Correlation of the treatment sensitivity of patient-derived organoids with treatment outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (SOTO): protocol for a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Organoids have been successfully used in several areas of cancer research and large living biobanks of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) have been developed from various malignancies. The characteristics of the original tumour tissue such as mutation signatures, phenotype and genetic diversity are well preserved in organoids, thus showing promising results for the use of this model in translational research. In this study, we aim to assess whether we can generate PDOs from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples and whether PDOs can be used to predict treatment sensitivity in HNSCC patients as well as to explore potential biomarkers.

Neratinib could be effective as monotherapy or in combination with trastuzumab in HER2-low breast cancer cells and organoid models.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that patients with HER2-low breast cancers do not benefit from trastuzumab treatment although the reasons remain unclear.

Methods: We investigated the effect of trastuzumab monotherapy and its combination with different HER2 targeting treatments in a panel of breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived organoids (PDOs) using biochemical methods and cell viability assays.

Results: Compared to sensitive HER2 over-expressing (IHC3 + ) breast cancer cells, increasing doses of trastuzumab could not achieve IC50 in MDA-MB-361 (IHC 2 + FISH + ) and MDA-MB-453 (IHC 2 + FISH-) cells which showed an intermediate response to trastuzumab.

Self-assembled monolayer-based blue perovskite LEDs.

Blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have shown external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of more than 10%; however, devices that emit in the true blue-those that accord with the emission wavelength required for Rec. 2100 primary blue-have so far been limited to EQEs of ~6%. We focused here on true blue emitting CsPbBr colloidal nanocrystals (c-NCs), finding in early studies that they suffer from a high charge injection barrier, a problem exacerbated in films containing multiple layers of nanocrystals.

Lower Limb Muscles' Activation during Ascending and Descending a Single Step-Up Movement: Comparison between In water and On land Exercise at Different Step Cadences in Young Injury-Free Adults.

(1) Background: Forward step-up (FSU) simulates the stance phase in stair ascension. With the benefits of physical properties of water, aquatic FSU exercise may be more suitable for patients with lower limb weakness or pain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of progressive steps per min on the surface electromyography (sEMG) of gluteus maximus (GM), biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and gastrocnemius (GA), when performing FSU exercise with different steps per min in water and on land.

Psychological well-being and coping strategies of healthcare students during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the psychological well-being, and stress coping strategies, as well as their relationships, among healthcare students during prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An online questionnaire was used to assess psychological well-being (the Ryff Scale) and coping strategies (the brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory [COPE] Scale). COPE scores were categorized to identify the primary coping strategies: "approach" indicates more active coping strategies; "avoidant" indicates more dysfunctional and maladaptive mechanisms.

Keystone predators govern the pathway and pace of climate impacts in a subarctic marine ecosystem.

Predator loss and climate change are hallmarks of the Anthropocene yet their interactive effects are largely unknown. Here, we show that massive calcareous reefs, built slowly by the alga over centuries to millennia, are now declining because of the emerging interplay between these two processes. Such reefs, the structural base of Aleutian kelp forests, are rapidly eroding because of overgrazing by herbivores.

Life Functioning in Chinese Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Hong Kong.

Evidence on self-care ability and occupational outcomes in Chinese survivors of childhood cancer is clearly lacking. This study aims to identify clinical and behavioral factors associated with poor life functioning in this population. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at an ambulatory clinic of a public hospital in Hong Kong.

Characteristics and effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for older adults living in residential care: a systematic review.

Objectives: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression and anxiety for older adults living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) needs to accommodate the care needs of residents and the circumstances of RACFs. This systematic review examines the delivery and content characteristics of these interventions, in relation to participant satisfaction, staff appraisal, uptake rate, attrition rate, and treatment effectiveness. Such a review could provide important information for the development of future CBT-based interventions.

Characteristics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Older Adults Living in Residential Care: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: The prevalence rates of depressive and anxiety disorders are high in residential aged care settings. Older adults in such settings might be prone to these disorders because of losses associated with transitioning to residential care, uncertainty about the future, as well as a decline in personal autonomy, health, and cognition. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious in treating late-life depression and anxiety.

Implementation of an interprofessional team-based learning program involving seven undergraduate health and social care programs from two universities, and students' evaluation of their readiness for interprofessional learning.

Background: Interprofessional learning is gaining momentum in revolutionizing healthcare education. During the academic year 2015/16, seven undergraduate-entry health and social care programs from two universities in Hong Kong took part in an interprofessional education program. Based on considerations such as the large number of students involved and the need to incorporate adult learning principles, team-based learning was adopted as the pedagogy for the program, which was therefore called the interprofessional team-based learning program (IPTBL).

Automatic measurement of pennation angle and fascicle length of gastrocnemius muscles using real-time ultrasound imaging.

Muscle imaging is a promising field of research to understand the biological and bioelectrical characteristics of muscles through the observation of muscle architectural change. Sonomyography (SMG) is a technique which can quantify the real-time architectural change of muscles under different contractions and motions with ultrasound imaging. The pennation angle and fascicle length are two crucial SMG parameters to understand the contraction mechanics at muscle level, but they have to be manually detected on ultrasound images frame by frame.

Development of a chitosan-based nanoparticle formulation for delivery of a hydrophilic hexapeptide, dalargin.

Nanoparticle based delivery systems can offer opportunities for targeting, controlled release, and enhanced stability of their drug, protein, or gene therapy payload. This study investigated the use of chitosan in combination with the ionic additives sulfobutyl-ether-7-beta-cyclodextrin (SB-CD) or SB-CD/dextran sulfate (SB-CD/DS) mixture in comparison with chitosan: DS in the formulation of nanoparticles incorporating the hexapeptide dalargin. The physical characteristics (particle size, zeta potential), entrapment and loading efficiency, and release of dalargin were quantified.

Construction of Multi-dimensional Arterial Health Status Map based on Molecular and Clinical Measurements, Fuzzy System and Data Cubes.

Atherosclerosis results from inflammatory processes involving biomarkers, such as lipid profile, haemoglobin A1C, oxidative stress, coronary artery calcium score and flow-mediated endothelial response through nitric oxide. This paper proposes a health status coefficient, which comprehends molecular and clinical measurements concerning atherosclerosis to provide a measure of arterial health. An arterial health status map is produced to map the multi-dimensional measurements to the health status coefficient.

Reliability and validity of the Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills (Non-Motor)--Revised for Chinese preschoolers.

Objective: The reliability and validity of the Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills (Non-Motor)-Revised (TVPS-R) were examined for its usefulness on Hong Kong Chinese preschoolers.

Method: Content validity was evaluated by six experts. Test-retest reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were examined on 66 typically developing preschoolers while concurrent validity was examined on these preschoolers plus 52 preschoolers with visual-perception difficulties.