A Comparative Study of Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery versus Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for the Management of Staghorn Renal Calculi.

Aim: The indications for performing retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) have increased. However, no comparative studies have been conducted on the treatment of staghorn renal calculi using RIRS and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of RIRS and PCNL as treatments for staghorn renal calculi.

Combining Mitomycin C with inhibition of BAD phosphorylation enhances apoptotic cell death in advanced cervical cancer.

Objective: Mitomycin C (MMC), a DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic, is commonly used clinically for recurrent cervical carcinoma (CC), either alone or in combination. MMC generates DNA damage resulting in CC cell death yet also induces increased AKT-BAD phosphorylation associated with drug resistance and reduced clinical benefit. The present study evaluates the efficacy of combined MMC and a BAD phosphorylation inhibitor in CC.

The impact of vaccine type and booster dose on the magnitude and breadth of SARS-CoV-2-specific systemic and mucosal antibodies among COVID-19 vaccine recipients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on global health and economy, which was significantly mitigated by the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. The levels of systemic and mucosal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 correlated with protection. However, there is limited data on how vaccine type and booster doses affect mucosal antibody response, and how the breadth of mucosal and systemic antibodies compares.

Trajectory of haemoglobin A1c and incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To evaluate the association between changes in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the concurrent incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Method: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among T2DM patients with HbA1c measurement after T2DM diagnosis between August 2009 and September 2010. The patients were classified into six subgroups based on baseline HbA1c (<7%; 7%-7.

Case report: Roxadustat overdose in an anemia patient of chronic kidney disease: insight beyond insignificant consequence.

A 71-year-old man with a 20-year history of grade 3 hypertension experienced kidney dysfunction 2 years earlier. His serum creatinine (SCr) at the time was 140 μmol/L [with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 43.9 ml/min per 1.

Effect of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease on BNT162b2 immunogenicity against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant.

Background And Aim: We aimed to investigate the effect of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) on three-dose BNT162b2 immunogenicity to the omicron variant.

Methods: Adult recipients of three doses of BNT162b2 were prospectively recruited between May and December 2021. The serology of the neutralizing antibody by live virus microneutralization (vMN) to the omicron variant was measured at baseline, day 180, and day 360 after the first dose.

Postoperative Renal Abscess Following Tip-Flexible Suctioning Ureteral Access Sheath and Digital Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND The tip-flexible suctioning ureteral access sheath (TFS-UAS) can be bent under flexible ureteroscopes, which facilitates removal of renal stone segments by irrigation and suctioning effects. Small-scale comparative studies found it safer and more efficacious than traditional UAS. However, complications such as renal abscess were not documented after TFS-UAS combined with digital FURS.

The significance of recurrent de novo amino acid substitutions that emerged during chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection: an observational study.

Background: De novo amino acid substitutions (DNS) frequently emerge among immunocompromised patients with chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection. While previous studies have reported these DNS, their significance has not been systematically studied.

Methods: We performed a review of DNS that emerged during chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Efficacy of COVID-19 Oral antivirals in hospitalised oldest-old with high morbidity burden: a target trial emulation study.

Background: Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir are orally administered pharmacotherapies for mild to moderate COVID-19. However, the effectiveness of these drugs among very old (≥80 years), hospitalised patients remains unclear, limiting the risk-benefit assessment of these antivirals in this specific group. This study investigates the effectiveness of these antivirals in reducing mortality among this group of hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

A standard set of outcome measures for the comprehensive assessment of oral health and occlusion in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders of varying severity characterized by bone fragility. The primary objective of this international multidisciplinary collaboration initiative was to reach a consensus for a standardized set of clinician and patient-reported outcome measures, as well as associated measuring instruments for dental care of individuals with OI, based on the aspects considered important by both experts and patients. This project is a subsequent to the Key4OI project initiated by the Care4BrittleBones foundation which aims to develop a standard set of outcome measures covering a large domain of factors affecting quality of life for people with OI.

ExpOmics: a comprehensive web platform empowering biologists with robust multi-omics data analysis capabilities.

Motivation: High-throughput technologies yield a broad spectrum of multi-omics datasets, which offer unparalleled insights into complex biological systems. However, effectively analyzing this diverse array of data presents challenges, considering factors such as species diversity, data types, costs, and limitations of the available tools.

Results: Herein, we present ExpOmics, a comprehensive web platform featuring 7 applications and 4 toolkits, with 28 customizable analysis functions spanning various analyses of differential expression, co-expression, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), feature selection, and functional enrichment.

Multi-omics analyses reveal aberrant differentiation trajectory with WNT1 loss-of-function in type XV osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of severe genetic bone disorders characterized by congenital low bone mass, deformity, and frequent fractures. Type XV OI is a moderate to severe form of skeletal dysplasia caused by WNT1 variants. In this cohort study from southern China, we summarized the clinical phenotypes of patients with WNT1 variants and found that the proportion of type XV patients was around 10.

Exosomes derived from endothelial progenitor cells ameliorate LPS-induced brain microvascular endothelial cells injury by delivering miR-126a-5p.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a crucial role in maintaining vascular health and aiding in the repair of damaged blood vessels. However, the specific impact of EPCs-derived exosomes on vascular endothelial cell injury caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) remains inadequately understood. This study aims to explore the potential benefits of EPC-exosomes in mitigating LPS-induced vascular injury and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Synergistic association of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor and metformin on liver and non-liver complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (diabetic MASLD) frequently coexist and worsen liver and non-liver outcomes, but effective pharmacological therapies are limited. We aimed to evaluate the long-term effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT-2i) on liver and non-liver outcomes among patients with diabetic MASLD.

Design: This population-based cohort study retrieved patients with diabetic MASLD from Merative Marketscan Research Databases (April 2013 and December 2021).

Oscillatory mechanisms of intrinsic human brain networks.

Non-invasive neuroimaging has revealed specific network-based resting-state dynamics in the human brain, yet the underlying neurophysiological mechanism remains unclear. We employed intracranial electroencephalography to characterize local field potentials within the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), and salience network (SN) in 42 participants. We identified stronger within-network phase coherence at low frequencies (θ and α band) within the DMN, and at high frequencies (γ band) within the FPN.

Psychometric properties and moderated mediation analysis of the ICIQ-NQOL in Chinese primary care patients with nocturia.

Background: Many individuals consider nocturia a significant nuisance, leading to a reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, there has been a lack of psychometrically sound patient-reported outcome measures to assess the impact of nocturia on patients in Chinese contexts. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Nocturia Quality of Life Module (ICIQ-NQOL) for use among primary care patients in Hong Kong, China.

Comparing the effectiveness of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in non-hospitalized and hospitalized COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes: A target trial emulation study.

Aims: To compare the effectiveness of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for non-hospitalized and hospitalized COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Materials And Methods: Territory-wide electronic health records in Hong Kong were used to perform target trial emulation using a sequential trial approach. Patients (1) aged ≥18 years, (2) with T2DM, (3) with COVID-19 infection, and (4) who received molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir within 5 days of infection between 16 March 2022 and 31 December 2022 in non-hospital and hospital settings were included.

Impact of a drug allergy education course for non-specialists: Findings from ADAPT-A randomized crossover trial.

Background: The consequences of drug allergy remain a global health concern. Drug allergy is often a neglected topic and many non-specialists lack sufficient knowledge or confidence in evaluating or managing this common condition. Evidence-based interventions to better equip non-specialists to tackle drug allergy are needed.

A rare case report of mucinous adenocarcinoma exacerbated by long-standing solitary rectal ulcer syndrome.

Background: Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is a rare chronic rectal lesion with potential for malignant transformation, although cases of rapid progression to mucinous adenocarcinoma are infrequent. This case report highlights such an instance in a 29-year-old male patient, emphasizing the importance of vigilance among clinicians for detecting canceration in SRUS patients.

Case Description: The patient presented with recurrent constipation and anal discomfort, initially diagnosed with SRUS based on colonoscopy and pathological examination.

The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating Questionnaire: a pilot validation study in Chinese families.

Introduction: Identifying the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) gaps of healthy eating can inform the design of effective interventions. This study aimed to test the validity and psychometric properties of a KAP of Healthy Eating Questionnaire (KAP-HEQ) tailored to the Chinese culture.

Methods: The dimensions and potential items of each KAP scale were identified from published KAP and health literacy questionnaires, which were supplemented by the findings of a previous qualitative healthy eating study.

Hospital-Treated Infectious Diseases, Infection Burden, and Risk of Lung Cancer: An Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Although infections play a role in the development of lung cancer, the longitudinal association between infection and the risk of lung cancer is disputed, and data relating to pathogen types and infection sites are sparse.

Research Question: How do infections affect subsequent lung cancer risk, and is the impact limited to specific microbes rather than infection burden?

Study Design And Methods: Data on > 900 infectious diseases were gathered from the UK Biobank study. Short- and long-term effects of infections were assessed by using time-varying Cox proportional hazards models.