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.

CO-templated [LnNi] heterometallic compounds for enhanced magnetocaloric effects at low fields.

In the history of magnetochemistry development, lanthanide-transition (3d-4f) heterometallic compounds have been considered an attractive candidate for magnetic refrigerants. Herein, a series of heterometallic compounds have been designed and templated by CO anions, that is, {[LnNi(L)(CO)(HO)]·HO} [Ln = Gd (. Gd2Ni) = Sm (.

A Mobile App for Promoting Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities in Hong Kong: Design and Development Study.

Background: Breastfeeding is vital for the health and well-being of both mothers and infants, and it is crucial to create supportive environments that promote and maintain breastfeeding practices.

Objective: The objective of this paper was to describe the development of a breastfeeding-friendly app called "bfGPS" (HKU TALIC), which provides comprehensive territory-wide information on breastfeeding facilities in Hong Kong, with the goal of fostering a breastfeeding-friendly community.

Methods: The development of bfGPS can be categorized into three phases, which are (1) planning, prototype development, and preimplementation evaluation; (2) implementation and updates; and (3) usability evaluation.

Insights Into Metabolic Signatures and Regulatory Effect of Polysaccharides in Gut Microbiota: A Comparative Study of Healthy and Diabetic Status.

is a kind of popular functional food to be consumed by both healthy and diabetic people. As its major constituent, polysaccharide (DOP) is mainly utilized by gut microbiota. Despite distinctive gut microbiota composition between healthy and diabetic individuals, no study compared the interplay between DOP and gut microbiota under healthy and diabetic status.

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.

Novel application of an imageless robotic system in simultaneous unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

This technical note explores the novel use of an imageless robotic surgical system for simultaneous unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Knee osteoarthritis (OA) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insufficiency are common conditions that traditionally require separate management. The integration of robotic assistance offers enhanced precision in surgical procedures, addressing both medial compartment OA and ACL insufficiency in a single operation.

First Indonesian Nasopharyngeal Cancer Whole Epigenome Sequencing Identify Tumour Suppressor CpG Methylation.

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a multifaceted disease characterized by genetic and epigenetic modifications. While Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a known risk factor, recent studies highlight the significant role of DNA methylation in NPC pathogenesis. Aberrant methylation, particularly at CpG sites, can silence tumour suppressor genes, promoting uncontrolled cell growth.

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.

Scaling up morphological differentiation of pangolin scales: Serial, ontogenetic and evolutionary variation.

Pangolins are the most heavily trafficked mammals in the world, largely because of the high demand for their keratinous scales from the traditional Chinese medicine market. While seizures of pangolin material are largely composed of isolated scales, efficient approaches to reach species-level identification are missing. This mostly originates from the lack of comparative studies on the shape of pangolin scales, resulting in knowledge gaps on the imbricated effects of serial, ontogenetic, and evolutionary variations.

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).

Correlation between paraspinal muscle fat infiltration and thoracic vertebral degeneration based on phantom-less QCT: a novel insight into thoracic vertebral degeneration.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the correlation between the degree of fat infiltration (FI) in thoracic paraspinal muscles and thoracic vertebral degeneration (TVD).

Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 474 patients who underwent standard thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans. The FI was quantified as the percentage of adipose tissues within the cross-sectional area of thoracic paraspinal muscles.

Deep imaging of LepR stromal cells in optically cleared murine bone hemisections.

Tissue clearing combined with high-resolution confocal imaging is a cutting-edge approach for dissecting the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of tissues and deciphering cellular spatial interactions under physiological and pathological conditions. Deciphering the spatial interaction of leptin receptor-expressing (LepR) stromal cells with other compartments in the bone marrow is crucial for a deeper understanding of the stem cell niche and the skeletal tissue. In this study, we introduce an optimized protocol for the 3D analysis of skeletal tissues, enabling the visualization of hematopoietic and stromal cells, especially LepR stromal cells, within optically cleared bone hemisections.

Nomogram for predicting early cancer-related death due to recurrence after liver resection in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B/C: a multicenter study.

Background: Early identification of the risk of early cancer-related death (within one year, ECRD) due to recurrence after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B/C is important for surgeons to make clinical decisions. Our study aimed to establish a nomogram to predict the ECRD due to recurrence for HCC patients with BCLC stage B/C.

Methods: A total of 672 HCC patients with BCLC stages B/C from four medical centers between January 2012 and December 2018 were included in our study.

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 Cu5BHT, which exhibits a low-symmetry structure and unique in-plane electrical anisotropy that differs from the well-known Cu3BHT 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.

Graphene oxide-based fluorescent biosensors for pathogenic bacteria detection: A review.

Background: Pathogenic bacteria are widespread in nature and can cause infections and various complications, thereby posing a severe risk to public health. Therefore, simple, rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective methods must be developed to detect pathogenic bacteria. Biosensors are prominent platforms for detecting pathogenic bacteria owing to their high sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and stability.

Transformation fate of bisphenol A in aerobic denitrifying cultures and its coercive mechanism on the nitrogen transformation pathway.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a commonly used endocrine-disrupting chemical found in high levels in wastewater worldwide. Aerobic denitrification is a promising alternative to conventional nitrogen removal processes. However, the effects of BPA on this novel nitrogen removal process have rarely been reported.

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.

Prevalence and Patterns of Social Media Use in Early Adolescents.

Objective: To describe patterns of social media use, including underage (under 13 years) use and sex differences, in a diverse, national sample of early adolescents in the U.S.

Methods: We analyzed the social media use data in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (2019-2021, Year 3), which includes a national sample of early adolescents in the U.

Beyond what was said: Neural computations underlying pragmatic reasoning in referential communication.

The ability to infer a speaker's utterance within a particular context for the intended meaning is central to communication. Yet, little is known about the underlying neurocomputational mechanisms of pragmatic inference, let alone relevant differences among individuals. Here, using a reference game combined with model-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we showed that an individual-level pragmatic inference model was a better predictor of listeners' performance than a population-level model.

Efficacy of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine in Pain and Psychological Distress Management for Pediatric Palliative Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Context: Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is being increasingly used to manage symptoms in patients with palliative needs. However, there is a lack of evidence to guide its use in the pediatric palliative care (PPC) setting.

Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate the current evidence on the effectiveness of TCIM in reducing pain and psychological distress in PPC.