Rome Foundation and international neurogastroenterology and motility societies' consensus on idiopathic gastroparesis.

To establish a consensus on the definition and management of idiopathic gastroparesis, international experts (selected by neurogastroenterology and motility societies and initiated by the Rome Foundation) devised 144 statements using the Delphi method, with at least 80% agreement required. This consensus defined idiopathic gastroparesis as the presence of symptoms associated with delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Nausea and vomiting were identified as cardinal symptoms.

Differently Processed Low Doses of β-Glucan from Oat Bran Similarly Attenuate Postprandial Glycemic Response.

Incorporating β-glucan-rich oat bran (OB) can attenuate postprandial glycemic response (PPGR) in solid foods, but its effect in liquid matrices is unclear. This study investigated the ability of differently processed low-dose-β-glucan-containing beverages to lower PPGR, and the mechanisms of action. Twenty participants consumed five malt beverages made from cocoa powder: intact OB (Intact), OB treated with enzymatic hydrolysis (EnzymA, EnzymB) or extrusion (Extr), or no OB (Ctrl).

Safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in children and adult patients with rheumatic diseases: a comprehensive literature review.

Patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) are potentially at a higher risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus and have poorer outcomes of the infection as a result of their immunocompromised state due to the nature of the underlying autoimmune conditions and immunosuppressant use. mRNA-based vaccines provide a novel approach to establishing immunity against SARS-CoV-2. However, the implications of toll-like receptors (TLRs), type I interferon (IFN) and pro-inflammatory cytokines raise concerns on disease severity and inefficient immune response following mRNA vaccination.

Consumption of plant sterols-enriched soy milk with a healthy dietary pattern diet lowers blood pressure in adults with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Plant sterols (PS) have been shown to lower blood lipid-lipoproteins concentrations and may serve as a potential functional ingredient for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management. However, there are limited studies examining this effect in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PS-enriched food consumption as part of a healthy dietary pattern (HDP) on blood pressure and endothelial function in Singaporean adults with MetS.

Virtual reality-guided mindfulness intervention to enhance psychosocial well-being in caregivers of end-stage kidney disease patients: protocol for a mixed-methods pilot randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Caregivers of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) face significant challenges that contribute to caregiver burden, negatively impacting their psychosocial well-being. Virtual-reality (VR)-guided mindfulness interventions have shown promise in reducing stress, anxiety and depression in various populations.

Methods And Analysis: This pilot study aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a VR-guided mindfulness intervention for ESKD caregivers.

NK cell subsets define sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory condition. With modern therapeutics and evidence-based management strategies, achieving sustained remission is increasingly common. To prevent complications associated with prolonged use of immunosuppressants, drug tapering or withdrawal is recommended.

Combination Versus Monotherapy for Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Species Serious Infections: A Prospective IPTW Adjusted Cohort Study.

Introduction: International guidelines recommend definitive combination antibiotic therapy for the management of serious infections involving carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter (CRAB) species. The commonly available combination options include high-dose sulbactam, polymyxins, tetracyclines, and cefiderocol. Scanty prospective data exist to support this approach.

Infection prevention and control risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers: a global, multi-centre, case-control study.

Background: Health workers were at higher risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to occupational risk factors. This study aimed to characterize these risk factors as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Unity Studies initiative.

Methods: This global, multi-centre, nested, case-control study was conducted in 121 healthcare facilities in 21 countries.

Plasma NOTCH3 and the risk of cardiovascular recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: Ischemic stroke patients are more prone to developing another cardiovascular event.

Aim: This study aims to examine potential biological predispositions to cardiovascular recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke.

Design: Human and preclinical studies.

Fetal liver CD34 contain human immune and endothelial progenitors and mediate solid tumor rejection in NOG mice.

Background: Transplantation of CD34 hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) into immunodeficient mice is an established method to generate humanized mice harbouring a human immune system. Different sources and methods for CD34 isolation have been employed by various research groups, resulting in customized models that are difficult to compare. A more detailed characterization of CD34 isolates is needed for a better understanding of engraftable hematopoietic and potentially non-hematopoietic cells.

Drug-induced chylothorax as a rare pleural complication in dasatinib therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Chylothorax is a lymphatic chylous pleural effusion typically associated with traumatic (iatrogenic, non-iatrogenic) and non-traumatic (infections, malignancy, lymphatic disorders) aetiologies. Drug-induced chylothorax is uncommon and mostly reported in association with tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

Insights and future prospects of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of functional dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent and challenging gastrointestinal disorder. Conventional medicine often faces limitations in providing effective treatment for FD, thus indicating the need to explore alternative approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is rooted in ancient Chinese traditions and has evolved over thousands of years, offers a holistic approach to well-being.

Consensus statements on endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition. Guidelines from the Asian Endoscopic Ultrasound Group.

Objectives: This consensus was developed by the Asian EUS Group (AEG), who aimed to formulate a set of practice guidelines addressing various aspects of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA).

Methods: The AEG initiated the development of consensus statements and formed an expert panel comprising surgeons, gastroenterologists, and pathologists. Three online consensus meetings were conducted to consolidate the statements and votes.

Obstructive sleep apnoea and nocturnal atrial fibrillation in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Introduction: Arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmias, are independent risk factors of mortality in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). While there is a growing body of evidence that suggests an association between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and cardiac arrhythmias, evidence on this relationship in patients with IHD has been scant and inconsistent. We hypothesised that in patients with IHD, severe OSA is associated with an increased risk of nocturnal arrhythmias.

Dialysis nurses' knowledge, attitude, practices, and self-efficacy regarding vascular access care: A multicenter cross-sectional survey in Singapore.

Background: Dialysis nurses play a pivotal role in the management of vascular access (VA), physician-patient liaison, and patient education for hemodialysis patients. This multicenter study aims to review the dialysis nurses' knowledge, attitude, practice, and self-efficacy toward providing care for patients' VA.

Methods: A multi-centered study was conducted using a self-administered survey.

Win Ratio Analyses of Piperacillin-Tazobactam Versus Meropenem for Ceftriaxone-Nonsusceptible Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae Bloodstream Infections: Post Hoc Insights From the MERINO Trial.

Background: Clinical trials of treatments for serious infections commonly use the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality. However, many trial participants survive their infection and this endpoint may not truly reflect important benefits and risks of therapy. The win ratio uses a hierarchical composite endpoint that can incorporate and prioritize outcome measures by relative clinical importance.

A qualitative study of daily activities that inform a process-based model of well-being among Singaporean adults.

Background: Individual appraisals of personal well-being consider a spectrum of constructs including the reflections on the degree to which one's life is ultimately secure, meaningful, or valued in the context of dynamic changes in their bio-psycho-social environments. Standardized questionnaires for well-being evaluate an ideal state of health which is operationally defined by abstract constructs. Patient reports describe well-being as a more dynamic construct that relates to how they adapt to successive changes in their life situations.

Chemical structures, extraction and analysis technologies, and bioactivities of edible fungal polysaccharides from Poria cocos: An updated review.

Poria cocos is a popular medicinal food. Polysaccharides are the key component of Poria cocos, forming 70-90 % of the dry sclerotia mass. Recent studies indicate that Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP-Cs) have multiple beneficial functions and applications.

Safety and efficacy of dupilumab in adult atopic dermatitis in Singapore.

Introduction: Dupilumab, a biologic approved for treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), has been reported to be largely effective with minimal adverse effects. However, being a targeted therapy, its effectiveness and side effects are expected to be varied in a heterogeneous ethnic population. Currently, the majority of studies on dupilumab are based on Western populations.

Employment of a high throughput functional assay to define the critical factors that influence vaccine induced cross-variant neutralizing antibodies for SARS-CoV-2.

The scale and duration of neutralizing antibody responses targeting SARS-CoV-2 viral variants represents a critically important serological parameter that predicts protective immunity for COVID-19. In this study, we describe the development and employment of a new functional assay that measures neutralizing antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 and present longitudinal data illustrating the impact of age, sex and comorbidities on the kinetics and strength of vaccine-induced antibody responses for key variants in an Asian volunteer cohort. We also present an accurate quantitation of serological responses for SARS-CoV-2 that exploits a unique set of in-house, recombinant human monoclonal antibodies targeting the viral Spike and nucleocapsid proteins and demonstrate a reduction in neutralizing antibody titres across all groups 6 months post-vaccination.