Preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate to predict cardiac events in major noncardiac surgery: a secondary analysis of two large international studies.

Background: Optimised use of kidney function information might improve cardiac risk prediction in noncardiac surgery.

Methods: In 35,815 patients from the VISION cohort study and 9219 patients from the POISE-2 trial who were ≥45 yr old and underwent nonurgent inpatient noncardiac surgery, we examined (by age and sex) the association between continuous nonlinear preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the composite of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery, nonfatal cardiac arrest, or death owing to a cardiac cause within 30 days after surgery. We estimated contributions of predictive information, C-statistic, and net benefit from eGFR and other common patient and surgical characteristics to large multivariable models.

Global, regional, and national burden of primary liver cancer attributable to metabolic risks: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.

Background: The global burden of metabolic diseases is increasing, but estimates of their impact on primary liver cancer are uncertain. We aimed to assess the global burden of primary liver cancer attributable to metabolic risk factors, including high body mass index (BMI) and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, between 1990 and 2021.

Methods: The total number and age-standardized rates of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from primary liver cancer attributable to each metabolic risk factor were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.

Selective treatment de-escalation in advanced prostate cancer: have we come full circle?

Compelling evidence has solidified the notion of early treatment intensification in managing patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Landmark trials have provided Level 1 evidence for the survival benefits achieved by combining multiple agents. The efficacy of combined therapy relies not only on how treatment is intensified but also on how it is de-escalated.

Perioperative immunonutrition intervention on postoperative outcomes among gynecological cancer patients under enhanced recovery after surgery setting: A study protocol of explanatory mixed method study.

Background & Aims: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) has shown significant improvements in postoperative outcomes and a reduction in complications, while immunonutrition (IMN) has been shown to modulate the immune system and inflammatory response. However, many studies have overlooked the crucial aspects of nutrition status and patient perception within the intervention approach. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and explore patients' acceptance of the IMN intervention in postoperative outcomes among gynecological cancer (GC) patients under the ERAS framework.

A Retrospective Case Review of Firework-Related Ocular Injuries in Malaysia.

Background: Fireworks are known to cause severe ocular injuries. This study was intended to examine the pattern and visual outcomes of firework-related severe eye injuries in Malaysia.  Methods: A retrospective review of fireworks-related eye injuries was conducted in Malaysia from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Antenatal detection of pediatric surgical congenital abnormalities and its effect on maternal anxiety: a multicentre prospective study in a middle-income country.

Background: In middle-income countries, healthcare systems face unique challenges in ensuring timely antenatal detection of congenital abnormalities that require pediatric surgical intervention. Early detection can significantly improve outcomes, yet resource constraints often limit access to diagnostic technologies. This study evaluates the antenatal detection rate of congenital abnormalities referred to pediatric surgical services in three Malaysian tertiary centers and examines its effect on maternal anxiety.

Targeting Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) in Treating Osteoarthritis.

Despite osteoarthritis (OA) being recognised for over a century as a debilitating disease that affects millions, there are huge gaps in our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology that drives this disease. Present day studies that focussed on ubiquitination (Ub) and ubiquitylation-like (Ubl) modification related mechanisms have brought light into the possibility of attenuating OA development by targeting these specific proteins in chondrocytes. In the present review, we discuss recent advances in studies involving Ub ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) which are of importance in the development of OA, and may offer potential therapeutic strategies for OA.

SLAMF7 defines subsets of human effector CD8 T cells.

Long-term control of viral replication relies on the efficient differentiation of memory T cells into effector T cells during secondary immune responses. Recent findings have identified T cell precursors for both memory and exhausted T cells, suggesting the existence of progenitor-like effector T cells. These cells can persist without antigenic challenge but expand and acquire effector functions upon recall immune responses.

Higher Versus Lower Protein Delivery in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Recent multicenter trials suggest that higher protein delivery may result in worse outcomes in critically ill patients, but uncertainty remains. An updated Bayesian meta-analysis of recent evidence was conducted to estimate the probabilities of beneficial and harmful treatment effects.

Data Sources: An updated systematic search was performed in three databases until September 4, 2024.

The effects of community-based education programs on empathy, emotional intelligence, and caring behaviors among nursing students: a scoping review.

Introduction: Community-based learning approaches are gaining recognition in nursing education as a means to address the needs of aging societies by fostering empathy, emotional intelligence, and caring behaviors among nursing students. These attributes are essential for enhancing the quality of care and building strong interpersonal connections with older adults. While community-based education programs offer promising benefits, there is still limited understanding of their impact on nursing students' empathy, emotional intelligence, and caring behaviors.

Asia-Pacific Survey on the Management of Helicobacter pylori Infection.

Background And Aim: Gastric cancer (GC)-related incidence and mortality rates remain high owing to Helicobacter pylori infection in Asia, and the importance of primary and secondary prevention of GC has been well recognized. We aimed to investigate the extent of overall agreement among clinicians in the Asia-Pacific region regarding the management of H. pylori infection.

Progress in photocatalytic degradation of industrial organic dye by utilising the silver doped titanium dioxide nanocomposite.

Industrial organic dyes represent a significant portion of pollutants discharged into the environment, particularly by the textile industry. These compounds pose serious threats to living organisms due to their high toxicity. Various techniques have been explored for the degradation of organic dyes, among which heterogeneous photocatalysis utilising titanium dioxide (TiO) stands out as a promising technology.

Development and validation of the Japanese version of the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE-J) Scale.

Aim: This study aimed to develop and validate a Japanese version of the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE-J) Scale to measure attitudes towards epilepsy among the general Japanese population.

Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design using an online survey of 537 participants from the general public in Japan, with follow-up surveys at 2 weeks and 3 months. The PATE Scale was translated following standard guidelines and validated by conducting confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the complete data set to assess the original two-factor structure of the PATE Scale.

Off-the-Shelf Implant to Bridge a Urethral Defect: Multicenter 8-Year Journey From Bench to Bed.

Objective: To engineer an acellular mesh to reconstruct the urethra to replace the current surgical practice of using autologous tissue grafts. Cell based approaches have shown progress. However, these have been associated with high costs and logistical challenges.

Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy. Patients typically develop rapidly progressive weakness and sensory deficits that can result in complete paralysis requiring mechanical ventilation. GBS is usually a monophasic disease in which an aberrant immune response to an infection or other trigger damages the peripheral nerves.

Temporal incremental healthcare costs associated with complications in Hong Kong Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: A prospective study in Joint Asia diabetes evaluation (JADE) Register (2007-2019).

Objective: We examined incremental healthcare costs (inpatient and outpatient) related to complications in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) during the year of occurrence and post-event years, utilizing the Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) Register cohort of Hong Kong Chinese patients with T2D between 2007 and 2019.

Research Design And Methods: 19,440 patients with T2D underwent structured evaluation utilizing the JADE platform with clinical outcomes data retrieved from territory-wide electronic medical records including inpatient, outpatient and emergency care. Two-part model was adopted to account for skewed healthcare costs distribution.

Whole genome analysis revealed the role of and genes in carbapenem resistance of strains.

is a multidrug-resistant bacterium that has emerged as a significant nosocomial pathogen globally and renowned for its ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. However, understanding of its resistance mechanisms to certain drug classes remains limited. This study focused on four bacterial strains (AB863, AB889, AB930, and AB960) exhibiting carbapenem resistance.

CD8+ T-Cell Signatures as Prognostic and Immunotherapy Response Predictors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represents the majority of lung cancer cases, comprising approximately 85 % of the total. The five-year survival rate for NSCLC patients remains discouragingly low. Recently, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach.

Feasibility study of a grid-connected PV/wind hybrid energy system for an urban dairy farm.

This study evaluates the energy efficiency of an urban dairy farm in Tlemcen, Algeria, by assessing the feasibility of a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV)/wind hybrid energy system. Using HOMER and MATLAB software, the study explores the potential for replacing the farm's existing energy systems with a hybrid system integrated into a low-voltage electrical grid. The HOMER software determined the configuration that resulted in the lowest net present cost, energy cost in kWh, greenhouse gas emission mitigation, and renewable fraction (RF).

Weightism in Asia: A Narrative Review and Implications for Practice.

Weightism, also known as weight-related discrimination, is pervasive and believed to be one of the socially accepted types of discrimination in Asia. Weightism is pervasive, impactful, and has significant repercussions on individuals grappling with excess weight. Despite being a major risk factor for obesity, excess weight is not well documented in the Asian literature.

Genetic Diversity and Expanded Phenotypes in Dystonia: Insights from Large-Scale Exome Sequencing.

Dystonia is one of the most prevalent movement disorders, characterized by significant clinical and etiological heterogeneity. Despite considerable heritability (~25%) and the identification of several disease-linked genes, the etiology in most patients remains elusive. Moreover, understanding the correlations between clinical manifestation and genetic variants has become increasingly complex.