The role of polo-like kinases 2 in the proteasomal and lysosomal degradation of alpha-synuclein in neurons.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the brain stem. PD is mostly sporadic, but familial PD (FPD) cases are recorded in different studies. The first gene mutation that is linked to FPD is α-synuclein (α-syn).

: Explainable deep learning for multistep biomedical prediction in longitudinal data.

Many diseases are the end outcomes of multifactorial risks that interact and increment over months or years. Timeseries AI methods have attracted increasing interest given their ability to operate on native timeseries data to predict disease outcomes. Instantiating such models in risk stratification tools has proceeded more slowly, in part limited by factors such as structural complexity, model size and explainability.

Watershed characteristics and chemical properties govern methyl mercury concentrations within headwater streams of boreal forests in Ontario, Canada.

Methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in boreal headwater streams are influenced by complex natural processes and disturbances such as forestry management. Understanding drivers of MeHg within boreal streams in Ontario, Canada, is of particular interest as there are legacy MeHg concerns. However, models accounting for the complexity of underlying processes have not yet been developed.

Glaukomflecken: The classic and uncommon ocular sign after acute primary angle closure attack.

The widespread of upper respiratory tract symptoms caused by COVID-19 infections has increased the prescription and usage of antitussive and nasal decongestants. We presented a case of ocular acute primary angle closure attack with increased intraocular pressure after COVID-19 therapy. Glaukomflecken, the classic and uncommon ocular sign after acute primary angle closure attack, was demonstrated in this visual case discussion.

Spine-GFlow: A hybrid learning framework for robust multi-tissue segmentation in lumbar MRI without manual annotation.

Most learning-based magnetic resonance image (MRI) segmentation methods rely on the manual annotation to provide supervision, which is extremely tedious, especially when multiple anatomical structures are required. In this work, we aim to develop a hybrid framework named Spine-GFlow that combines the image features learned by a CNN model and anatomical priors for multi-tissue segmentation in a sagittal lumbar MRI. Our framework does not require any manual annotation and is robust against image feature variation caused by different image settings and/or underlying pathology.

Interventions that improve adherence to antihypertensive medications in coronary heart disease patients: a systematic review.

A systematic review is conducted to identify effective interventions that improved adherence to antihypertensive drugs among patients with coronary heart diseases (CHDs). Primary studies designed to measure interventions to improve adherence on antihypertensive drugs in patients with CHD were included. Three online databases, COCHRANE, EMBASE and MEDLINE, were searched for primary studies published in English from 2005 to 2019.

Acupuncture for chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Background: Chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) is very common; it is defined as pain without a recognizable etiology that lasts for more than three months. Some clinical practice guidelines suggest that acupuncture can offer an effective alternative therapy. This review is a split from an earlier Cochrane review and it focuses on chronic LBP.

Comprehensive Exome Analysis of Immunocompetent Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer Models Reveals Patient Relevant Landscapes.

Immunocompetent metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) models, although scarce, can help understanding cancer progression and therapy responses in vivo. Their comprehensive genome characterizations are essential for translational research. We first exome-sequenced the two most widely used spontaneous metastatic immunocompetent models, namely AT-84 and SCC VII, followed by comprehensive genomic analyses with three prior-sequenced models (MOC2, MOC2-10, and 4MOSC2), together with patient tumors for utility assessment.

Is bridge to surgery stenting a safe alternative to emergency surgery in malignant colonic obstruction: a meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

Background: Despite studies showing superior results in terms of reduced stoma rate and higher primary anastomosis rate, the safety of bridge to surgery stenting (BTS stent) for left-sided malignant colonic obstruction, especially in oncological terms, remains a concern.

Aim: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate whether BTS stent is a safe alternative to emergency surgery (EmS).

Methods: Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing BTS stent and EmS for left-sided colonic obstruction caused by primary cancer of the colon, up to Sep 2018, were retrieved from the Pubmed, Embase database, clinical trials registry of U.

Epidemiological characteristics of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR): Results of a case series of fifty patients from Bangladesh.

Background: The epidemiology of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) in Bangladesh has never been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological characteristics of HSCR in Bangladesh.

Methods: Data from fifty patients were collected prospectively from two hospitals in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

A cross-sectional study on compliance with topical glaucoma medication and its associated socioeconomic burden for a Chinese population.

Aim: To estimate the overall drug compliance for local Chinese glaucoma patients on long-term topical treatment.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Fifty-seven primary glaucoma patients from the subspecialty clinic of a publicly-funded tertiary care hospital in Hong Kong completed a questionnaire on compliance with topical glaucoma medication, attitude towards glaucoma and therapy and vision related quality of life.

Medication Adherence Measures: An Overview.

WHO reported that adherence among patients with chronic diseases averages only 50% in developed countries. This is recognized as a significant public health issue, since medication nonadherence leads to poor health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Improving medication adherence is, therefore, crucial and revealed on many studies, suggesting interventions can improve medication adherence.

A Pan-Cancer Review of ALK Mutations: Implications for Carcinogenesis and Therapy.

The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a druggable target for cancer therapy. By and large, the oncogenic activation of ALK in human tumors is known to occur by gene rearrangement (e.g.

Quantum dots for quantitative imaging: from single molecules to tissue.

Since their introduction to biological imaging, quantum dots (QDs) have progressed from a little known, but attractive, technology to one that has gained broad application in many areas of biology. The versatile properties of these fluorescent nanoparticles have allowed investigators to conduct biological studies with extended spatiotemporal capabilities that were previously not possible. In this review, we focus on QD applications that provide enhanced quantitative information concerning protein dynamics and localization, including single particle tracking and immunohistochemistry, and finish by examining the prospects of upcoming applications, such as correlative light and electron microscopy and super-resolution.

Draft Genome Sequence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus CUHK_188 (ST188), a Health Care-Associated Bacteremic Isolate from Hong Kong.

We report the draft genome sequence of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain designated CUHK_188, isolated from a bacteremic patient undergoing treatment at a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong. This strain belongs to sequence type 188 (ST188), with spa type t189 and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type V.

Measurement science in the circulatory system.

The dynamics of the cellular and molecular constituents of the circulatory system are regulated by the biophysical properties of the heart, vasculature and blood cells and proteins. In this review, we discuss measurement techniques that have been developed to characterize the physical and mechanical parameters of the circulatory system across length scales ranging from the tissue scale (centimeter) to the molecular scale (nanometer) and time scales of years to milliseconds. We compare the utility of measurement techniques as a function of spatial resolution and penetration depth from both a diagnostic and research perspective.

Motives, beliefs and attitudes towards waterpipe tobacco smoking: a systematic review.

Background: In spite of the negative health effects of waterpipe tobacco smoking, its use is becoming more common. The objective of this study is to systematically review the medical literature for motives, beliefs and attitudes towards waterpipe tobacco smoking.

Methods: We electronically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the ISI the Web of Science in January 2012.

Sputum microbiota in tuberculosis as revealed by 16S rRNA pyrosequencing.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global threat in the 21st century. Traditional studies of the disease are focused on the single pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent studies have revealed associations of some diseases with an imbalance in the microbial community.

Attitudes of healthcare students and professionals toward patients with physical disability: a systematic review.

Objective: Negative healthcare provider attitudes toward patients with physical disabilities may challenge the delivery of quality care to patients. The objective of this study was to systematically review published studies examining the attitudes of healthcare students and professionals toward patients with physical disabilities.

Design: In October 2011, we searched four electronic databases using the OVID platform.

Polymerase activity of hybrid ribonucleoprotein complexes generated from reassortment between 2009 pandemic H1N1 and seasonal H3N2 influenza A viruses.

Background: A novel influenza virus (2009 pdmH1N1) was identified in early 2009 and progressed to a pandemic in mid-2009. This study compared the polymerase activity of recombinant viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complexes derived from 2009 pdmH1N1 and the co-circulating seasonal H3N2, and their possible reassortants.

Results: The 2009 pdmH1N1 vRNP showed a lower level of polymerase activity at 33°C compared to 37°C, a property remenisence of avian viruses.

Should social savvy equal good spatial skills? The interaction of social skills with spatial perspective taking.

Real-world perspective-taking problems frequently involve interactions among individuals, suggesting a potential social element to this seemingly spatial problem. Previous studies have suggested that the agency of the target in a perspective-taking task might influence reasoning. This hypothesis is tested directly by manipulating whether one takes the perspective of a potential agent or an object.

Clinical spectrum of human rhinovirus infections in hospitalized Hong Kong children.

Background: Human rhinovirus (HRV) is classified into A, B, and C genogroups. HRVs cause mild upper respiratory infections, but HRV-C was recently found to be a major cause of asthma exacerbation in whites. This study elucidated disease spectrum of HRV infections among Hong Kong children hospitalized with respiratory illnesses.