Associations of cord blood concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances with autistic traits in Singaporean children: The growing up in Singapore towards healthy outcomes study.

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits and repetitive behaviors. Environmental pollutants may contribute to the etiology of ASD, but studies of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have shown conflicting results.

Objectives: We assessed associations between cord blood concentrations of PFAS with autistic traits at age seven years in a Singaporean birth cohort.

iPSC-derived human sensory neurons reveal a subset of TRPV1 antagonists as anti-pruritic compounds.

Signaling interplay between the histamine 1 receptor (H1R) and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) in mediating histaminergic itch has been well-established in mammalian models, but whether this is conserved in humans remains to be confirmed due to the difficulties in obtaining human sensory neurons (SNs) for experimentation. Additionally, previously reported species-specific differences in TRPV1 function indicate that use of human SNs is vital for drug candidate screening to have a higher chance of identifying clinically effective TRPV1 antagonists. In this study, we built a histamine-dependent itch model using peripheral SNs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-SNs), which provides an accessible source of human SNs for pre-clinical drug screening.

Long-term multi-systemic complications after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta infection in children: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Most studies on long-term sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children were conducted pre-Omicron and pre-dated vaccination rollout. We examined long-term risk of new-incident multi-systemic sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 Delta/Omicron infection in a multi-ethnic Asian paediatric population.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of Singaporean children aged 1-17 years infected during Delta/Omicron BA.

One-Pot Synthesis of Oxygen Vacancy-Rich Amorphous/Crystalline Heterophase CaWO Nanoparticles for Enhanced Radiodynamic-Immunotherapy.

Radiodynamic therapy that employs X-rays to trigger localized reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation can tackle the tissue penetration issue of phototherapy. Although calcium tungstate (CaWO) shows great potential as a radiodynamic agent benefiting from its strong X-ray absorption and the ability to generate electron-hole (e-h) pairs, slow charge carrier transfer and fast e-h recombination greatly limit its ROS-generating performance. Herein, via a one-pot wet-chemical method, oxygen vacancy-rich amorphous/crystalline heterophase CaWO nanoparticles (Ov-a/c-CaWO NPs) with enhanced radiodynamic effect are synthesized for radiodynamic-immunotherapy of cancer.

Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Considerations Raised by Self-Reported Genital Mutilation Following Voluntary Cosmetic Labiaplasty.

An increasing number of women are undergoing female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS). Labiaplasty, the most commonly performed FGCS, consists of a surgical procedure to decrease the inner labia size so that no or less tissue protrudes beyond the outer labia. Anatomically, it is similar to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) Type 2a.

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.

Targeting P4HA1 promotes CD8 T cell progenitor expansion toward immune memory and systemic anti-tumor immunity.

Successful immunotherapy relies on both intratumoral and systemic immunity, which is yet to be achieved for most patients with cancer. Here, we identify P4HA1, encoding prolyl 4-hydroxylase 1, as a crucial regulator of CD8 T cell differentiation strongly upregulated in tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) and hypoxic tumor microenvironment. P4HA1 accumulates in mitochondria, disrupting the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle through aberrant α-ketoglutarate and succinate metabolism, promoting mitochondria unfitness and exhaustion while suppressing progenitor expansion.

Beyond consciousness: Ethical, legal, and social issues in human brain organoid research and application.

This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the ethical, legal and social issues in human brain organoid research, with a view to different types of research and applications: in vitro research, transplantation into non-human animals, and biocomputing. Despite the academic and societal attention on the possibility that human brain organoids may be conscious, we have identified diverse issues in human brain organoid research and applications. To guide the complex terrain of human brain organoid research and applications, a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ethical, legal, and social perspectives is essential.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Orthostatic Hypotension in Hemorrhagic Stroke Patients During Hospitalization.

Background/objectives: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is highly prevalent in hospitalized patients and can lead to major consequences. The prevalence of OH among patients with stroke has also been reported to be high in in-patient cohorts. However, no previous analysis has focused exclusively on patients with hemorrhagic stroke, a group that may have a different disease profile, including a greater need for blood pressure control and surgical intervention.

Detecting Tumor-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Intracranial hemorrhage associated with primary or metastatic brain tumors is a critical condition that requires urgent intervention, often through open surgery. Nevertheless, surgical interventions may not always be feasible due to two main reasons: (1) extensive hemorrhage can obscure the underlying tumor mass, limiting radiological assessment; and (2) intracranial hemorrhage may occasionally present as the first symptom of a brain tumor without prior knowledge of its existence. The current review of case studies suggests that advanced radiological imaging techniques can improve diagnostic power for tumoral hemorrhage.

Development of BCMA-Targeted Bispecific Natural Killer Cell Engagers for Multiple Myeloma Treatment.

Background: B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted T cell-redirecting immunotherapies, including Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and T-cell engagers have demonstrated remarkable success in treating relapsed/refractory (RR) multiple myeloma (MM), a malignancy of plasma cells. However, a significant challenge is the severe side effects associated with T-cell overactivation, leading to cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity in MM patients undergoing such therapies. Bispecific NK cell engagers (NKCEs) may offer a promising alternative by redirecting NK cell cytotoxic activity towards tumor cells without triggering cytokine release syndrome.

The historical evolution of smallpox treatment in Japan visualised through Japanese artwork and woodblock prints.

Art reveals core human emotions during catastrophes like epidemics, allowing people to narrate their coping stories. This review examines smallpox's historical evolution and treatment in Japan, integrating visual art with medical history. It provides chronological insights from smallpox's arrival and traditional remedies to the era of vaccination and public health measures leading to eventual eradication.

Anti-diabetic effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on obese and overweight patients across diabetes status, administration routes, treatment duration and baseline characteristics: A systematic review.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly used for anti-obesity indications. However, little is known of the comparative effect of GLP-1 RAs and their glycemic impact across the different routes of administration, diabetic statuses and durations of prescription. PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched from inception to 13 February 2024.

Impact of dementia and mild cognitive impairment on bone health in older people.

Mild cognitive impairment, dementia and osteoporosis are common diseases of ageing and, with the increasingly ageing global population, are increasing in prevalence. These conditions are closely associated, with shared risk factors, common underlying biological mechanisms and potential direct causal pathways. In this review, the epidemiological and mechanistic links between mild cognitive impairment, dementia and skeletal health are explored.

Cardiovascular-Liver-Metabolic Health: Recommendations in Screening, Diagnosis, and Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Cardiovascular Disease via Modified Delphi Approach.

There is a new awareness of the widespread nature of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its connection to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This has catalyzed collaboration between cardiologists, hepatologists, endocrinologists, and the wider multidisciplinary team to address the need for earlier identification of those with MASLD who are at increased risk for CVD. The overlap in the pathophysiologic processes and parallel prevalence of CVD, metabolic syndrome, and MASLD highlight the multisystem consequences of poor cardiovascular-liver-metabolic health.

Effects of Moderate Consumption of a Probiotic-Fermented Sour Beer on the Inflammatory, Immunity, Lipid Profile, and Gut Microbiome of Healthy Men in a Participant-Blinded, Randomized-Controlled Within-Subject Crossover Study.

Probiotic sour beer (PRO) fermented with Lpc-37 is a novel beverage option, which may potentially offer health benefits. In this study, the effects of PRO are evaluated on the inflammatory, immunity, lipid profile, and gut microbiome of consumers in a 5-week, participant-blinded, randomized-controlled within-subject crossover study. Twenty-one healthy male participants consumed 330 mL of PRO and normal sour beer (CON) daily for 2 weeks each with a 1 week of washout.

Gender and racial diversity Assumed by text-to-image generators in microsurgery and plastic surgery-related subspecialities.

Background: Since the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November 2022, generative artificial intelligence (AI) models have attracted significant attention in various fields, including surgery. These advancements have been particularly notable for creating highly detailed and contextually accurate images from textual prompts. A notable area of clinical application is the representation of surgeon demographics in various specialties, particularly in the context of microsurgery and plastic surgery-related subspecialties.

Effectiveness of Digital-Based Interventions on Physical and Psychological Outcomes Among Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Evolving digital technology has paved the way for endless potentiality. Leveraging on digital technology for healthcare purposes can target cancer patients, thus improving physical and psychological symptoms. Nevertheless, there is limited consolidated evidence on the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) and mobile applications.

Advancements in glycan analysis: high performance anion exchange chromatography-pulsed amprometric detection coupled with mass spectrometry for structural elucidation.

Carbohydrates are essential biomolecules that play a vital role in various biological processes across humans, plants, and bacteria. Despite their ubiquity, the structural elucidation of carbohydrates, particularly oligo- and polysaccharides, remains a significant challenge due to their complex and heterogeneous nature. The high-performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) or called ion chromatography (IC) coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) has emerged as a powerful tool for highly effective separation and highly specific detection of glycans.

Self-maintenance of zonal hepatocytes during adult homeostasis and their complex plasticity upon distinct liver injuries.

Hepatocytes are organized into distinct zonal subsets across the liver lobule, yet their contributions to liver homeostasis and regeneration remain controversial. Here, we developed multiple genetic lineage-tracing mouse models to systematically address this. We found that the liver lobule can be divided into two major zonal and molecular hepatocyte populations marked by Cyp2e1 or Gls2.

Neurotransmitter-Mimicking Nanovesicles Facilitate Postoperative Glioblastoma Stem Cell-Specific Treatment for Preventing Tumor Recurrence.

Survival quality of glioblastoma (GBM) patients remains undesirable despite the aggressive multimodal treatment methods implemented, which are strongly associated with tumor recurrence after surgical resection. Self-renewal and strong tumourigenic capacity of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) at the narrow margin of the incision are essential factors driving tumor secondary strikes. Currently, the challenges in treating postoperative residual GSCs are mainly due to the lack of materials for incision and GSCs targeting.

The environmental impact and sustainability of infection control practices: a systematic scoping review.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) programs form the basis of minimizing spread of pathogens in the healthcare setting and beyond. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the demand for IPC. However, the environmental impact of IPC practices has yet to be addressed and attempts to quantify its climate implications have been sparse.