Browse publications by year: 2025

  1. Ortenzi KM, Flowers VL, Pamak C, Saunders M, Schmidt JO, Bailey M
    Ambio, 2025 Feb;54(2):256-269.
    PMID: 39343788 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-02077-6
    Although researchers are committed to Indigenous data sovereignty in principle, they fall short in returning data and results to communities in which or with whom they conduct their research. This results in a misalignment in benefits of research toward researchers and settler institutions and away from Indigenous communities. To explore this, we conducted a case study analyzing the rate researchers returned data to Nunatsiavut, an autonomous area claimed by Inuit of Labrador, Canada. We assessed the data return rate for all research approved by the Nunatsiavut Government Research Advisory Committee between 2011 and 2021. In two-thirds of projects, researchers did not return the data they had collected. Based on our results and their contextualization with researchers and Nunatsiavut Research Centre staff members, we compiled recommendations for researchers, academia, government bodies, funding bodies, and Indigenous research governance boards. These recommendations aim to facilitate data return, thus putting data sovereignty into practice.
    MeSH terms: Inuits*; Humans; Newfoundland and Labrador; Research Personnel
  2. Wong JE, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Lee ST, Koh D, Khouw I, Poh BK, et al.
    J Phys Act Health, 2025 Jan 01;22(1):100-111.
    PMID: 39496260 DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0161
    BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep are interrelated 24-hour movement behaviors that are important for the growth and well-being of children. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity, and predicted changes in adiposity following compositional time reallocations in 7- to 12.9-year-old Malaysian children from the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys II Malaysia.

    METHODS: A total of 381 children (mean age 9.7 [1.6] y, 57% girls) provided 24-hour wrist-worn GENEActiv accelerometry data which captured time spent for sleep, SB, light PA and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). Indicators of adiposity were derived from anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis: body-mass-index-for-age, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, percent body fat, and body mass index. The composition of 4-part movement behaviors was expressed as isometric log-ratio coordinates which were entered into regression models. Isotemporal substitution analysis was used to assess changes in adiposity indicators when reallocating time between movement behaviors.

    RESULTS: Relative to other movement behaviors, time spent on MVPA was significantly associated with waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, percent body fat, and fat mass index. A 15-minute one-to-one reallocation from other movement behaviors to MVPA predicted lower body-mass-index-for-age (-0.03 to -0.11), smaller waist circumference (-0.67 to -1.28 cm), lower waist-to-height ratio (-0.004 to -0.008), percent body fat (-0.87% to -1.47%), and fat mass index (-0.23 to -0.42). Replacing SB and light PA with sleep or MVPA was associated with lower adiposity.

    CONCLUSIONS: The overall composition of movement behavior was significantly associated with the adiposity of Malaysian schoolchildren. Promoting MVPA and sleep and reducing SB and light PA are important for prevention of childhood obesity.

    MeSH terms: Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Exercise*; Body Mass Index*; Adiposity*; Waist Circumference*; Sedentary Lifestyle*; Accelerometry*; Waist-Height Ratio
  3. Shahari AS, Palanisamy NK, Mohd Nor F
    Microbiol Spectr, 2025 Feb 04;13(2):e0087224.
    PMID: 39704504 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00872-24
    Genetic characterization of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii remains scarce in Malaysia. This study aimed to characterize antibiotic resistance, genomic location, and genetic relatedness among the A. baumannii isolates obtained from a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. A total of 128 MDR A. baumannii isolates were collected from patients admitted to various wards (intensive care unit [ICU], neonatal intensive care unit, coronary care unit, high dependency ward [HDW], and general wards). The isolates were identified by Vitek 2 and PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene followed by sequencing. The isolates were tested against imipenem, ceftazidime, amikacin, gentamicin, ampicillin, and ciprofloxacin using disk diffusion, Epsilometer test, and broth microdilution. The antibiotic resistance genes, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaADC, blaVIM, and blaIMP, were detected in chromosomal and plasmid DNA using PCR. Insertion sequence ISAba1/blaOXA-23 gene was detected on chromosomal DNA only. Isolates with different antibiotic susceptibility patterns and PCR profiles were subjected to multi-locus sequence typing. MDR A. baumannii was predominantly found in HDW (39.84%), general wards (29.69%), and ICU (28.13%). All isolates conferred resistance to carbapenem and more than 90% resistance to the remaining antibiotics. The antibiotic resistance genes blaOXA-23, blaVIM, and blaADC were detected in both chromosomal and plasmid DNA. The ISAba1/blaOXA-23 gene was detected in 99.22% of the isolates. Four sequence types (STs) were distinguished: ST2 (76.67%), ST164 (10%), ST642 (10%), and ST643 (3.33%). ST164 and ST642 were unique and represent a significant finding in Malaysia's surveillance data. These STs are associated with acquired blaOXA-23, indicating an evolutionary adaptation of A. baumannii within the hospital setting.IMPORTANCEAcinetobacter baumannii is a ubiquitous Gram-negative coccobacillus bacterium that is primarily associated with nosocomial infections that can colonize biotic and abiotic surfaces to enhance cell-to-cell adhesion, ensuring the establishment of infections. To date, the spread of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB) has become rampant and a great concern in the hospital setting, as the available antibiotics are insufficient to treat infections. The antibiotic resistance island resides in a mobile element and rapidly evolved. The antibiotic susceptibility data with its resistance mechanisms would contribute to and facilitate the management and infection control caused by MDRAB.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; beta-Lactamases/genetics; Cross Infection/microbiology; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests*; Middle Aged; Plasmids/genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Tertiary Care Centers*
  4. Alhammad A, Yusof MM, Jambari DI
    J Eval Clin Pract, 2025 Feb;31(1):e14140.
    PMID: 39297411 DOI: 10.1111/jep.14140
    RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES: Medical device-integrated electronic medical records (MDI-EMR) pose significant challenges in ensuring effective usage, data security and patient safety. The complexities of MDI-EMR necessitate applying various security mechanisms to safeguard against cyber threats. Therefore, we evaluated cyber threats to MDI-EMR and the effectiveness of applied security controls using a proposed framework from sociotechnical and risk assessment perspectives.

    METHOD: We conducted a qualitative case study evaluation in a general hospital in Saudi Arabia using interviews, observation, and document analysis from the perspectives of major MDI-EMR stakeholders, including healthcare providers, IT professionals and cybersecurity specialists.

    RESULTS: The results showed the interplay among physical, technical and administrative security controls that maintained a secure posture of MDI-EMR. The effectiveness of security controls is highly influenced by the staff's cybersecurity awareness and training. The perceived effectiveness of security controls varied among users, with some expressing satisfaction with the ease of use and reliability, while others highlighting challenges such as password complexity and access procedures. Understanding these diverse perspectives is crucial for tailoring security measures to meet the needs of different stakeholders effectively.

    CONCLUSION: Collaboration among the key stakeholders is crucial for implementing security controls for MDI-EMR. Balancing security measures with usability concerns is essential, as highlighted by challenges in implementing technical controls. A comprehensive approach encompassing physical, technical and administrative controls, continuous education and awareness initiatives are significant to empower staff in recognising and mitigating cyber threats effectively to safeguard medical data and ensure the integrity of healthcare systems.

    MeSH terms: Equipment and Supplies/standards; Humans; Saudi Arabia; Qualitative Research
  5. Ghozza MH, Mosleh AT, Kamoun EA, Abdel-Aty M, Alfiras M, Ahmed MH, et al.
    Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2025 Jan 15;27(3):1447-1458.
    PMID: 39698808 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp04515g
    Nanostructured bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) single-phase nanoparticles with 76.2% crystallinity and 100% perovskite structure were synthesized using a co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the perovskite structure of BFO, and Rietveld refinement demonstrated the presence of a triclinic structure with the P1 space group. The Scherrer and Williamson-Hall equations were used to calculate the crystallite size (63 and 83 nm, respectively) with a grain size of almost 246 nm and an activation energy of 0.53 eV. The accumulation of free charges at interfaces, which correlate with the sample bulk and the interface between the compound and electrode space-charge polarization, was the reason behind the high values of ε'. As the frequency increased up to 1000 Hz, both dielectric constant ε' and dielectric loss ε' fell quickly. In contrast, at high frequencies, the ε' became more frequency-independent, notably when ε' increased with a temperature of up to 423 K. The sample exhibited considerable soft ferromagnetic-like activity due to the acquired nanoscale structure that promotes spin coating in the BiFeO3 antiferromagnetic phase. The significant coercivity 2624.5 Oe provides each materials in permanent magnetic and transformers. Photocatalytic activity of the BiFeO3 nanocomposite under UVA-light irradiation was performed using Congo red dye. The maximum photocatalytic degradation efficiency after 200 min for CR was 66%. The exceptional electrical and magnetic characteristics of nanostructured BiFeO3 provide new possibilities for its use in potential technological applications, i.e., spintronics, data storage microelectronics, and water treatment.
  6. Nadarajan GD, Pek PP, Blewer AL, Haedar A, Staton C, Wong KD, et al.
    Prehosp Emerg Care, 2025 Jan 13.
    PMID: 39700053 DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2024.2443472
    OBJECTIVES: International Prehospital Emergency Care (PEC) standards have been primarily developed by and for high resource settings. Most PEC systems in Asia, which are still in the early stages of development, struggle to achieve these standards. There is a need for an evaluation tool which can define achievable basic building blocks for PEC systems in low resource settings to improve quality of PEC. We aimed to identify the core, basic elements (building blocks of a PEC system) for a Prehospital Emergency Care Systems Evaluation Tool (PECSET) for low resource settings in Asia.

    METHODS: A 4-stage modified Delphi consensus method was used to engage 32 PEC experts from 12 Asian countries. Participants voted on 32 elements identified from a prior scoping review, focus group discussions, and survey. Each round of voting was conducted through an anonymous, web-based application and followed by face-to-face group discussions. The first two rounds aimed to answer, "Is the element important and feasible in a low resource setting?" The last two stages aimed to answer "Should this element be prioritized as core in the tool?" A thematic analysis of the recorded and transcribed discussions was used to identify participants' rationale for prioritization.

    RESULTS: After four rounds of voting, 12 elements were identified as core elements: (1) dispatch assisted instructions, (2) protocols for screening, triage and destination, (3) medical direction, (4) standardized training programs, (5) minimum ambulance standards, (6) operational metrics, (7) quality assurance, (8) operational safety protools, (9) essential patient care documentation, (10) medical records management, (11) layperson awareness and education and (12) universal access emergency number. However, the participants decided to include all 32 elements in the tool grouped into broader categories by percent agreement for a tiered approach for early, intermediate, and advanced PEC systems. Rationales for prioritization included a need for focus on basic infrastructure and building resilience in resource-stretched systems.

    CONCLUSIONS: Through a Delphi consensus process, stakeholders identified core elements for PEC systems in low resource settings. These findings will inform the development of a tool for quality assurance and monitoring in low resource settings in South and Southeast Asian countries.

  7. Soegianto A, Mukholladun W, Putranto TWC, Marchellina A, Manaf LBA, Irnidayanti Y, et al.
    Mar Pollut Bull, 2025 Feb;211:117467.
    PMID: 39700704 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117467
    Microcystins are generated by diverse cyanobacteria in shrimp ponds marked by high nutrient levels. The study examined microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) in the pond water, gills, hepatopancreas, and muscle of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) from shrimp ponds on the northern coast of East Java and its effects on their histological structures. In shrimp ponds dominated by cyanobacteria particularly Microcystis and Oscillatoria, MC-LR levels were high. In pond water, Microcystis and Oscillatoria levels increased along with NO2-, NH4+, clarity, and salinity. Shrimp tissues, such as the gills and hepatopancreas, experienced elevated MC-LR concentrations as a consequence of the MC-LR toxin increase in pond water. Shrimp inhabitants of ponds with elevated MC-LR concentrations exhibited significant changes in histological architecture, like hyperplasia in gill tissue and extensive vacuolation in hepatopancreas tissue. L. vannamei muscle samples show MC-LR amounts below the WHO's recommended daily intake of 0.04 μg/kg body weight/day, indicating no health risks to humans.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Environmental Monitoring; Gills; Indonesia; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis; Aquaculture*; Penaeidae*; Hepatopancreas
  8. Díaz PA, Basti L, Pérez-Santos I, Schwerter C, Artal O, Rosales SA, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2025 Jan 01;958:178140.
    PMID: 39700974 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178140
    Harmful algal blooms (HABs) of toxin-producing microalgae are recurrent in Patagonian fjord systems. Like toxigenic HABs, high-biomass harmful algal blooms (HB-HABs) have important socio-economic repercussions, but most studies have focused on the former. Here we report the formation and development of an intense HB-HAB of Prorocentrum micans that occurred in Northwest Chilean Patagonia in the late summer (February-March) of 2022. Concentrated and extensive brown spots were visible on the water surface, accompanied at the end of February by a strong odour. Prorocentrum micans cells were detected at relatively low densities (up to 215 cells mL-1) in January but by February 11 cell densities exceeded 1000 cells mL-1, reaching a maximum of 8.3 × 103 cell mL-1 in the surface layer. The high cell densities at Reloncaví Sound and the Gulf of Ancud were closely associated with narrow-ranging increases in the sea surface temperature (17-18.5 °C) and salinity (29-31 g kg-1). Sentinel-2 satellite images from February 22 showed a colour change corresponding to the presence of the brown patches at both locations, consistent with the increases in the normalized index of chlorophyll differences (NDCI) and chlorophyll a concentrations (~50 μg L-1). Satellite images from GHRSST indicated warmer waters in Reloncaví Sound and the Gulf of Ancud than in the Gulf of Corcovado, located 170-km to the south. An oceanographic 3-D model (MOSA) showed surface currents with a cyclonic eddy centred in the Gulf of Ancud. This circulation pattern suggested greater water retention in the study area during January and February, with the drifting and rotation of the coastal currents around the eddy maintaining the P. micans bloom. Thus, the elevated cell density of P. micans in the Gulf of Ancud, near the periphery of the eddy, confirm the presence of a material accumulation hotspot for HABs and HB-HABs.
    MeSH terms: Chile; Dinoflagellida; Environmental Monitoring*; Seasons; Biomass; Harmful Algal Bloom*
  9. Hau EH, Chew LY, Yeo SK, Owatworakit A, Teh SS, Mah SH
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2025 Feb;291:138897.
    PMID: 39701231 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138897
    Diabetes, particularly type II, is a global health concern, with current treatments like α-glucosidase inhibitors often causing gastrointestinal side effects. This study explored the antihyperglycemic potential of crude protein hydrolysate from oil palm leaves (OPL) as a plant-based α-glucosidase inhibitor. OPL protein hydrolysate was extracted under acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions, and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was assessed. OPL hydrolysate obtained under neutral conditions for 2 h showed the highest inhibitory activity, comparable to the standard drug, acarbose. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the most potent extract revealed that peptides from sub-fractions C1 and C9 exhibited stronger inhibition, with IC50 values of 66.3 and 62.0 μg/mL, respectively. Seven novel peptides were identified from these fractions, and molecular docking confirmed stable interactions between these peptides and the α-glucosidase enzyme via hydrogen bonds and salt bridges. These findings suggest that OPL protein hydrolysate is a plant-based promising natural α-glucosidase inhibitor with potential as an antidiabetic agent. Future studies should focus on in vivo validation of its efficacy and safety for therapeutic use.
    MeSH terms: Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry; Plant Proteins/pharmacology; Plant Proteins/chemistry; Molecular Docking Simulation*
  10. Sun B, Hu M, Bock C, Shao Y, Chen H, Waiho K, et al.
    Chemosphere, 2025 Feb;370:143958.
    PMID: 39701318 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143958
    Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) functions as a surfactant, while nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) serves as an antibacterial agent. These substances are extensively utilized in industrial production and, upon release into aquatic environments, pose significant threats to the viability and development of marine organisms. However, research into the effects of PFOA and nano-TiO2 on the immune functions and cellular energy allocation (CEA) of bivalves remains limited. To investigate the impact of PFOA and nano-TiO2 on immunity and cellular energy, we exposed Mytilus coruscus individuals to different concentrations of PFOA (2 and 200 μg/L), either alone or in combination with nano-TiO2 (0.1 mg/L, particle size: 25 nm) for 14 days. We found that the co-exposure to PFOA and nano-TiO2 had significant interactive effects on multiple immune function parameters of mussels. PFOA and nano-TiO2 notably reduced the total hemocyte count (THC), esterase activity (EST), mitochondrial number (MN), lysosomal content (LYSO), and cell viability, while concurrently elevating hemocyte mortality (HM) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Some immune-related genes, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response 88 (MyD88) were downregulated, while others such as Interleukin 17 (IL-17) and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) were upregulated after 14-day exposure to combined pollutant exposure. Furthermore, negative effects on CEA were observed under both individual and combined pollutant stress. Therefore, PFOA and nano-TiO2 regulate cellular and humoral immunity through the regulation of immune genes as mediators, while simultaneously disrupting cellular energy metabolism. The immunotoxicity of organic and particulate pollutants, and their mixtures, thus poses a significant risk to the immune defense capabilities of mussel populations in polluted coastal environments.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Energy Metabolism/drug effects; Hemocytes/drug effects; Immunity/drug effects; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
  11. Lui JNM, Lau ESH, Li AQY, Zhang Y, Lim LL, Chun-KwunO, et al.
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2025 Jan;219:111961.
    PMID: 39701541 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111961
    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. Incremental healthcare costs associated with nine non-fatal diabetes complications and all-cause death were estimated, adjusted for demographic, clinical, lifestyle factors and comorbidities.

    RESULTS: In this prospective cohort [mean ± SD age:59.9 ± 11.9 years, 56.6 % men, duration of diabetes:7.3 ± 7.5 years, HbA1C:7.5 ± 1.6 %] observed for 7 (interquartile range:4-9) years (142,132 patient-years), the mean annual healthcare costs, mainly due to inpatient cost, were USD$2,990 ± 9,960. Lower extremity amputation (LEA) (USD$31,302; 95 %CI: 25,706-37,004), hemorrhagic stroke (USD$21,164; 17,680-24,626), ischemic stroke (USD$17,976; $15,937-20,352) and end-stage disease (ESRD) (USD$14,774; 13,405-16,250) in the year of event incurred the highest cost. Residual healthcare costs in the post-event years were highest for ESRD, LEA, haemorrhagic stroke and incident cancer.

    CONCLUSION: These comprehensive temporal healthcare cost estimates for diabetes-related complications allows the performance of long-term, patient-level, cost-effectiveness analyses on T2D prevention and treatment strategies relevant to an Asian and possibly global contexts. These may inform decision-makers on resource allocation aimed at reducing the burden of T2D and chronic diseases.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Female; Hong Kong/epidemiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Registries
  12. Moler-Zapata S, Peters MJ, Gould DW, Giallongo E, Orzol M, Ray S, et al.
    Lancet Child Adolesc Health, 2025 Jan;9(1):16-24.
    PMID: 39701658 DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00294-3
    BACKGROUND: Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) above 94% is typical in children in paediatric intensive critical care units (PICUs) who are receiving invasive ventilation and supplemental oxygen. In a previous report from the Oxy-PICU trial, we showed that lower (conservative) oxygenation targets (SpO2 88-92%) are beneficial, showing small but statistically significant differences in duration of organ support and large but non-significant cost reductions at 30 days. In this pre-specified analysis of the Oxy-PICU trial, we compare longer-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of conservative versus liberal (SpO2 >94%) oxygenation targets in children with emergency PICU admission.

    METHODS: Oxy-PICU was a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial in England and Scotland. Eligible children were older than 38 weeks and younger than 16 years and had been admitted for emergency care in one of 15 participating PICUs, where they received invasive respiratory support for abnormal gas exchange. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to either a conservative oxygenation target (SpO2 88-92%) or liberal oxygenation target (SpO2 >94%). Survival status was assessed at 90 days and 1 year, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), health-care costs, and incremental net monetary benefit were assessed at 1 year after the index hospital admission and randomisation. HRQoL was measured with age-appropriate Paediatric Quality of Life Generic Core Scales and mapped onto the Child Health Utility 9D index score. HRQoL and survival data were combined to construct QALYs. Costs at 1 year were derived from use of hospital, outpatient, and community health services. The trial was registered in the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN92103439).

    FINDINGS: 2040 children were enrolled between Sept 1, 2020 and May 15, 2022. 1868 (91·6%) children were included in the 90-day survival analysis; of these 930 (49·8%) had been assigned liberal oxygen and 938 (50·2%) conservative oxygen. 1867 (91·5%) children were included in the 1-year survival analysis; 930 (49·8%) had been assigned liberal oxygenation and 937 (50·2%) conservative oxygen. At 90 days, 35 (3·7%) patients in the conservative oxygenation group and 45 (4·8%) patients in the liberal oxygenation group had died (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0·75 [95% CI 0·48 to 1·17]). By 1 year, 52 (5·5%) patients in the conservative oxygenation group and 66 (7·1%) patients in the liberal oxygenation group had died (aHR 0·77 [95%CI 0·53 to 1·10]). Overall, mean HRQoL, life-years, and QALYs at 1 year were similar in the two groups. The adjusted incremental effect on cost of conservative oxygenation versus liberal oxygenation was -£879 (95% CI -9036 to 7278), whereas the incremental difference in QALYs was estimated at 0·001 (-0·010 to 0·011), leading to an incremental net monetary benefit of £894 (-7290 to 9078) associated with conservative oxygenation relative to liberal oxygenation. These results did not vary by age (<12 months vs ≥12 months), comorbidity at baseline, age-adjusted heart rate, or haemoglobin level at admission and were robust to alternative assumptions.

    INTERPRETATION: Compared with usual care (SpO2 >94%) for invasively ventilated children who are admitted as an emergency to a PICU, conservative oxygenation (SpO2 88-92%) was not associated with differences in longer-term survival, costs, or cost-effectiveness. Taken together with previous findings of Oxy-PICU that conservative oxygenation compared with liberal oxygenation leads to better patient-centred and parent-centred outcomes at 30 days, these findings support the use of conservative oxygenation targets for this population.

    FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health and Social Care Research Health Technology Assessment Programme.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost-Benefit Analysis*; England; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/economics; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/methods; Quality of Life*; Respiration, Artificial; Scotland; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric*
  13. Kandasamy V, Simic V, Bacanin N, Pamucar D
    Neural Netw, 2025 Jan;181:106822.
    PMID: 39490023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neunet.2024.106822
    Radiologists utilize pictures from X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography scans to diagnose bone cancer. Manual methods are labor-intensive and may need specialized knowledge. As a result, creating an automated process for distinguishing between malignant and healthy bone is essential. Bones that have cancer have a different texture than bones in unaffected areas. Diagnosing hematological illnesses relies on correct labeling and categorizing nucleated cells in the bone marrow. However, timely diagnosis and treatment are hampered by pathologists' need to identify specimens, which can be sensitive and time-consuming manually. Humanity's ability to evaluate and identify these more complicated illnesses has significantly been bolstered by the development of artificial intelligence, particularly machine, and deep learning. Conversely, much research and development is needed to enhance cancer cell identification-and lower false alarm rates. We built a deep learning model for morphological analysis to solve this problem. This paper introduces a novel deep convolutional neural network architecture in which hybrid multi-objective and category-based optimization algorithms are used to optimize the hyperparameters adaptively. Using the processed cell pictures as input, the proposed model is then trained with an optimized attention-based multi-scale convolutional neural network to identify the kind of cancer cells in the bone marrow. Extensive experiments are run on publicly available datasets, with the results being measured and evaluated using a wide range of performance indicators. In contrast to deep learning models that have already been trained, the total accuracy of 99.7% was determined to be superior.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Bone Marrow/pathology; Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis; Bone Neoplasms/pathology; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods; Neural Networks (Computer)*
  14. Cheong JY, Koay JSC, Gopal SR, Velayutham TS, Gan WC
    Nanoscale Adv, 2025 Jan 28;7(3):819-829.
    PMID: 39691558 DOI: 10.1039/d4na00820k
    Incorporating carbon-based fillers into triboelectric nanogenerators, TENGs, is a compelling strategy to enhance the power output. However, the lack of systematic studies comparing various carbon fillers and their impact on tribopositive contact layers necessitates further research. To address these concerns, various carbon fillers (including buckminsterfullerene (C60), graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and super activated carbon (SAC)) with distinct structural and electrical properties are mixed with polyvinyl alcohol, PVA, to form PVA-carbon composites and used as tribopositive layers in the contact-separation of TENGs. The results show that PVA-SAC provides the largest enhancements to the electrical outputs of the TENG. At the optimal loading of 1 wt%, PVA-SAC composites yielded a peak power density of 12.8 W m-2, a substantial 220% enhancement compared to pristine PVA. The mechanism governing the enhancement is determined by analysing the changes in electrical and structural characteristics caused by the addition of various carbon fillers. Dielectric measurements indicated that enhanced dielectric properties did not significantly contribute to the observed increase in the triboelectric performance. Instead, Raman and FTIR analyses revealed a correlation between the PVA-carbon interactions and an increase in the D/G ratio of carbon fillers, accompanied by a reduction in hydrogen-bonded -OH groups within PVA. This suggests that the interaction between the π electrons of sp2 hybridized carbon atoms and the oxygen lone pairs in PVA inhibits hydrogen bond formation, leading to an increase in free -OH groups. Consequently, these free -OH groups enhanced the electron-donating capability and improved the tribopositive behaviour of the PVA-carbon composites. Our results proved that filler-matrix interactions are paramount in engineering high-performance TENGs by controlling the electron affinity of the triboelectric layers.
  15. Abdul-Aziz MH, Diehl A, Liu X, Cheng V, Corley A, Gilder E, et al.
    Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2025 Feb 13;69(2):e0143524.
    PMID: 39692515 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01435-24
    This study aimed to describe the population pharmacokinetics of caspofungin in critically ill patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and to identify dosing regimens with a high likelihood of achieving effective exposures. Serial blood samples were collected over a single-dosing interval during ECMO. Total plasma concentrations were measured by a validated chromatographic assay. A population pharmacokinetic model was built and Monte Carlo dosing simulations were performed using Monolix. The probability of target attainment (PTA) and fractional target attainment (FTA) rates were simulated for various caspofungin dosing regimens against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis. In all, 64 plasma concentration-time points were obtained from 8 critically ill patients receiving ECMO. Plasma concentration-time data for caspofungin were best described by a one-compartment model with first-order elimination. Lean body weight was identified as a significant covariate of volume of distribution. The typical volume of distribution and clearance of caspofungin in this cohort were 8.13 L and 0.55 L/h, respectively. The licensed caspofungin dosing regimen (a loading dose of 70 mg on day 1 followed by a maintenance dose of either 50 mg/day or 70 mg/day) demonstrated optimal PTA rates (≥90%) against C. albicans with an MIC of ≤0.064 mg/L, C. glabrata with an MIC of ≤0.125 mg/L, and C. parapsilosis with an MIC of ≤0.064 mg/L. The FTA analysis suggested that the licensed dosing regimen is only optimal (≥95%) against Candida glabrata, regardless of lean body weight. A higher-than-standard empirical dosing regimen (e.g., a loading dose of 100 mg on day 1, followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg daily) is likely advantageous for critically ill patients receiving ECMO.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Candida albicans/drug effects; Candidiasis/drug therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Monte Carlo Method; Critical Illness*; Echinocandins/pharmacokinetics; Echinocandins/therapeutic use; Lipopeptides/pharmacokinetics
  16. Gill H, Raghupathy R, Hou HA, Cheng-Hong Tsai X, Tantiworawit A, Ooi MG, et al.
    Blood Adv, 2025 Feb 25;9(4):862-876.
    PMID: 39693517 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024014999
    The Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) Asian Consortium analyzed a contemporaneous cohort of newly diagnosed patients with APL treated with and without frontline arsenic trioxide (ATO) in 6 centers. The objectives were to define the impact of ATO on early deaths and relapses and its optimal positioning in the overall treatment strategy. In a 21.5-year period, 324 males and 323 females at a median age of 45.5 years (range, 18.1-91.8; low/intermediate risk, n = 448; high risk, n = 199) were treated. Regimens included frontline all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)/chemotherapy and maintenance with/without ATO (n = 436), ATRA/IV-ATO/chemotherapy (ATRA/IV-ATO; n = 61), and ATRA/oral-ATO/ascorbic acid with ATO maintenance (oral-AAA; n = 150). The ATRA/chemotherapy group had significantly more frequent early deaths within 60 days (8.3% vs 3.3%; P = .05), inferior 60-day survival (91.7% vs 98.4%/96%; P < .001), inferior 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS; 76.9% vs 92.8%/97.8%; P < .001), and inferior 5-year overall survival (OS; 84.6% vs 91.4%/92.3%; P = .03) than ATO-containing groups (ATRA/IV-ATO and oral-AAA). The addition of oral-ATO maintenance partly mitigated the inferior 5-year RFS resulting from the omission of ATO during induction (ATRA/chemotherapy/non-ATO maintenance vs ATRA/chemotherapy/ATO maintenance vs ATRA/IV-ATO vs oral-AAA, 71.1% vs 87.9% vs 92.8% vs 97.8%; P < .001). The favorable survival impacts of ATO were observed in all risk groups. In conclusion, ATO decreased early deaths, improved 60-day survival, and resulted in significantly superior RFS and OS. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04251754.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use; Arsenicals/therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxides/administration & dosage; Oxides/therapeutic use; Tretinoin/administration & dosage; Tretinoin/therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
  17. Zhao X, Di J, Luo D, Verma R, Verma SK, Verma S, et al.
    Bioorg Chem, 2025 Jan;154:108035.
    PMID: 39693926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.108035
    Research on thiazole derivatives has been a popular topic in medicine and one of the most active fields in heterocyclic chemistry. Pharmacological and industrial researchers have been studying thiazole-containing derivatives in great detail because they have a lot of biological uses. These compounds are one of the best examples of a five-membered heterocyclic compound that has a lot of potential and has had a lot of success in recent decades. Investigating viable hybrid designs utilizing thiazole is critical for the development of new anti-tuberculosis medications. This article offers a thorough overview of the latest advancements in thiazole-containing hybrids, offering potential therapeutic applications as anti-TB drugs. We also discussed the structure-activity correlations (SAR) of the powerful thiazole moiety and its several functional groups, along with a few potential molecular targets.
    MeSH terms: Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests*; Structure-Activity Relationship; Molecular Structure
  18. Bahari N, Hashim N, Abdan K, Akim AM, Maringgal B, Al-Shdifat L
    Chemosphere, 2025 Feb;370:143961.
    PMID: 39694281 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143961
    This study investigated the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an aqueous extract of stingless bee honey (SBH) as a reducing and stabilising agent. The rich compositions of SBH containing flavonoids, phenolics, organic acids, sugars, and enzymes makes the SBH extract an ideal biocompatible precursor for the NPs synthesis. Physicochemical characterisation of the synthesised NPs was performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FESEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy. The results revealed that the Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs exhibited polydispersity, with size ranges between 25-50 nm and 15-30 nm, respectively. A majority of the NPs possessed a spherical morphology. Furthermore, the study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the SBH-based NPs against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC 43300) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, ATCC 25922) bacteria. The findings demonstrated significantly higher antimicrobial efficacy of the Ag-NPs with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 16.91 mm against S. aureus, and 17.43 mm against E. coli compared to the ZnO-NPs which having a ZOI of 13.05 mm and 14.01 mm, respectively. Notably, cytotoxicity assays revealed no adverse effects of the synthesised NPs on normal mouse fibroblast (3T3) and human lung fibroblast (MRC5) cells up to 100 μg/ml of concentration. These findings suggest the potential of SBH-based Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs as safe and effective antibacterial agents for various applications, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, ointments, and lotions.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents/toxicity; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry; Bees; Microbial Sensitivity Tests*; Mice; Green Chemistry Technology*
  19. Yazid NA, Tan KY, Khor SM, Lee HV
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2025 Feb;291:138876.
    PMID: 39694355 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138876
    This study aimed to develop a sustainable and bio-based nano-additive (sodium caseinate/cellulose nanofibers (SC/CNF) complex) to modulate liquid-based oil-in-water (O/W) colloid interfaces, which function as a fat control agent to slow lipid digestion. Edible protein (SC) was grafted onto CNF through facile electrostatic attraction, which reduces solvent and chemical usage for greener process. The physicochemical properties of SC/CNF showed that adding SC increased the interfacial bonding between CNF particles, resulting in higher interfacial pressure by forming dense and compact layers of SC/CNF. This characteristic improves the mechanical strength and colloidal stability of SC/CNF during water-oil stabilization. Further preparation of O/W Pickering emulsions stabilized by SC/CNF complexes was conducted using different parameters (such as SC concentration, dosage of SC/CNF, and O/W ratio) to investigate profile of free fatty acid (FFA) released during lipid digestion via simulated in vitro gastrointestinal tract (GIT) model. The results showed that the optimized emulsion stabilized by the SC/CNF complex rendered a lower value of free fatty acids (FFA) after undergoing in vitro simulated digestion. The lowest FFA release (31.18 %) was achieved under the following conditions: 1 % w/v (SC concentration), 1 % w/w (dosage of SC/CNF), and 20/80 (O/W) ratio. Low FFA release within the digestive system indicated that the nano-emulsions effectively regulated lipid digestion. The changes in physicochemical characteristics in terms of colloidal stability (particle size, microstructure, and surface charge) of the stabilized emulsions corresponding to the FFA released were studied during each digestion phase (including mouth, stomach, and small intestine). This study revealed that the SC/CNF complex is a promising nano-biomaterial that can function as a bio-functional food additive, particle stabilizer, and fat digestion controller. The unique characteristics of SC/CNF complexes in stabilizing oil-water emulsions present a potential interfacial mechanism for modulating lipid bioavailability. The innovation approach allows for the demand for green-label products, promote development of healthier food options, and the pursuit of sustainable food solutions.
    MeSH terms: Digestion; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/chemistry; Lipids/chemistry; Lipid Metabolism
  20. Singh H, Kamal YT, Pandohee J, Mishra AK, Biswas A, Mohanto S, et al.
    Exp Gerontol, 2025 Jan;199:112660.
    PMID: 39694450 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112660
    Skin aging, often called as premature skin aging, is the hastened deterioration of the skin resulting from multiple factors, including UV radiation, environmental contaminants, inadequate nutrition, stress, etc. Dietary phytochemicals, present in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-derived meals, have gained interest due to their efficiency to eradicate free radicals and lowering the release of inflammatory mediators which accounts for premature skin aging. Several dietary phytochemicals, i.e., carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, phytosterols, etc., exhibited potential anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, suppression of UV damage, and promote collagen synthesis. In addition, dietary phytochemicals include sulfur, present in various foods safeguard the skin against oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, this article delves into the comprehension of various dietary phytochemicals investigated to alleviate the premature skin aging. The article further highlights specific phytochemicals and their sources, bioavailability, mechanisms, etc., in the context of safeguarding the skin against oxidative stress and inflammation. The present manuscript is a systematic comprehension of the available literature on dietary phytochemicals and skin aging in various database, i.e., PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar using the keywords, i.e., "dietary phytochemicals", "nutraceuticals", "skin aging" etc., via Boolean operator, i.e., "AND". The dietary guidelines presented in the manuscript is a unique summarization for a broad reader to understand the inclusion of various functional foods, nutrients, supplements, etc., to prevent premature skin aging. Thus, the utilization of dietary phytochemicals has shown a promising avenue in preventing skin aging, however, the future perspectives and challenges of such phytochemicals should be comprehended via clinical investigations.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Skin/drug effects; Skin/metabolism; Dietary Supplements; Aging, Premature/prevention & control
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