Trifluridine/Tipiracil (FTD/TPI) in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Hong Kong: A Territory-Wide Cohort Study.

Introduction: Randomized phase III trials showed that using trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) in patients with pre-treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) conferred survival benefit versus placebo. Here, we investigated the effectiveness and safety of FTD/TPI and sought to identify prognostic factors among the mCRC population in Hong Kong.

Methods: A non-interventional, retrospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled patients with mCRC who received FTD/TPI in seven public hospitals in Hong Kong between 2016 and 2020.

PARADIGM-PV: a randomized, multicenter phase 4 study to assess the efficacy and safety of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in patients with low- or high-risk polycythemia vera.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by clonal hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells with constitutively active somatic mutation(s) in the Janus kinase 2 gene. Phlebotomy (Phl) and aspirin are often used alone for low-risk PV patients. However, data from the Low-PV study demonstrated that Phl and aspirin may not be adequate for patients.

Luminescent cyclometalated gold(iii) complexes covalently linked to metal-organic frameworks for heterogeneous photocatalysis.

Phosphorescent gold(iii) complexes possess long-lived emissive excited states, making them ideal for use as molecular sensors and photosensitizers for organic transformations. Literature reports indicate that gold(iii) emitters exhibit good catalytic activity in homogeneous photochemical reactions. Heterogeneous metal-organic framework (MOF)-supported gold(iii) photocatalysts are considered to show high recyclability in photochemical reactions and potentially provide new selectivities.

Total neoadjuvant therapy based on short-course radiotherapy versus standard long-course chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: We conducted the meta-analysis to compare the therapeutic effects of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) based on short-course radiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy (SCRT/CCT) and long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) according to certain significant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: The researchers retrieved several databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, to collect all the relevant literature published since the establishment of the databases until July 30, 2024, and then screened to determine the qualified literature and extracted the relevant information. Finally, RevMan 5.

Association Between Chewing Capacity and Mortality Risk: The Role of Diet and Ageing.

Aim: Masticatory dysfunction due to tooth loss is a potentially modifiable risk for mortality, but the pathway behind that remains to be investigated. This prospective study aimed to examine the role of diet and ageing in the associations between chewing capacity and long-term mortality.

Methods: Data were obtained from participants (aged ≥ 20) in the National Health Nutritional and Health Survey (NHANES 1999-2010, n = 22,900).

Comparison of precision of a paperless electronic input method versus the conventional paper form in an andrology laboratory: a prospective study.

Background: Manual counting for semen analysis is recommended by the World Health Organization. Technicians performing this usually record their results on a paper worksheet and then enter the data into an electronic laboratory information system. One disadvantage of this approach is the chance of post-analytical transcription errors, which can be reduced by checking the computer entries before reporting by another technician.

Characterizing the Profile of Anhedonia in Individuals With Schizotypal Traits, Subthreshold Depression and Autistic Traits.

Anhedonia is believed to be transdiagnostic symptom exist in various disorders including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. However, very few studies attempted to profile subclinical samples with schizophrenia, depressive, and autistic symptoms using measures of anhedonia scales. This study adopted a cluster analytical approach to examine the anhedonia profile in 46 individuals with schizotypal trait (ST), 43 subthreshold depression (SD), 27 autistic trait (AT), and 41 healthy controls.

A Low-Symmetry Copper Benzenehexathiol Coordination Polymer with In-Plane Electrical Anisotropy.

Electrically conductive coordination polymers (ECCPs), particularly those incorporating benzenehexathiol (BHT) ligands, are emerging as a distinctive class of electronic materials with tunable semiconducting and metallic properties. However, the exploration of novel ECCPs with low-symmetry structures and electrical anisotropy remains under development. Here, we report the on-water surface synthesis of a novel ECCP, namely CuBHT, which exhibits a low-symmetry structure and unique in-plane electrical anisotropy that differs from the well-known CuBHT phase.

Advocacy in Action: International Patient Group Improves Hereditary Angioedema Diagnosis and Care Across the Asia-Pacific.

This study demonstrates that patient advocacy groups significantly enhance medication availability and improve diagnosis of hereditary angioedema (HAE), particularly in emerging economies within the Asia-Pacific region. This study supports integrating patient advocacy group involvement into management guidelines, emphasising their role in improving access to diagnostics and treatment for HAE.

Evaluating student understanding of core pharmacokinetic concepts.

Both educators and graduates have expressed concern about a perceived pharmacology knowledge gap that includes difficulty applying fundamental principles to clinical and research problems. Consequently, we sought to determine the extent to which current students can explain the meaning of, and appropriately apply, a subset of core concepts, and to identify any misconceptions arising from the responses. Of the twenty-four pharmacology core concepts arising from the recent international collaboration, four pharmacokinetic concepts were chosen, namely drug bioavailability, drug clearance, volume of distribution, and steady-state concentration.

Navigating translational research in nanomedicine: A strategic guide to formulation and manufacturing.

Over the past two decades, extensive research has focused on both the fundamental and applied aspects of nanomedicine, driven by the compelling advantages that nanoparticles offer over their bulk counterparts. Despite this intensive research effort, fewer than 100 nanomedicines have been approved by the U.S.

Interrelationship between chemsex engagement and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) experience in men who have sex with men: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Chemsex engagement is known to be associated with higher-risk sexual behaviour, HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI). To reduce HIV infection risk, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is increasingly used in the men who have sex with men (MSM) community. This study aims to examine the interrelationship between chemsex engagement and PrEP use in MSM.

Protective and risk factors of anxiety in children and adolescents during COVID-19: A systematic review and three level meta-analysis.

Background: In order to gain a deepened understanding of the impact of public health emergency and to develop effective interventions and preventions, this study aimed to evaluate risk and protective factors associated with anxiety in children and adolescents and to explore potential moderators in the background of COVID-19 within the framework of socio-ecological model.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Emerald, and CNKI for studies published from early 2020 to early 2023 that examined factors associated with anxiety among children and adolescents with age range of 6 to 17 years old. Random effects models and a three-level meta-analytic approach were used.

Intestinal Akkermansia muciniphila complements the efficacy of PD1 therapy in MAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are not effective for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and identifying the key gut microbiota that contributes to immune resistance in these patients is crucial. Analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing reveals a decrease in Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) during MAFLD-promoted HCC development. Administration of Akk ameliorates liver steatosis and effectively attenuates the tumor growth in orthotopic MAFLD-HCC mouse models.

Longitudinal metagenomic analysis on antibiotic resistome, mobilome, and microbiome of river ecosystems in a sub-tropical metropolitan city.

Rivers play an important role as reservoirs and sinks for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, it remains underexplored for the resistome and associated mobilome in river ecosystems, and hosts of riverine ARGs particularly the pathogenic ones are rarely studied. This study for the first time conducted a longitudinal metagenomic analysis to unveil the resistome, mobilome, and microbiome in river water, by collecting samples from 16 rivers in Hong Kong over a three-year period and using both short-read and long-read sequencing.

Formative evaluation of a mobile chat-based intervention (ChatEx) for promoting exercise behaviour in older cancer survivors.

Purpose: To conduct a formative evaluation of ChatEx to increase and maintain exercise among older cancer survivors.

Methods: ChatEx is a blended intervention involving 12 weeks of theory-based instant messages and two in-person training sessions. This pilot study comprises three phases: (1)intervention development: developing a message library reviewed by experts; (2)message library pretesting: exploring the views of older cancer survivors toward the message library and making modifications (n = 20); and (3)intervention pilot testing: piloting the ChatEx using a non-randomized quasi-experimental design using quantitative and qualitative methods among cancer survivors aged 65+ who do not meet current exercise guidelines and have completed treatment (n = 40).

Bronchiectasis Exacerbation Increases the Risk of Adverse Renal Outcomes-Results From a Large Territory-Wide Cohort Study.

Introduction: Bronchiectasis exacerbation (BE) is associated with unfavorable sequelae in other organs such as the cardiovascular system; data regarding its impact on adverse term renal outcomes, however, is lacking.

Methods: A territory-wide retrospective cohort study was conducted in Hong Kong between 1/1/1993 and 31/12/2017. All patients with bronchiectasis followed in the public healthcare system in 2017 were classified as "Exacerbators" or "Non-Exacerbators," and their adverse renal outcomes (renal progression [decrease in eGFR by 30 mL/min lasted for more than 12 months during follow up], acute kidney injury [AKI], and annual rate of eGFR decline) in the ensuing 7 years were compared.

Data Mining Approach to Melatonin Treatment in Alzheimer's Disease: New Gene Targets and .

Melatonin is a hormone released by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It has been widely studied for its therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly through the amyloidosis, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation pathways. Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which it exerts its neuroprotective effects in AD are still largely unknown.

Ultrasound Examination for Cement Extrusion After Uni-Compartmental Knee Replacement.

A 66-year-old woman presented with persistent knee effusion three months after undergoing a cemented medial uni-compartmental knee replacement. She was afebrile and able to walk with a stick. Physical examination revealed moderate effusion.

Impact of an online mindfulness-based program on wellbeing and trait mindfulness for research postgraduate students: a randomized-controlled trial.

Objectives: Pursuing a research postgraduate (RPg) degree is a major life event and could be stressful. The current study aims to explore the effectiveness of an online eight-week mindfulness-based intervention on improving wellbeing and alleviating illbeing among a group of RPg students using a randomized waitlist-controlled design.

Methods: A total of 88 RPg students, either studying in Hong Kong or Macau, were recruited (43 were randomized into the immediate intervention group; 67 females; mean age = 27.

Survival analysis and risk factors of indirect pulp capping in children with severe early childhood caries: a retrospective study.

Background Indirect pulp capping (IDPC) is a preferred treatment for pulp preservation in primary teeth. However, the survival rate of IDPC in primary teeth and impact factors is still equivocal.Aims To evaluate the survival rate of IDPC in primary teeth with a deep carious lesion approximating the pulp but without irreversible pulpitis or periapical disease.

Discovering Cell-Targeting Ligands and Cell-Surface Receptors by Selection of DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries against Cancer Cells without Predefined Targets.

Small molecules that can bind to specific cells have broad application in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Screening large chemical libraries against live cells is an effective strategy for discovering cell-targeting ligands. The DNA-encoded chemical library (DEL or DECL) technology has emerged as a robust tool in drug discovery and has been successfully utilized in identifying ligands for biological targets.

Cirsii Herba glycoprotein promotes macrophage M1 polarization through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways via interaction with TLR4.

The present study aimed to extract and purify the glycoprotein from Cirsii Herba (CHPs), and investigate its immunomodulatory activity and molecular mechanism in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results showed that CHPs contained 14.

Brain distribution study of [C]-Riluzole following intranasal administration in mice.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents a substantial challenge due to its complex nature, limited effective treatment options, and modest benefits from current therapies in slowing disease progression. This study explores the potential of intranasal (IN) delivery to enhance the CNS delivery of riluzole (RLZ), a standard ALS treatment which is subject to blood-brain barrier efflux mechanisms. Additionally, the impact of elacridar (ELC), an efflux pump inhibitor, on IN RLZ CNS bioavailability was examined.