The relationships between sleep and adiposity amongst multi-ethnic Asian populations: a cross-sectional analysis of the Health for Life in Singapore (HELIOS) study.

Background: Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality have been associated with obesity. Asian populations report shorter sleep duration compared to other groups. We therefore aimed to explore the relationships between sleep duration, sleep quality, dozing, daytime napping, snoring, insomnia and adiposity in a multi-ethnic Asian population, and investigate the potential contribution of disturbed sleep to the risk of obesity amongst Asian populations.

Adiposity and metabolic health in Asian populations: an epidemiological study using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in Singapore.

Background: Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and related cardiometabolic disturbances are increasing rapidly in the Asia-Pacific region. We investigated the contribution of excess adiposity, a key determinant of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk, to unfavourable cardiometabolic profiles among Asian ethnic subgroups.

Methods: The Health for Life in Singapore (HELIOS) Study is a population-based cohort comprising multiethnic Asian men and women living in Singapore, aged 30-84 years.

Contemporary and historical human migration patterns shape hepatitis B virus diversity.

Infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for approximately 296 million chronic cases of hepatitis B, and roughly 880,000 deaths annually. The global burden of HBV is distributed unevenly, largely owing to the heterogeneous geographic distribution of its subtypes, each of which demonstrates different severity and responsiveness to antiviral therapy. It is therefore crucial to the global public health response to HBV that the spatiotemporal spread of each genotype is well characterized.

Donor Cell Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Granulomatous Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review.

The patient reported here underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) caused by biallelic mutations of the NCF1 gene. Two years later, he developed AML, which was unexpected and was recognized via sex-mismatched chromosomes as deriving from the donor cells; the patient was male, and the donor was his sister. Donor cell leukemia (DCL) is very rare, and it had never been reported in patients with CGD after HSCT.

Investigating causal relationships between obesity and skin barrier function in a multi-ethnic Asian general population cohort.

Background: Skin diseases impact significantly on the quality of life and psychology of patients. Obesity has been observed as a risk factor for skin diseases. Skin epidermal barrier dysfunctions are typical manifestations across several dermatological disturbances.

Looking into the effects of co-contamination by micro(nano)plastics in the presence of other pollutants on irrigated edible plants.

To address water shortage challenges, treated wastewater is used to meet the demand for irrigation water in several countries worldwide. Considering the presence of pollutants in treated wastewater, its use for land irrigation might have an impact in the environment. This review article focuses on the combined effects (or potential joint toxicity) of microplastics (MPs)/nanoplastics (NPs) and other environmental contaminants present in treated wastewater on edible plants after irrigation.

Adiposity impacts cognitive function in Asian populations: an epidemiological and Mendelian Randomization study.

Background: Obesity and related metabolic disturbances including diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia predict future cognitive decline. Asia has a high prevalence of both obesity and metabolic disease, potentially amplifying the future burden of dementia in the region. We aimed to investigate the impact of adiposity and metabolic risk on cognitive function in Asian populations, using an epidemiological analysis and a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study.

Wastewater-based monitoring of illicit drugs in Cyprus by UPLC-MS/MS: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outbreak and spread of COVID-19 impacted through various ways the lives of millions of humans globally. In this work, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was applied to investigate the effect of the actions taken by the Republic of Cyprus to confine COVID-19 on the use of illicit stimulant drugs. Daily influent samples were collected from the six main wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of the country i) before lockdown (3-9 April 2019), ii) during lockdown (21-27 April 2020), iii) during the post-lockdown period (14-20 July 2020), and, iv) during each season of the following year (20-26 April 2021, 19-25 July 2021, 11-17 October 2021, 25 December 2021-2 January 2022), and analyzed for amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine.

Reference equations for evaluation of spirometry function tests in South Asia, and among South Asians living in other countries.

Background: There are few data to support accurate interpretation of spirometry data in South Asia, a major global region with a high reported burden of chronic respiratory disease.

Method: We measured lung function in 7453 healthy men and women aged ≥18 years, from Bangladesh, North India, South India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as part of the South Asia Biobank study. First, we assessed the accuracy of existing equations for predicting normal forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV) and FEV/FVC ratio.

The Clinical Impact of Methotrexate-Induced Stroke-Like Neurotoxicity in Paediatric Departments: An Italian Multi-Centre Case-Series.

Introduction: Stroke-like syndrome (SLS) is a rare subacute neurological complication of intrathecal or high-dose (≥500 mg) Methotrexate (MTX) administration. Its clinical features, evoking acute cerebral ischaemia with fluctuating course symptoms and a possible spontaneous resolution, have elicited interest among the scientific community. However, many issues are still open on the underlying pathogenesis, clinical, and therapeutic management and long-term outcome.

Reconstruction of the origin and dispersal of the worldwide dominant Hepatitis B Virus subgenotype D1.

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV-D1 is the dominant subgenotype in the Mediterranean basin, Eastern Europe, and Asia. However, little is currently known about its evolutionary history and spatio-temporal dynamics.

FANCA, TP53, and del(5q)/RPS14 alterations in a patient with T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and concomitant Fanconi anemia and Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

We traced the neoplastic history (from 5 to 11 years of age) of a child with concomitant Fanconi anemia and Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Interestingly, the patient developed a highly malignant T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which does not represent the typical tumor type in the two aforementioned syndromes, presumably due to the underlying genomic instability. By using a combination of molecular and immunohistochemical approaches, we characterized the accumulation of multiple genetic alterations in a single patient, with both germline (parentally inherited biallelic FANCA variants and a likely de novo nonsense variant in TP53) and somatic (TP53 loss of heterozygosity and 5q interstitial deletion) contributions.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in infants and young children.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) in infants and young children (<6 years) and to compare them with the older pediatric population affected by PRES.

Methods: we retrospectively reviewed records of 111 children (0-17 years) diagnosed with PRES from 2000 to 2018 in 6 referral pediatric hospitals in Italy. The clinical, radiological and EEG features, as well as intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate and outcome of children aged <6 years were compared to those of older children (6-17 years).

Management of PTLD After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Immunological Perspectives.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are life-threatening complications of iatrogenic immune impairment after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In the pediatric setting, the majority of PTLDs are related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and present as B-cell lymphoproliferations. Although considered rare events, PTLDs have been increasingly observed with the widening application of HSCT from alternative sources, including cord blood and HLA-haploidentical stem cell grafts, and the use of novel agents for the prevention and treatment of rejection and graft-vs.

Vitamin B12 deficiency and altered one-carbon metabolites in early pregnancy is associated with maternal obesity and dyslipidaemia.

Vitamin B12 (B12) is a micronutrient essential for one-carbon (1C) metabolism. B12 deficiency disturbs the 1C cycle and alters DNA methylation which is vital for most metabolic processes. Studies show that B12 deficiency may be associated with obesity, insulin resistance and gestational diabetes; and with obesity in child-bearing women.

Novel hepatitis B virus subgenotype A8 and quasi-subgenotype D12 in African-Belgian chronic carriers.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a public health threatening virus and is classified into more than eight genotypes and more than forty subgenotypes.

Objectives: To characterize and propose novel strains assigned as A8 and D12.

Methods: Four out of 133 HBV complete genome sequences, isolated from Belgian chronic carriers with African origin were phylogenetically analyzed.

Neonatal vesiculopustular eruption in Down syndrome and transient myeloproliferative disorder: A case report and review of the literature.

Transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) is a spontaneously resolving clonal myeloid proliferation characterized by circulating megakaryoblasts in the peripheral blood that is restricted to neonates with Down syndrome (DS) or those with trisomy 21 mosaicism. Cutaneous manifestations of TMD are observed in only 5% of affected neonates and present as a diffuse eruption of erythematous, crusted papules, papulovesicles, and pustules, often with prominent and initial facial involvement. We describe the case of a male infant with DS and TMD, associated with a vesiculopustular eruption, which appeared on day 36 of life, and review previous cases.

Maternal antenatal daytime sleepiness and child neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive development.

Background: The prevalence of sleep problems among pregnant women is over 50%, and daytime sleepiness is among the most common sleep problems. Previous studies have associated antenatal sleep problems with adverse maternal health and neonatal outcomes, but the consequences of antenatal sleep problems and particularly daytime sleepiness on child psychological development have not been assessed prospectively.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study including 111 mother-child dyads, we examined the associations of maternal daytime sleepiness during pregnancy, assessed at 17 and 28 weeks of gestation using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, with child neuropsychiatric problems and neuropsychological development, assessed with mother-rated questionnaires and individually administered neuropsychological tests, at child age 2.