Trends in food allergy among Hong Kong preschoolers: Findings from 2006, 2013, and 2020 surveys.

Background: Food allergy (FA) significantly impacts quality of life and public health, but data on prevalence trends in Asia remain limited. This study investigated trends in FA prevalence and related allergic conditions among preschool Chinese children over a 15-year period.

Methodology: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2006, 2013, and 2020, targeting nurseries, preschool, and daycare centers across Hong Kong.

Transcriptomic Identification of Key Genes Responding to High Heat Stress in Moso Bamboo ().

Moso bamboo (), the most widely distributed bamboo species in China, is valued for both its shoots and timber. This species often faces challenges from high-temperature stress. To cope with this stress, Moso bamboo has evolved various adaptive mechanisms at the physiological and molecular levels.

The use of urinary biomarkers as prognostic tools: predicting kidney outcomes in pediatric acute kidney injury.

Background: There is limited data on applying urinary biomarkers for prediction of kidney outcomes in pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: We prospectively measured urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), tissue metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 14 (CCL14), alongside serum kidney function test in critically ill children with AKI admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. The primary outcomes included persistent AKI (lasting for ≥ 72 h) and prolonged AKI (lasting for ≥ 7 days).

Long-term cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide for individuals with type 2 diabetes and comorbid obesity.

Objectives: This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide (TZP) 10 and 15 mg once weekly (QW) compared to placebo among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and comorbid obesity in the United States (US).

Research Design And Methods: The Building, Relating, Assessing and Validating Outcomes (BRAVO) Diabetes Model was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of the two TZP doses in individuals with T2D and comorbid obesity from the US healthcare perspective, using a 30-year time horizon. Treatment effects were derived from the SURMOUNT-2 trial and assumed to persist for 5 years.

Truly Scarless Three-Port Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy: A Feasible and Efficient Alternative to the Four-Port Approach for Thyroid Cancer Patients.

Background: Transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) has traditionally used a four-port technique. The original three-port approach, which eliminates the axillary port, makes TORT truly scarless. This study compares outcomes between these techniques.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome in children with palatal anomaly: who and when to test?

Introduction: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is associated with palatal abnormalities.

Fish Allergenicity Ladder and Parvalbumin Epitopes for Predicting Clinical Cross-Reactivity and Reintroduction in Chinese Population.

Background: IgE-mediated fish allergy has long been considered an umbrella term due to the high cross-reactivity of parvalbumin, the major fish allergen. Yet, clinical tolerance to certain fish highlights allergenicity differences. In this study, we sought to construct a fish allergenicity ladder and identify fish parvalbumin epitopes to improve the diagnosis of fish allergy.

T4 DNA Polymerase-Proofread DNA Binding Identifier for Sensitive Homogeneous Immunoassays.

Aptamer-based homogeneous immunoassays exhibit considerable potential in the domains of bioanalysis and biodiagnosis owing to their universality in analyzing both proteins and small molecules as well as their compatibility with nucleic acid amplification technologies. Nevertheless, the substantial signal leakage by nonspecific aptamer allostery poses a challenge to enhancing sensitivity further. Herein, we reported a T4 DNA polymerase-proofread DNA binding identifier (ReID).

Ultrasound speckle tracking imaging measurement of endocardial longitudinal strain for evaluation of prognostic value of "new quadruple" therapy in patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the "new quadruple" therapy in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with metabolic syndrome using 2D speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) stratified strain imaging to measure endocardial longitudinal strain while exploring its underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms.

Patients And Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed 158 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%] treated with the "new quadruple" therapy (angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), sacubitril/valsartan, dapagliflozin, bisoprolol, and spironolactone) for 8 weeks. Conventional ultrasound indices, left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), and subendocardial longitudinal strain (LS) were measured pre- and post-treatment.

Feasibility of Cricothyroid Muscle Needle Electrode for Monitored Thyroidectomy.

Objectives: Preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) is essential to maintain voice function after thyroidectomy. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) assists in nerve preservation. This study compares three IONM modalities, endotracheal surface electrode (ETSE), thyroid cartilage needle electrodes (TCNE), and cricothyroid muscle needle electrode (CTNE), in their monitoring of laryngeal muscle electromyographic (EMG) amplitude.

Comparison of HiDAC Versus FLAG-IDA in the Treatment of Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia and High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Background: Relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS) are associated with a poor prognosis. It is unknown which re-induction therapy provides the highest chance of durable remission. Commonly used therapies are high dose cytarabine (HiDAC) and triple therapy consisting of fludarabine, cytarabine, and idarubicin combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (FLAG-IDA).

Combined Integrative RNA-Seq and Serological sIgE Analysis Enhances Understanding of Fish Allergen Profiles and Diagnostic Strategy for Fish Allergy.

Fish allergy is a significant health concern, with diagnosis and management complicated by diverse fish species and allergens. We conducted a comprehensive RNA-seq analysis of eight fish species to identify allergen profiles, integrating ImmunoCAP sIgE data to explore associations with allergen expression and diagnostic performance. Over 30 putative fish allergens were identified, with varying sequence similarities and expression levels, roughly classifying fish into two groups based on parvalbumin (PV) expression.

Robotic and Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma: An International Multicenter Study.

Background And Objective: Robotic adrenalectomy (RA) has attracted interest as an alternative to laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) for patients with pheochromocytoma, although its beneficial effects are uncertain. Our aim was to compare RA and LA outcomes for these patients.

Methods: Data for patients who underwent RA or LA for pheochromocytoma in 46 international centers between 2012 and 2022 were reviewed.

The role of serine/threonine protein kinases in cardiovascular disease and potential therapeutic methods.

Protein phosphorylation is an important link in a variety of signaling pathways, and most of the important life processes in cells involve protein phosphorylation. Based on the amino acid residues of phosphorylated proteins, protein kinases can be categorized into the following families: serine/threonine protein kinases, tyrosine-specific protein kinases, histidine-specific protein kinases, tryptophan kinases, and aspartate/glutamyl protein kinases. Of all the protein kinases, most are serine/threonine kinases, where serine/threonine protein kinases are protein kinases that catalyze the phosphorylation of serine or threonine residues on target proteins using ATP as a phosphate donor.

SERT and OCT mediate 5-HT receptor regulation of immobility behavior and uptake of 5-HT and HIS.

5-HT clearance, commonly mediated by transporters in the uptake-1 and uptake-2 families, has been linked to 5-HT receptor's action on behaviors. Since no specific transporters identified yet, effects of serotonin transporter (SERT) and organic cation transporter (OCTs) on 5-HT-elicited immobility phenotype, and 5-HT and HIS uptake were then investigated. Intraperitoneal injections of SERT inhibitor fluoxetine (FLX) and/or OCTs inhibitor decynium (D22) were used prior to local perfusion of 5-HT agonist CP93129 into the ventral hippocampus to measure immobility times in the FST and TST, to measure 5-HT uptake efficiencies and HIS uptake efficiencies derived from linear regressions using the transient no-net-flux quantitative microdialysis in C57BL/6 mice.

Azathioprine/hydroxyurea preconditioning prior to nonmyeloablative matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adults with sickle cell disease: A prospective observational cohort study.

Nonmyeloablative, matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with alemtuzumab/total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning is a curative therapy with low toxicity for adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, relatively low donor chimerism levels and graft rejection remain important challenges. We hypothesized that adding azathioprine/hydroxyurea preconditioning will improve donor chimerism levels and reduce graft failure rate.

Water and Air Stable Copper(I) Complexes of Tetracationic Catenane Ligands for Oxidative C-C Cross-Coupling.

Aqueous soluble and stable Cu(I) molecular catalysts featuring a catenane ligand composed of two dicationic, mutually repelling but mechanically interlocked macrocycles are reported. The ligand interlocking not only fine-tunes the coordination sphere and kinetically stabilizes the Cu(I) against air oxidation and disproportionation, but also buries the hydrophobic portions of the ligands and prevents their dissociation which are necessary for their good water solubility and a sustained activity. These catenane Cu(I) complexes can catalyze the oxidative C-C coupling of indoles and tetrahydroisoquinolines in water, using HO as a green oxidant with a good substrate scope.

Polymorphic markers of several immune regulatory genes modulate the susceptibility for eczema and related phenotypes in children.

Background: Eczema is associated with multiple genes regulating epidermal barrier functions and immunological pathways. However, their epistatic interactions are not well studied. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between childhood eczema phenotypes and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of immune regulatory genes.