Early experience on injectable micronized putty type human-derived acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in management of diabetic foot wounds in Singapore.

Diabetic foot wounds (DFW) are notoriously difficult to treat owing to poor vascularity, delayed healing and higher rates of infection. Human-derived acellular dermal matrices (ADM) have been used in DFW treatment, utilizing a matrix scaffold for new tissue generation. We investigate the efficacy of a micronized injectable human-derived ADM in the treatment of DFW.

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.

Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group expert consensus statement on the peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer.

The peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in earlier stage disease has seen significant advances in recent years with the incorporation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy. However, many unanswered questions and challenges remain, including the application of clinical trial data to routine clinical practice. Recognising the unique demographic profile of Asian patients with NSCLC and heterogeneous healthcare systems, the Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group (ATORG) convened a consensus meeting in Singapore on 26 April 2024 to discuss relevant issues spanning diagnostic testing to post-neoadjuvant treatment considerations and future directions.

Time-varying 3D optical torque via a single beam.

The spin angular momentum (SAM) plays a significant role in light-matter interactions. It is well known that light carrying SAM can exert optical torques on micro-objects and drive rotations, but 3D rotation around an arbitrary axis remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate full control of the 3D optical torque acting on a trapped microparticle by tailoring the vectorial SAM transfer.

From 2D kaolinite to 3D amorphous cement.

Kaolinite is a single 2D layer of kaolin or metakaolin (MK), common clays that can be characterized as layered 3D materials. We show that because of its chemical composition, kaolinite can be converted into an amorphous 3D material by chemical means. This dimensional transformation is possible due to the large surface to volume ratio and chemical reactivity of kaolinite.

Maternal obesity alters histone modifications mediated by the interaction between Ezh2 and Ampk, impairing neural differentiation in the developing embryonic brain cortex.

Neurodevelopmental disorders have complex origins that manifest early during embryonic growth and are associated with intricate gene regulation dynamics. A perturbed metabolic environment such as hyperglycemia or dyslipidemia, particularly due to maternal obesity, poses a threat to the optimal development of the embryonic central nervous system. Accumulating evidence suggests that these metabolic irregularities during pregnancy may alter neurogenesis pathways, thereby predisposing the developing fetus to neurodevelopmental disorders.

One-Pot lignin bioconversion to polyhydroxyalkanoates based on hierarchical utilization of heterogeneous compounds.

Pseudomonas putida degraded 35 % of compounds in alkali-pretreated lignin liquor under nitrogen-replete conditions but with low polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production, while limiting nitrogen supplement improved PHA content (PHA/dry cell weight) to 43 % at the expense of decreased lignin degradation of 22 %. Increase of initial cell biomass (0.1-1.

Single-cell RNA-seq identifies protracted mouse germline X chromosome reactivation dynamics directed by a PRC2-dependent mechanism.

Female primordial germ cells (PGCs) undergo X chromosome reactivation (XCR) during genome-wide reprogramming. XCR kinetics and dynamics are poorly understood at a molecular level. Here, we apply single-cell RNA sequencing and chromatin profiling on germ cells from F mouse embryos, performing a precise appraisal of XCR spanning from migratory-stage PGCs to gonadal germ cells.

Targeted Cx43 therapeutics reduce NLRP3 inflammasome activation in rat burn injury.

Burns are dynamic injuries characterized by an initial zone of necrosis that progresses to compromise surrounding tissue. Acute inflammation and cell death are two main factors contributing to burn progression. These processes are modulated by Connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannels and gap junctions in burns and chronic wounds.

Bioelectronic and photogenerated electron synergistic catalyzed removal of chlorhexidine: Degradation and mechanism.

The extensive use of the antimicrobial compound chlorhexidine (CHD) has emerged as a significant threat to both the ecological environment and human health. To address this concern, a photo-electrochemical cell-microbial fuel cell (PMFC) system was studied for CHD removal by incorporating, for the first time, the photocatalysts black phosphorus/carbon nitride (BPCN) and CuO into the bioanode and air cathode of an MFC, respectively. By combining electrochemical, macro-genomic, and intermediate product analyses, the underlying mechanisms of bioelectronic and photoelectronic synergies were elucidated.

Predictors of parent-child bonding and parenting satisfaction during the perinatal period: A structural equation model.

Objectives: To examine the predictors of parent-child bonding and parenting satisfaction using structural equation models at three time points across the perinatal period: (1) during pregnancy at >24 gestational weeks, (2) one month postpartum, and (3) three months postpartum.

Methods: This longitudinal exploratory quantitative study recruited a convenient sample of 118 heterosexual couples (236 participants; 118 mothers and 118 fathers) from maternity clinics of a public tertiary hospital in Singapore. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the parents' characteristics and study variables.

Oncological outcomes following extreme oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (eOPBCS) for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) accounts for 5 % of new breast cancer diagnoses in developed countries and 30-60 % in developing regions. Historically, treatment relied on mastectomy guided by the Halstedian theory. Advances in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), breast-conserving surgery (BCS), and radiation have transformed treatment into a multimodal approach.

Covalent Organic Frameworks with Carbon-centered Radical Sites for Promoting the 4e- Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Radical covalent organic frameworks (RCOFs) have demonstrated significant potential in redox catalysis and energy conversion applications. However, the synthesis of stable RCOFs with well-defined neutral carbon radical centers is challenging due to the inherent radical instability, limited synthetic methods and characterization difficulties. Building upon the understanding of stable carbon radicals and structural modulations for preparing crystalline COFs, herein we report the synthesis of a crystalline carbon-centered RCOF through a facile post-oxidation process.

Atomic Gap-State Engineering of MoS for Alkaline Water and Seawater Splitting.

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS), have emerged as a generation of nonprecious catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), largely due to their theoretical hydrogen adsorption energy close to that of platinum. However, efforts to activate the basal planes of TMDs have primarily centered around strategies such as introducing numerous atomic vacancies, creating vacancy-heteroatom complexes, or applying significant strain, especially for acidic media. These approaches, while potentially effective, present substantial challenges in practical large-scale deployment.

Palladium Nanosheet Enables Synergistic Electrocatalytic Dehalogenation via Direct and Indirect Electron Transfer Mechanisms.

Electrocatalytic dehalogenation is a promising method for the remediation of chlorinated organic pollutants. The dehalogenation performance is controlled by catalytic activity, and the underlying electrocatalytic dehalogenation mechanisms need to be carefully investigated for guiding the design of catalyst. Here we report the preparation of a new Pd-based catalyst with a nanosheet structure (Pd NS) by a simple wet-chemical reduction method.

Patients with hard-to-heal wounds: a review and synthesis of their experiences and perceptions of maggot debridement.

Objective: There is little use of maggot debridement therapy (MDT) worldwide, albeit there is much literature supporting its benefits and effectiveness for hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds. Hard-to-heal wounds are becoming ever more prevalent and MDT can play a pivotal role in wound care management. This underuse can be associated with patients' perceptions and experiences of MDT.

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.

WS/MHS PdTe/Si Mixed-Dimensional Heterojunction as Ultra-Broadband Photodetector for Health and Safety Monitoring.

Ultra-broadband photodetectors (UB-PDs) are essential in medical applications, public safety monitoring, and various other fields. However, developing UB-PDs covering multiple bands from ultraviolet to medium infrared remains a challenge due to material limitations. Here, a mixed-dimensional heterojunction composed of 2D WS/monodisperse hexagonal stacking (MHS) 3D PdTe particles on 3D Si is proposed, capable of detecting light from 365 to 9600 nm.

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.

Simulation in Regional Anaesthesia: A Narrative Review of Its History, Evolution and Future Prospects.

Regional anaesthesia has seen a resurgence of sorts since the widespread advent of ultrasound into clinical practice. The ability to access hitherto inaccessible nerves and fascial planes in the human body whilst ensuring visualisation of the needle tip during block performance has opened the proverbial floodgates leading to its widespread adoption, further supported by a growing body of evidence for its many benefits in a patient's perioperative journey and pain management. The concomitant advancement of technology and the development of powerful simulation and artificial intelligence tools has given a much-needed impetus towards improving training and safe practice in regional anaesthesia.

Video-Based Plastic Bag Grabbing Action Recognition: A New Video Dataset and a Comparative Study of Baseline Models.

Recognizing the action of plastic bag taking from CCTV video footage represents a highly specialized and niche challenge within the broader domain of action video classification. To address this challenge, our paper introduces a novel benchmark video dataset specifically curated for the task of identifying the action of grabbing a plastic bag. Additionally, we propose and evaluate three distinct baseline approaches.

Long-Gauge Fiber Optic Sensors: Strain Measurement Comparison for Reinforced Concrete Columns.

Long-gauge fiber optic sensors have proven to be valuable tools for structural health monitoring, especially in reinforced concrete (RC) beam structures. While their application in this area has been well-documented, their use in RC columns remains relatively unexplored. This suggests a promising avenue for further research and development.