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.

Relationship between handgrip strength and timed up-and-go test on hospitalization costs in older adults: a population-based study.

Background: Weak handgrip strength and slow timed up-and-go (TUG) time are known risk factors for hospitalization among older adults; however, few studies have investigated the relationships between these physical tests and future hospitalization costs.

Methods: We used data from 13,613 participants in the population-based Singapore Chinese Health Study who underwent assessment for handgrip strength and TUG time at a mean age of 74 years. Hospitalization costs for the subsequent year, among those who survived for at least one year thereafter, were ascertained via linkage with administrative healthcare finance data.

Development of a health equity tool in resuscitation sciences and application to current research in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest.

Background: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly used for adults with cardiac arrest (CA) refractory to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). Concerns exist that adding ECPR could worsen health inequities, defined as differences in health outcomes that are unfair or unjust. Current guidelines do not explicitly address this issue.

Reverse Time-to-Death as Time-Scale in Time-to-Event Analysis for Studies of Advanced Illness and Palliative Care.

Incidence of adverse outcome events rises as patients with advanced illness approach end-of-life. Exposures that tend to occur near end-of-life, for example, use of wheelchair, oxygen therapy and palliative care, may therefore be found associated with the incidence of the adverse outcomes. We propose a concept of reverse time-to-death (rTTD) and its use for the time-scale in time-to-event analysis based on partial likelihood to mitigate the time-varying confounding.

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.

Multi-locus inherited neoplasia alleles syndromes in cancer: implications for clinical practice.

The popularity of multi-gene testing has identified more families with two or more pathogenic variants (PV) in cancer predisposition genes, also known as 'MINAS' (multilocus inherited neoplasia alleles syndromes). They are at risk of suboptimal treatment and management as little on this topic is known. We conducted a systematic review of published MINAS cases within cancer predisposition genes to understand their association with more severe presentations.

A legume-enriched diet improves metabolic health in prediabetes mediated through gut microbiome: a randomized controlled trial.

Healthy dietary patterns rich in legumes can improve metabolic health, although their additional benefits in conjunction with calorie restriction have not been well-established. We investigated effects of a calorie-restricted, legume-enriched, multicomponent intervention diet compared with a calorie-restricted control diet in 127 Chinese prediabetes participants, living in Singapore. The study was a 16-week, single-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial (n = 63 intervention group (IG), n = 64 control group (CG); mean ± SD age 62.

Depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China: The interaction of physical activity and sleep duration.

Background: Previous research on the interaction of physical activity and sleep on depressive symptoms was mostly cross-sectional or conducted with children or young adults. This study examines the main and interactive associations of physical activity and sleep duration with depressive symptoms over a 3-year period among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.

Methods: Data from 4269 Chinese adults aged 45 or older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were used.

Persistence of Retinal Fluid after Anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Topic: To evaluate the prognosis of retinal fluid resolution in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) after initiating treatment in terms of the prevalence of eyes with retinal fluid, the proportion of eyes which never achieve a fluid-free retina throughout the course of treatment, and the relationship between retinal fluid and visual acuity outcome.

Clinical Relevance: Retinal fluid often persists or recurs after initiating treatment for nAMD. It is unclear what proportion never achieve fluid resolution throughout their treatment course.

Characterisation of pregnancy-induced alterations in apolipoproteins and their associations with maternal metabolic risk factors and offspring birth outcomes: a preconception and longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Apolipoproteins as an integral part of lipoproteins are crucial for the transport and metabolism of lipids. However, there is a lack of longitudinal studies to quantify the concentrations of maternal apolipoproteins from preconception to postpartum and their associations with maternal metabolic health and offspring birth outcomes.

Methods: Quantification of apolipoproteins was performed on maternal plasma samples (N = 243 trios) collected at preconception, 26-28 weeks' pregnancy, and three months postpartum in the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohort study.

Non-viral, high throughput genetic engineering of primary immune cells using nanostraw-mediated transfection.

Transfection of proteins, mRNA, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transgenes into immune cells remains a critical bottleneck in cell manufacturing. Current methods, such as viruses and bulk electroporation, are hampered by low transfection efficiency, unintended transgene integration, and significant cell perturbation. The Nanostraw Electro-actuated Transfection (NExT) technology offers a solution by using high aspect-ratio nanostraws and localized electric fields to precisely deliver biomolecules into cells with minimal disruption.

Evaluation of Liver Volume Estimation Methods in Living Donor Liver Transplant: CT Volumetry vs MeVis, With Comparison of Open and Laparoscopic Surgery.

Background: Accurately assessing graft volume is crucial for donor and recipient safety in living donor liver transplantation. This can be performed using manual computed tomography volumetry (CTvol) or semiautomated methods (MeVis). We aimed to compare CTvol and MeVis in estimating the actual graft weight during LDLT, and analyse any differences in weight between laparoscopic and open donor hepatectomy.

Osteoporosis in men-East and West: Can the twain meet? A perspective from Asia.

Osteoporosis in men remains a significantly underrecognized condition, with notable differences in bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk between Asian and Western populations. Despite 30% of hip fractures globally occurring in men, they are less likely to be diagnosed or treated for osteoporosis, especially in resource-limited settings. Given these disparities, a deeper understanding of osteoporosis epidemiology and treatment efficacy in men is essential, particularly in Asian populations.

Gait speed assessment in confined spaces: Development of a novel automated 4-m static-start test to measure dynamic-start gait speed.

Objectives: To promote standardization and feasible measurements of gait speed across the field, we developed a device that used light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology to measure gait speed from a standing-start testing procedure conducted on a 4-m total walkway. We compared this automated (LiDAR-based) standing-start 4-m gait speed test (AS-4MG) with automated and manual (stopwatch-based) dynamic-start 4-m gait speed tests (AD-4MG and MD-4MG, respectively) on between-method agreement, measurement repeatability, and predictive validity with functional outcomes.

Methods: A sample of 48 community-dwelling adults (mean [SD], 69 [9] years) participated in this method comparison study.

Protocol of a decisional intervention for older adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia and their caregivers: UR-GOAL 3.

Introduction: Therapeutic advances have allowed more adults aged ≥60 years with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to receive life-prolonging treatments, with improvement in overall survival. In contrast to other cancers, the onset of AML is often sudden, high-risk treatment decisions must be made quickly, and survival is often compromised due to aging-related conditions (e.g.

Case management in Emergency Care: Impact Evaluation of the CARED Program.

Background: Hospitals face mounting pressure to reduce unplanned utilization amid rising healthcare demands from an aging population. The Case management for At-Risk patients in the Emergency Department (CARED) program is among the first ED transitional care strategies to focus on both frail older adults and Emergency Department (ED) re-attenders to reduce acute hospital utilization. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the CARED program in reducing hospital (re)admissions and ED re-attendances within 30- and 60-days post-discharge.

Towards a Theory of Compassion Fatigue in Palliative Care and Oncology: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Background: In their care of terminally ill patients, palliative care physicians and oncologists are increasingly predisposed to physical and emotional exhaustion, or compassion fatigue (CF). Challenges faced by physicians include complex care needs; changing practice demands, and sociocultural contextual factors. Efforts to better understand CF have, however, been limited.

Consensus and guidelines on diagnosis and management of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) from the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS).

A panel of 21 international experts are formed by the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society to work out the consensus and guidelines on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). PCV is a common subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and is more prevalent in Asian populations. Recent advancement in imaging technology allows greater understanding of the disease process of PCV.

Aspirin after completion of standard adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer (ASCOLT): an international, multicentre, phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Aspirin is a simple, globally available medication that has been shown to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of aspirin in the secondary prevention of colorectal cancer.

Methods: This phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 66 centres across 11 countries and territories (ten in Asia-Pacific; one in the Middle East).

Vitamin D-related genetic variants and prostate cancer risk in Black men.

Background: The relationship between vitamin D and prostate cancer has primarily been characterized among White men. Black men, however, have higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates, chronically low circulating vitamin D levels, and ancestry-specific genetic variants in vitamin D-related genes. Here, we examine critical genes in the vitamin D pathway and prostate cancer risk in Black men.

Perceptions of community healthcare workers on the use of teledentistry for seniors in Singapore: A qualitative study.

Objective: This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators surrounding the implementation of TDOCS from Community Health Workers (CHW)'s perspective before TDOCS implementation.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted through semistructured interviews with a purposive sampling of CHWs from partner nursing homes and home care teams. A French framework outlining barriers to asynchronous oral teleconsultation adoption was used to develop the topic guide for this study.

In Silico Evaluation of Algorithm-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Integrating algorithm-based clinical decision support (CDS) systems poses significant challenges in evaluating their actual clinical value. Such CDS systems are traditionally assessed via controlled but resource-intensive clinical trials.

Objective: This paper presents a review protocol for preimplementation in silico evaluation methods to enable broadened impact analysis under simulated environments before clinical trials.