Publications by authors named "Vanessa Jing Xin Phua"

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are an extensively studied cell type in clinical trials due to their easy availability, substantial ex vivo proliferative capacity, and therapeutic efficacy in numerous pre-clinical animal models of disease. The prevailing understanding suggests that their therapeutic impact is mediated by the secretion of exosomes. Notably, MSC exosomes present several advantages over MSCs as therapeutic agents, due to their non-living nature and smaller size.

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Introduction: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, and it often results in depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive impairment in survivors. There is a lack of community-based cognitive interventions for stroke survivors. This pilot single trial aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived effectiveness of a community-based cognitive intervention program called Train-Your-Brain (TYB) for stroke survivors and caregivers.

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Yttrium-90 (Y) microspheres are widely used for the treatment of liver-dominant malignant tumors. They are infused via catheter into the hepatic artery branches supplying the tumor under fluoroscopic guidance based on pre-therapy angiography and Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (Tc-MAA) planning. However, at present, these microspheres are suspended in radiolucent media such as dextrose 5% (D5) solution.

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Nuclear imaging is a powerful non-invasive imaging technique that is rapidly developing in medical theranostics. Nuclear imaging requires radiolabeling isotopes for non-invasive imaging through the radioactive decay emission of the radionuclide. Nuclear imaging probes, commonly known as radiotracers, are radioisotope-labeled small molecules.

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Successful translation of laboratory-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platforms to clinical applications requires multiplex and ultratrace detection of small biomarker molecules from a complex biofluid. However, these biomarker molecules generally exhibit low Raman scattering cross sections and do not possess specific affinity to plasmonic nanoparticle surfaces, significantly increasing the challenge of detecting them at low concentrations. Herein, we demonstrate a "confine-and-capture" approach for multiplex detection of two families of urine metabolites correlated with miscarriage risks, 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol-3α-glucuronide and tetrahydrocortisone.

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