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.

Parallel randomised trial testing community fibrosis assessment for suspected non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: outcomes from LOCATE-NAFLD.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is estimated to affect a third of Australian adults, and its prevalence is predicted to rise, increasing the burden on the healthcare system. The LOCal Assessment and Triage Evaluation of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (LOCATE-NAFLD) trialled a community-based fibrosis assessment service using FibroScan to reduce the time to diagnosis of high-risk NAFLD and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a 1:1 parallel randomised trial to compare two alternative models of care for NAFLD diagnosis and assessment.

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.

Vaccine-induced T cell responses control Orthoflavivirus challenge infection without neutralizing antibodies in humans.

T cells have been identified as correlates of protection in viral infections. However, the level of vaccine-induced T cells needed and the extent to which they alone can control acute viral infection in humans remain uncertain. Here we conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving vaccination and challenge in 33 adult human volunteers, using the live-attenuated yellow fever (YF17D) and chimeric Japanese encephalitis-YF17D (JE/YF17D) vaccines.

Correlates Between Temporomandibular Disorder Symptom Severity, Psychological Distress, Well-Being, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: Insights From Chinese Young Adults.

Background: There is limited understanding of how temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms, psychological distress, and well-being are related to each other and to OHRQoL in Chinese young adults.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify correlations between TMD symptom severity, psychological status, and OHRQoL while also examining factors associated with low OHRQoL.

Methods: Participants, recruited from a major university in the capital city, completed a survey that included demographics, the Chinese versions of the expanded five TMD symptoms (5Ts) screener, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-being-18 (SPWB-18), and Oral Health Impact Profile for TMDs (OHIP-TMD).

Formation of I+III supercomplex rescues respiratory chain defects.

Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes partition between free complexes and quaternary assemblies known as supercomplexes (SCs). However, the physiological requirement for SCs and the mechanisms regulating their formation remain controversial. Here, we show that genetic perturbations in mammalian ETC complex III (CIII) biogenesis stimulate the formation of a specialized extra-large SC (SC-XL) with a structure of I+III, resolved at 3.

Sex-specific risk factors for new-onset heart failure: the PREVEND study at 25 years.

Background And Aims: Current estimates for the lifetime risk to develop heart failure with either a reduced (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and their associated risk factors are derived from two studies from the USA. The sex-specific lifetime risk and population attributable fraction of potentially modifiable risk factors for incident HFpEF and HFrEF are described in a large European community-based cohort with 25 years of follow-up.

Methods: A total of 8558 participants from the PREVEND cohort were studied at baseline from 1997 onwards and followed until 2022 for cases of new-onset HFrEF (ejection fraction < 50%) and HFpEF (ejection fraction ≥ 50%) by assessment of hospital records.

A scoping review on peer-led interventions to improve youth mental health in low- and middle-income countries.

Youth living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have an increased vulnerability to mental illnesses, with many lacking access to adequate treatment. There has been a growing body of interventions using task sharing with trained peer leaders to address this mental health gap. This scoping review examines the characteristics, effectiveness, components of peer delivery and challenges of peer-led mental health interventions for youth aged 10-24 in LMICs.

Prevalence and risk factors of myopic macular degeneration: the Aier-SERI high myopia adult cohort.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of myopic macular degeneration (MMD) in young and middle-aged individuals with high myopia in Changsha, central China.

Methods: A total of 445 adults with high myopia (worse than or equal to -5.0 D) were examined between 2021 and 2023.

Aqueous Proteomic and Metabolomic Profiles in Low-Energy vs High-Energy Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the aqueous proteomics and metabolomics in low-energy and high-energy femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS).

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 72 patients were randomized to 3 groups: low-energy FLACS, high-energy FLACS, and conventional phacoemulsification (controls). Aqueous was collected after femtosecond laser treatment or at the beginning of surgery (controls).

Spatially Resolved Tumor Ecosystems and Cell States in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Progression and Evolution.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major cause of global cancer mortality with high levels of heterogeneity. To explore geospatial interactions in tumor ecosystems, we integrated 2,138 spatial transcriptomic regions-of-interest (ROIs) with 152,423 single-cell expression profiles across 226 GC samples from 121 patients. We observed pervasive expression-based intratumor heterogeneity, recapitulating tumor progression through spatially localized and functionally ordered subgroups associated with specific immune microenvironments, checkpoint profiles, and genetic drivers such as SOX9.

EZH2 modulates mRNA splicing and exerts part of its oncogenic function through repression of splicing factors in CML.

The polycomb protein EZH2 is up-regulated in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) and associated with transcriptional reprogramming. Here we tested whether EZH2 might also act as a modulator of the mRNA splicing landscape to elicit its oncogenic function in CML. We treated CML cell lines with EZH2 inhibitors and detected differential splicing of several hundreds of events, potentially caused by the transcriptional regulation of splicing factors.

Genetic Risk Factors for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is the most common cause of liver disease, and its burden on health systems worldwide continues to rise at an alarming rate. MASLD is a complex disease in which the interactions between susceptible genes and the environment influence the disease phenotype and severity. Advances in human genetics over the past few decades have provided new opportunities to improve our understanding of the multiple pathways involved in the pathogenesis of MASLD.

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.

Bioelectrical-Impedance-Analysis in the Perioperative Nutritional Assessment and Prediction of Complications in Head-and-Neck Malignancies.

Objective: Identification of patients with head-and-neck malignancies who are especially vulnerable to malnutrition is critical for optimizing outcomes. The objectives are; to correlate Bioelectrical-impendence-analysis (BIA) parameters with Subjective-Global-Assessment (SGA) scores, and determine the association of BIA parameters with common perioperative complications in patients undergoing head-and-neck surgery.

Study Design: Patients underwent formal SGA scoring and BIA preoperatively in a multidisciplinary allied health clinic.

Optical coherence tomography angiography enables visualization of microvascular patterns in chronic venous insufficiency.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a global health concern with significant public health and individual impact. Currently available diagnostic methods cannot visualize microvenous pathologies that have shown to result in severe forms of CVI and also affect the skin. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) may close the CVI diagnostic gap by providing a fast, label-free, and non-invasive solution to visualize cutaneous microvasculature.

Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson's disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study.

Background: COVID-19-related social restrictions provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of social isolation on Parkinson's disease.

Objective: This study aimed to explore changes in social isolation and their associations with PD symptoms using the Lubben Social Network Scale-Revised (LSNS-R).

Methods: Data from 80 participants of the Early Parkinson's Disease Longitudinal Singapore cohort were collected from April 2019 to April 2023, covering the periods before and after the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions.

Physiological change in ganglion cell inner plexiform layer and nerve fibre layer thickness over six years.

Background: To evaluate the 6-year physiological rates-of-change in ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measured with optical coherence tomography.

Methods: We included 2202 out of 2661 subjects from the population-based Singapore Chinese Eye Study who returned for follow-up 6 years after baseline examination (follow-up rate 87.7%).

The GLOB-cAGE Consortium: A Global Cardiovascular Collaborative Network of Older Adults with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: GLOB-cAGE is a newly established unprecedented consortium that brings together cohorts of older persons with cardiovascular disease worldwide. GLOB-cAGE aims to harmonize non-identifiable data from longitudinal cohorts examining cardiovascular health and cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management in older individuals to perform meta-regression analyses using combined repositories of standardized subject-level data points.

Methods And Design: Studies registered into GLOB-cAGE are population-based longitudinal cohort studies or clinical trials, either ongoing or completed, that involve assessing cardiovascular health as a central objective.