The Evaluation and Modification of Standard Airway Assessment Tests for Virtual Anaesthetic Assessments: A Pilot Study.

Virtual preoperative anaesthetic assessments can significantly reduce healthcare costs and improve patient convenience. The challenge with virtual consults is often the airway assessments, which screen for potentially difficult airways (PDAs). The objective of this pilot study was to determine the reliability of standard airway screening tests for detecting PDAs when conducted virtually.

The Impact of Metabolic Rewiring in Glioblastoma: The Immune Landscape and Therapeutic Strategies.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor characterized by extensive metabolic reprogramming that drives tumor growth and therapeutic resistance. Key metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, lactate production, and lipid metabolism, are upregulated to sustain tumor survival in the hypoxic and nutrient-deprived tumor microenvironment (TME), while glutamine and tryptophan metabolism further contribute to the aggressive phenotype of GBM. These metabolic alterations impair immune cell function, leading to exhaustion and stress in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells while favoring immunosuppressive populations such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and M2-like macrophages.

Evidence Suggesting That Alzheimer's Disease May Be a Transmissible Disorder.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by progressive neurodegeneration with the formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles in the brain parenchyma. The causes of AD have been attributed to a combination of age-related changes within the brain as well as genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. However, a recent study by Banerjee et al.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer in Singapore.

: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented lockdowns and social distancing measures, which may delay the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to review the impact of the pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of CRC. : Patients who underwent colonoscopy or surgery for CRC were included.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Global Breast Cancer Care: A Scoping Review of Applications, Outcomes, and Challenges.

Background: In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shown transformative potential in advancing breast cancer care globally. This scoping review seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of AI applications in breast cancer care, examining how they could reshape diagnosis, treatment, and management on a worldwide scale and discussing both the benefits and challenges associated with their adoption.

Methods: In accordance with PRISMA-ScR and ensuing guidelines on scoping reviews, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase were systematically searched from inception to end of May 2024.

Reflections on COVID-19: A Literature Review of SARS-CoV-2 Testing.

Although the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ended, there are still many important lessons we can learn, as the pandemic profoundly affected every area of laboratory practice. During the pandemic, extensive changes to laboratory staffing had to be implemented, as many healthcare institutions required regular screening of all healthcare staff. Several studies examined the effectiveness of different screening regimens and concluded that repeated testing, even with lower sensitivity tests, could rival the performance of gold-standard RT-PCR testing in the detection of new cases.

The Application of Terahertz Technology in Corneas and Corneal Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Terahertz (THz) waves reside in the electromagnetic spectrum between the microwave and infrared bands. In recent decades, THz technology has demonstrated its potential for biomedical applications. With the highly unique characteristics of THz waves, such as the high sensitivity to water and optimal spatial resolution coupled with the characteristics of the human cornea, such as its high water content, THz technology has been explored as a potential modality to assess corneas and corneal diseases.

Identification of novel rodent and shrew orthohepeviruses sheds light on hepatitis E virus evolution.

The family has seen an explosive expansion in its host range in recent years, yet the evolutionary trajectory of this zoonotic pathogen remains largely unknown. The emergence of rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) has introduced a new public health threat due to its potential for zoonotic transmission. This study investigated 2 464 wild small mammals spanning four animal orders, eight families, 21 genera, and 37 species in Yunnan Province, China.

Biomaterial-based strategies for primary human corneal endothelial cells for therapeutic applications: from cell expansion to transplantable carrier.

The treatment of corneal blindness due to corneal diseases and injuries often requires the transplantation of healthy cadaveric corneal endothelial graft tissue to restore corneal clarity and visual function. However, the limited availability of donor corneas poses a significant challenge in meeting the demand for corneal transplantation. As a result, there is a growing interest in developing strategies alleviate this unmet need, and one of the postulated approaches is to isolate and expand primary human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) for use in cell therapy.

Bioinformatics and molecular biology tools for diagnosis, prevention, treatment and prognosis of COVID-19.

Since December 2019, a new form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has emerged worldwide, caused by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease was called COVID-19 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Symptoms can vary from a common cold to severe pneumonia, hypoxemia, respiratory distress, and death.

Cardiac-targeted delivery of a novel Drp1 inhibitor for acute cardioprotection.

Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is a mitochondrial fission protein and a viable target for cardioprotection against myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Here, we reported a novel Drp1 inhibitor (DRP1i1), delivered using a cardiac-targeted nanoparticle drug delivery system, as a more effective approach for achieving acute cardioprotection. DRP1i1 was encapsulated in cubosome nanoparticles with conjugated cardiac-homing peptides (NanoDRP1i1) and the encapsulation efficiency was 99.

Reducing radiation-induced hypothyroidism by modified delineation of cervical lymphatic drainage area for nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by intensity-modulated radiation Therapy: 3 years' experience.

Background And Purpose: Radiation-induced hypothyroidism (RIHT) is a late complication of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We evaluated thyroid protection in NPC patients receiving IMRT using modified delineation (MD) of cervical lymphatic drainage areas, sparing the common carotid artery within the clinical target volume (CTV), to assess its impact on thyroid function and survival outcomes.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients without metastatic lymph nodes at levels III and IV who received neck irradiation.

Neonatal Feeding Practices and SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Neonates with Perinatal SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The risk of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection from the mother's own milk (MoM) in neonates who are exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 during the perinatal period remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review to assess the association between MoM feeding and neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates who were born to SARS-CoV-2-positive pregnant persons. PubMed Central and Google Scholar were searched for studies published by 14 March 2024 that reported neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection by feeding type.

The α-Synuclein Seeding Amplification Assay for Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. Currently, PD is incurable, and the diagnosis of PD mainly relies on clinical manifestations. The central pathological event in PD is the abnormal aggregation and deposition of misfolded α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein aggregates in the Lewy body (LB) in affected brain areas.

Evaluating the Impact of Multimodal Prehabilitation with High Protein Oral Nutritional Supplementation (HP ONS) with Beta-Hydroxy Beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) on Sarcopenic Surgical Patients-Interim Analysis of the HEROS Study.

Background: Multimodal prehabilitation programs, which may incorporate nutritional supplementation and exercise, have been developed to combat sarcopenia in surgical patients to enhance post-operative outcomes. However, the optimal regime remains unknown. The use of beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) has beneficial effects on muscle mass and strength.

Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)-Guided Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (iFAD).

We describe retrospectively the indications and outcomes of nine patients who present with varying degrees of deep posterior stromal scarring or endothelial failure following deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). These patients underwent a surgical strategy coined Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography Guided Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (iFAD). This strategy can be used to address suboptimal visual outcomes following primary DALK.

Machine Learning for Early Detection of Cognitive Decline in Parkinson's Disease Using Multimodal Biomarker and Clinical Data.

: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, primarily affecting the middle-aged to elderly population. Among its nonmotor symptoms, cognitive decline (CD) is a precursor to dementia and represents a critical target for early risk assessment and diagnosis. Accurate CD prediction is crucial for timely intervention and tailored management of at-risk patients.

Misleading Imaging Findings: Bilateral Mylohyoid Defect Presenting as a Submandibular Mass Due to Sublingual Gland Protrusion.

Background/objectives: The muscular base of the oral cavity is formed of the mylohyoid muscle, which forms a sling inferior to the tongue. The muscle is often discontinuous, and defects may include salivary tissues, fat, and/or blood vessels. Hypertrophic sublingual glands located in mylohyoid defects can be herniated into bilateral submandibular spaces and present as palpable masses.

Impact of a Community-Based Health Intervention on Health Knowledge, Lifestyle Goals, Dietary Practices, and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Multisite Cohort Study.

Studies on the effectiveness of community-based health interventions (CBHIs) in improving lifestyle practices among older adults are limited. This study evaluated the impact of a CBHI on health knowledge, lifestyle goal attainment, and practices among older adults in Singapore. Older adults (aged ≥60 years) were recruited from 29 senior recreation centres to participate in the "Wise and Well" programme, a 3-month CBHI designed to empower individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices.

The time-stamped effects of screen exposure on food intake in adults: A meta-analysis of experimental studies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine time-stamped impacts of screen exposure on food intake among healthy adults.

Methods: Four electronic databases were searched up to August 31, 2024, including ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. A meta-analysis of inverse variance was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) in food intake between watching and not watching screen groups, and groups with different screen contents (e.

Self-maintenance of zonal hepatocytes during adult homeostasis and their complex plasticity upon distinct liver injuries.

Hepatocytes are organized into distinct zonal subsets across the liver lobule, yet their contributions to liver homeostasis and regeneration remain controversial. Here, we developed multiple genetic lineage-tracing mouse models to systematically address this. We found that the liver lobule can be divided into two major zonal and molecular hepatocyte populations marked by Cyp2e1 or Gls2.

Genomic and transcriptomic profiling of radioresistant prostate and head and neck cancers implicate a BAHD1-dependent modification of DNA damage at the heterochromatin.

Radiotherapy is an integral modality in treating human cancers, but radioresistance remains a clinical challenge due to the involvement of multiple intrinsic cellular and extrinsic tumour microenvironment factors that govern radiosensitivity. To study the intrinsic factors that are associated with cancer radioresistance, we established 4 radioresistant prostate (22Rv1 and DU145) and head and neck cancer (FaDu and HK1) models by irradiating their wild-type parentals to 90 Gy, mimicking the fractionated radiotherapy schema that is often using in the clinic, and performed whole exome and transcriptome sequencing of the radioresistant and wild-type models. Comparative genomic analyses detected the enrichment of mismatch repair mutational signatures (SBS6, 14, 15, 20) across all the cell lines and several non-synonymous single nucleotide variants involved in pro-survival pathways.

SWATH-MS insights on sodium butyrate effect on mAbs production and redox homeostasis in CHO cells.

Sodium butyrate (NaBu), well-known as a histone deacetylase inhibitor and for its capacity to impede cell growth, can enhance the production of a specific protein, such as an antibody, in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell cultures. In this study, two CHO cell lines, namely K1 and DG44, along with their corresponding mAb-producing lines, K1-Pr and DG44-Pr, were cultivated with or without NaBu. A SWATH-based profiling method was employed to analyze the proteome.

Interaction effects of exposure to air pollution and social activities on cognitive function in middle-aged and older Chinese adults based on a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Although there have been many studies on the relationship between ambient air pollution and cognitive functioning in developed countries, there are no studies focusing on the interaction between ambient air pollution and social activities. This study aims to examine interactive effects of ambient air pollution and social activities on cognitive function in Chinese middle-aged and older.

Methods: This study used nationally representative longitudinal survey data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2013, 2015 and 2018.