Applications of bile acids as biomaterials-based modulators, in biomedical science and microfluidics.

Chronic disorders such as diabetes mellitus are associated with multiple organ dysfunction, including retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and vascular disease. Lifelong subcutaneous insulin injections are currently the only treatment option for patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, and it poses numerous challenges. Since the breakthrough achieved from the Edmonton protocol in the year 2000, there has been important research to investigate whether islet cell transplantation can achieve long-term normoglycemia in patients without the need for insulin.

Sustainability of Weight Loss Through Smartphone Apps: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on Anthropometric, Metabolic, and Dietary Outcomes.

Background: Evidence on the long-term effects of weight management smartphone apps on various weight-related outcomes remains scarce.

Objective: In this review, we aimed to examine the effects of smartphone apps on anthropometric, metabolic, and dietary outcomes at various time points.

Methods: Articles published from database inception to March 10, 2022 were searched, from 7 databases (Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science) using forward and backward citation tracking.

Effect of a Popular Web Drama Video Series on HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Singapore: Community-Based, Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are at disproportionately higher risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). While HIV/STI testing rates among GBMSM are increasing worldwide, they remain suboptimal in a variety of settings. While many studies have attempted to evaluate the efficacy of a variety of community-based campaigns, including peer and reminder-based interventions on HIV/STI testing, however few have attempted to do so for a web drama series.

Breast Cancer Information Behaviours and Needs among Singapore Women: A Qualitative Study.

Background: There is growing evidence on cancer communication and its impact on cancer-related health outcomes; however, little is known about how women gain access to and use breast cancer information in the multi-ethnic Asian context. This paper aimed to explore the breast cancer information acquisition behaviours and needs among Singapore women who attended a community-based health organisation for mammography screening. Methods, design and setting: Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 37 racially diverse, aged 50 and above women, who have received mammography screening within the past two years.

Social capital and chemsex initiation in young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: the pink carpet Y cohort study.

Background: Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) are especially vulnerable to the risks associated with sexualized substance use, or 'chemsex'. Engaging in chemsex established as a major risk factor for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) acquisition, and is thus a public health issue of increasing urgency. This paper attempts to explore the association between measures of social capital and patterns of sexualized substance use among a sample of YMSM in Singapore.

Effect of a web drama video series on HIV and other sexually transmitted infection testing among gay, bisexual and queer men: study protocol for a community-based, pragmatic randomised controlled trial in Singapore: the People Like Us (PLU) Evaluation Study.

Introduction: Gay, bisexual and queer (GBQ) men are at disproportionately higher risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). While HIV/STI testing rates among GBQ men are increasing worldwide, they remain suboptimal in a variety of settings.

Methods And Analysis: The study is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate an online video series developed by a community-based organisation in Singapore for GBQ men.

Aggregation and protein corona formation on gold nanoparticles affect viability and liver functions of primary rat hepatocytes.

Aim: We examined the impact of aggregation and protein corona formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the cytotoxicity, uptake and metabolism, specifically urea and albumin synthesis, of primary rat hepatocytes.

Materials & Methods: The AuNPs were synthesized via citrate reduction and the human serum protein corona was preformed on the AuNPs. Primary hepatocytes were isolated from male Wistar rats via two-step in situ collagenase perfusion method, and were dosed with both citrate-capped (AuNP-Cit) and protein corona coated AuNPs (AuNP-Cor).

Nanoparticle interface to biology: applications in probing and modulating biological processes.

Nanomaterials can be considered as "pseudo" subcellular entities that are similar to endogenous biomolecules because of their size and ability to interact with other biomolecules. The interaction between nanoparticles and biomolecules gives rise to the nano-bio interface between a nanoparticle and its biological environment. This is often defined in terms of the biomolecules that are present on the surface of the nanoparticles.