Diabetes in China: epidemiology, pathophysiology and multi-omics.

Although diabetes is now a global epidemic, China has the highest number of affected people, presenting profound public health and socioeconomic challenges. In China, rapid ecological and lifestyle shifts have dramatically altered diabetes epidemiology and risk factors. In this Review, we summarize the epidemiological trends and the impact of traditional and emerging risk factors on Chinese diabetes prevalence.

Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT.

Conjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the pKpQIL and F plasmids (TraT and TraT) exhibits plasmid surface exclusion specificity.

Advancing canopy-level entomological surveillance to monitor vector-borne and zoonotic disease dynamics.

Faced with the increased frequency of zoonotic spillover in recent decades, emerging vector-borne diseases from nonhuman primates pose a significant threat to global public health. Understanding transmission dynamics driven by arthropod vectors between wildlife populations is critical for surveillance, modeling, and mitigation. Elevated canopy-level sampling is a valuable approach for elucidating vector behavior and sylvatic transmission.

In-Plane Polarization-Triggered WS-Ferroelectric Heterostructured Synaptic Devices.

To date, various kinds of memristors have been proposed as artificial neurons and synapses for neuromorphic computing to overcome the so-called von Neumann bottleneck in conventional computing architectures. However, related working principles are mostly ascribed to randomly distributed conductive filaments or traps, which usually lead to high stochasticity and poor uniformity. In this work, a heterostructure with a two-dimensional WS monolayer and a ferroelectric PZT film were demonstrated for memristors and artificial synapses, triggered by in-plane ferroelectric polarization.

Ileo-ileal intussusception and necrotising enterocolitis after indomethacin exposure masquerading clinically as solitary intestinal perforation.

We report a case of small bowel perforation from ileo-ileal intussusception with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) after indomethacin exposure mimicking spontaneous intestinal perforation in an extremely preterm neonate. Indomethacin exposure can cause mesenteric hypoperfusion, resulting in an ischaemic lead point for intussusception and NEC. We advocate that intussusception should be considered as one of the differentials for neonates with recurrent feeding intolerance postindomethacin exposure.

Occlusal acuity and bite force in young adults.

Occlusal tactile acuity (OTA) and bite force are essential components of the sensorimotor control of oral behaviors. While these variables have been studied independently, it has not yet been revealed whether compressive force impacts the occlusal perception mediated by the mechanoreceptive afferents in the periodontal ligament. The present study examined the effect of repetition and maximum bite force on OTA by testing nine aluminum foils of different thicknesses together with a sham test with no foil, three times each, in randomized order in 36 healthy individuals.

Feedback regulation of mA modification creates local auxin maxima essential for rice microsporogenesis.

N-methyladenosine (mA) RNA modification and its effectors control various plant developmental processes, yet whether and how these effectors are transcriptionally controlled to confer functional specificity so far remain elusive. Herein, we show that a rice C2H2 zinc-finger protein, OsZAF, specifically activates the expression of OsFIP37 encoding a core component of the mA methyltransferase complex during microsporogenesis in rice anthers. OsFIP37, in turn, facilitates mA modification and stabilization of an auxin biosynthesis gene OsYUCCA3 to promote auxin biosynthesis in anthers.

Unveiling the polyphenol profile and bioactive potential of kiwi berry (Actinidia arguta): Antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibition activities.

Kiwi berry (Actinidia arguta (Sieb & Zucc) Planch. ex Miq. cv 'Longcheng No.

Revealing Multistep Phase Separation in Metal Alloy Nanoparticles with Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Phase separation plays a crucial role in many natural and industrial processes, such as the formation of clouds and minerals and the distillation of crude oil. In metals and alloys, phase separation is an important approach often utilized to improve their mechanical strength for use in construction, automobile, and aerospace manufacturing. Despite its importance in many processes, the atomic details of phase separation are largely unknown.

Life space restriction following disruptive life events: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Restriction of life space mobility is associated with adverse health outcomes including depression, morbidity, mortality and poorer quality of life. In this study, we aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 and associated employment loss on the life space of older adults in Singapore.

Methods: An in-person survey was administered to a cohort of older Singaporeans above 50 years old (N = 1,118).

Why Does an "Avatar Nose" Appear After Dermal Filler Injection? Insights From a Cadaveric Study on the Nasofrontal Ligament.

Background: Nonsurgical rhinoplasty (NSR) with dermal fillers has gained popularity because of its immediate and visible results, minimal downtime, and long-lasting effects. However, complications such as filler migration can lead to the development of the "Avatar nose," a condition where the nose appears unnaturally wide and bulbous in the nasion area, disrupting facial harmony. This phenomenon is often exacerbated by the presence of a taut nasofrontal ligament, which tethers the periosteum to the dermal layer and influences nasal contour.

Leveraging Iron in the Electrolyte to Improve Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance: Fundamentals, Strategies, and Perspectives.

Electrochemical water splitting is a pivotal technology for storing intermittent electricity from renewable sources into hydrogen fuel. However, its overall energy efficiency is impeded by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode. In the quest to design high-performance anode catalysts for driving the OER under non-acidic conditions, iron (Fe) has emerged as a crucial element.

Clinical utility of plasma p-tau217 in identifying abnormal brain amyloid burden in an Asian cohort with high prevalence of concomitant cerebrovascular disease.

Introduction: Using an Asian cohort with high prevalence of concomitant cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), we evaluated the performance of a plasma immunoassay for tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217) in detecting amyloid beta positivity (Aβ+) on positron emission tomography and cognitive decline, based on a three-range reference, which stratified patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups for Aβ+.

Methods: Brain amyloid status (Aβ- [n = 142] vs Aβ+ [n = 73]) on amyloid PET scans was assessed along with the plasma ALZpath p-tau217 assay to derive three-range reference points for PET Aβ+ based on 90% sensitivity (lower threshold) and 90% specificity (upper threshold).

Results: Plasma p-tau217 (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.

MEDIATOR15 destabilizes DELLA protein to promote gibberellin-mediated plant development.

Mediator, a transcriptional coactivator, regulates plant growth and development by interacting with various transcriptional regulators. MEDIATOR15 (MED15) is a subunit in the Mediator complex potentially involved in developmental control. To uncover molecular functions of Arabidopsis MED15 in development, we searched for its interactors.

Striving for excellence in a little red dot: Exploring the evolution of oral and maxillofacial surgery training and practice in Singapore.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is a field that straddles knowledge and clinical experience from both medical and dental specialties. In the small island nation of Singapore, the rapidly and constantly changing needs of its diverse and aging population, as well as changes in the mindsets of both students and educators have led to many developments in the local OMS program. Tied to the only dental school in the country, the curriculum of the training program has kept up with the changes in the demographics and attitudes of the local patient pool, which comprises a multicultural population with both traditional and modern mindsets.

Feasibility of long-range telesurgical robotic radical gastrectomy in a live porcine model.

Background: Telesurgery has been made increasingly possible with the advancements in robotic surgical platforms and network connectivity. However, long-distance transnational complex robotic surgeries such as gastrectomy have yet to be attempted.

Methods: Multiple transnational network connections by Science Innovation Network (SINET), Japan Gigabit Network (JGN), and Arterial Research and Education Network in Asia-Pacific (ARENA-PAC) were established and tested by multiple surgeons in a dry box model.

Efficacy of solution-focused brief therapy versus case management for psychological distress in adolescents and young adults in a community-based youth mental health service in Singapore: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: There are insufficient scalable, evidence-based treatments to meet increasing mental health needs of young people. Offering interim, brief interventions for young persons with psychological distress can improve access to care and mitigate adverse effects of long waiting times. This study tests the efficacy of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), a strength-based, goal-directed intervention, in adolescents and young adults at a community-based youth mental health service in Singapore.

Cohort profile: the potentially preventable burden of community-acquired pneumonia in South African adults in the era of widespread PCV13 immunisation and antiretroviral therapy roll-out, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic - the multicentre, multimethod PotPrev Study.

Purpose: In the setting of an established childhood pneumococcal vaccination programme with immediate initiation and treatment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLWH), the risk of adult pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not recently described. We aimed to investigate CAP incidence, recurrence, mortality, risk factors and microbiology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants: Adults aged ≥18 years were enrolled in three South African provinces from March 2019 to October 2021, with a brief halt during the initial COVID-19 lockdown.

Predictive accuracy of lactate albumin ratio for mortality in intensive care units: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The lactate albumin ratio (LAR), a simple prognostic marker used in intensive care units (ICUs), combines lactate and serum albumin levels to predict patient outcomes. Despite its potential, the predictive accuracy of the LAR remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of the LAR in predicting mortality among patients in the ICU.