous vaccination strategy in immunocompromised individuals regarding COVID-19 outcomes, comparing it to homologous approaches.

Design: Systematic literature review/meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 1, 2020 to September 29, 2023.

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Recognition of antigens by T cell receptors (TCRs) is a key component of adaptive immunity. Understanding the structures of these TCR interactions provides major insights into immune protection and diseases, and enables design of therapeutics, vaccines and predictive modeling algorithms. Previously, we released TCR3d, a database and resource for structures of TCRs and their recognition.

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Interactions between plants and soil microbial communities that benefit plant growth and enhance nutrient acquisition are driven by the selective release of metabolites from plant roots, or root exudation. To investigate these plant-microbe interactions, we developed a photoaffinity probe based on sorgoleone (rgoleone iazirine lkyne for hotoffinity abeling, SoDA-PAL), a hydrophobic secondary metabolite and allelochemical produced in root exudates. We applied SoDA-PAL to the identification of sorgoleone-binding proteins in SO1, a potential plant growth-promoting microbe isolated from sorghum rhizosphere soil.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, notably in ophthalmology, where its ability to interpret images and data can significantly enhance disease diagnosis and patient care. Recent developments in oculomics, the integration of ophthalmic features to develop biomarkers for systemic diseases, have demonstrated the potential for providing rapid, non-invasive methods of screening leading to enhance in early detection and improve healthcare quality, particularly in underserved areas. However, the widespread adoption of such AI-based technologies faces challenges primarily related to the trustworthiness of the system.

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COVID-19 laboratory diagnosis primarily relies on molecular tests, highly sensitive during early infection stages with high viral loads. As the disease progresses, sensitivity decreases, requiring antibody detection. Since the beginning of the pandemic, serological tests have been developed and made available in Brazil, but their diagnostic performance varies.

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Despite significant progress in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), resistance to therapy remains challenging. NOTCH1 activation, common in CLL, confers adverse prognosis. This study explores the impact of NOTCH1 signalling on venetoclax sensitivity in vitro.

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2-Benzylbenzimidazoles, or "nitazenes", are a class of novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) that are increasingly being detected alongside fentanyl analogs and other opioids in drug overdose cases. Nitazenes can be 20× more potent than fentanyl but are not routinely tested for during postmortem or clinical toxicology drug screens; thus, their prevalence in drug overdose cases may be under-reported. Traditional analytical workflows utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) often require additional confirmation with authentic reference standards to identify a novel nitazene.

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Background: Patients with IBD are at increased risk of persistent opioid use, wherein surgery plays an important role.

Objective: Identify risk factors for persistent postoperative opioid use in patients with IBD undergoing GI surgery and describe in-hospital postoperative opioid treatment.

Design: This was a retrospective observational cohort study.

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Article Synopsis
  • The mucociliary transport apparatus plays a crucial role in lung health by using coordinated cilia movement to clear mucus and particles through a process called metachrony.
  • Researchers hypothesized that disruptions in calcium signaling would hinder metachrony and reduce mucociliary transport (MCT), and they tested this using imaging techniques on human and ferret tracheae.
  • Results showed that metachrony significantly enhances MCT by 48% in both species and that calcium signaling is essential for maintaining this coordinated movement.
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Background: Adrenal insufficiency in patients with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is treated with glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Control of adrenal-derived androgen excess usually requires supraphysiologic glucocorticoid dosing, which predisposes patients to glucocorticoid-related complications. Crinecerfont, an oral corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor antagonist, lowered androstenedione levels in phase 2 trials involving patients with CAH.

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Background: Hearing loss is known to be an independent risk factor for inadequate health literacy. The objective of this study was to assess the level of health literacy among patients undergoing cochlear implantation to determine areas for improvement in delivery of patient information.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the otology-neurotology clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

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Background: The implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols has resulted in improved postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery. The evidence regarding feasibility and impact on outcomes in surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is limited.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study, comparing patient trajectories before and after implementing an IBD-specific ERAS protocol at Zealand University Hospital.

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