Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Surg Res 2021 Apr 30;266:62-68. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Objective: To investigate whether any specific acute care surgery patient populations are associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19 infection.

Background: Acute care providers may be exposed to an increased risk of contracting the COVID-19 infection since many patients present to the emergency department without complete screening measures. However, it is not known which patients present with the highest incidence. Read More

Asian J Psychiatr 2021 May 9;61:102671. Epub 2021 May 9.

Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Schizotypy is the latent personality reflecting the liability to schizophrenia. The Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS) is a newly developed questionnaire to measure the levels of schizotypy. The Chinese version of MSS has been developed and previous findings supported its structure validity. Read More

Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021 May 10:107199. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22 B, 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden; Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Silene (Caryophyllaceae) is distributed predominantly in the northern Hemisphere, where it is most diverse around the Mediterranean Basin. The genus is also well represented in North Africa, extending into tropical, sub-Saharan and southern Africa. Eight native species are recognized in southern Africa, taxonomically placed in two sections: Elisanthe and Silene s. Read More

J Pain Symptom Manage 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.

Context: Persons from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups experience disparities in access to and quality of palliative and end-of-life care.

Objectives: To summarize and evaluate existing palliative and end-of-life care interventions that aim to improve outcomes for racial and ethnic underrepresented populations in the United States.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature in the English language from four databases through January 2020. Read More

Exp Gerontol 2021 May 10:111402. Epub 2021 May 10.

Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Introduction: As populations age, sarcopenia becomes a major health problem among adults aged 65 years and older. However, little information is available about the relationship between sarcopenia and brain structure abnormalities. The objective of this study was to investigate associations between sarcopenia and brain atrophy in older adults and relationships with regional brain areas. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Science, University of California San.

Background: There is limited literature identifying racial and ethnic health disparities among surgical modalities and outcomes in the field of urogynecology and specifically pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

Objective: To evaluate differences in surgical approach for apical vaginal prolapse and postoperative complications by race and ethnicity STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing surgical repair for apical vaginal prolapse between 2014 and 2017 using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they underwent either a vaginal colpopexy or abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC). Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0251600. Epub 2021 May 13.

ViewClinic Momonosato, Tamano, Japan.

Background: This study aimed to assess the use of 33 MHz ultra-high-frequency ultrasonography (33MHz-UHFUS) for evaluating axillary sweat glands with osmidrosis in comparison with histological techniques. Axillary osmidrosis is a common problem in Asian societies, and the number and size of apocrine sweat glands have a strong relationship with osmidrosis severity. Currently, there are no methods to evaluate sweat gland distribution non-invasively. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0251381. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the quadruple test for potential use as a Thai national policy for Down syndrome (DS) screening and establish an accurate equation for risk estimation of Down syndrome based on gestational age, weight and the ethnic-specific reference range of our population.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on singleton pregnancies at 14 to 21 weeks of gestation to evaluate the efficacy of quadruple DS screening using the automatically calculated Western European descent factor (WF) in our population and the impact of screening using a specific Thai ethnic factor as well as to establish an equation for the risk estimation of DS based on gestational age, weight and a local Thai ethnic factor to correct for the impact of ethnic factor on the screening efficacy.

Results: Of a total of 5,515 women, 12 cases of DS and 8 cases of other aneuploidies were found. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0251156. Epub 2021 May 13.

Institute of Environmental Sciences, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany.

The Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) is the second largest river of Southeast Asia and one of the rivers with the highest load of suspended sediment delivered to the sea in the world. The Ayeyarwady is the lifeline of Myanmar which concentrates the majority of the population and GDP of the country. It is the main way of transport, a source of fluvial aggregates for development projects, hydropower, and the basin plays a major role in food supply and irrigation. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0250223. Epub 2021 May 13.

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Background: Workforce studies about traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) occupations in industrialized countries are scant; and, these occupations' position within the broader occupational workforce remains unclear. This study aims to address these gaps using a comparative approach.

Methods: Naturopaths, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) / acupuncture practitioners, and homeopaths in Ontario, Canada were surveyed regarding their demographics, practice characteristics and self-reported income. Read More

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021 May 14;70(19):698-701. Epub 2021 May 14.

Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The number of affected persons worldwide has increased from 3.7 million in 1990 to 6. Read More

Am J Orthopsychiatry 2021 ;91(2):181-192

Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership, Morehouse College.

The landmark Brown versus Board of Education decision led to the desegregation of public schools in the United States. Consequently, Black/African American, Latinx, Asian, and Native American (BALANA) students experienced multiple race-related stressors. Not surprisingly, BALANA students still report experiences with racial discrimination, exclusion, and harassment in public schools. Read More

Neuropsychology 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Reports an error in "Anosognosia for prospective and retrospective memory deficits: Assessment and theoretical considerations" by Silvia Chapman, Nicoletta Beschin, Stephanie Cosentino, Mitchell S. V. Elkind, Sergio Della Sala and Gianna Cocchini (, 2019[Oct], Vol 33[7], 1020-1031). Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1187:545-566

Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

The incidence of breast cancer has dramatically increased recently in several Asian countries. This region has experienced rapid economic growth and demographic and environmental changes. Breast cancer rates vary substantially among countries, with a lower incidence in developing countries than that in Western countries. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1187:435-453

Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in females worldwide and in Asian countries. Common variants found by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) only explain approximately 16% of the heritability of breast cancer: therefore, it is important to examine rare/low-frequency variants in GWAS-identified loci which may also contribute to breast cancer risk. Previous studies have reported that genetic variants with lower allele frequency are more likely to be functional than common variants in coding regions. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1187:405-417

Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of female cancers worldwide in 2018, followed by lung cancer, and the fifth fatal cancer, followed by lung, colorectal, gastric, and liver cancers. The incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in Western women have been shown to decrease for a long period of time, while the incidence and mortality rates of Asian women are rapidly increasing. The incidence and mortality rates of BC in Western women have been changing to a recent decrease from a fluctuation in rates for a long time, while in Asian women, the incidence and mortality rates have increased rapidly. Read More

Clin Orthop Relat Res 2021 05 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

G. Xiong, N. E. Greene, H. M. Lightsey, A. M. Crawford, B. M. Striano, Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA A. K. Simpson, A. J. Schoenfeld, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Healthcare disparities are well documented across multiple subspecialties in orthopaedics. The widespread implementation of telemedicine risks worsening these disparities if not carefully executed, despite original assumptions that telemedicine improves overall access to care. Telemedicine also poses unique challenges such as potential language or technological barriers that may alter previously described patterns in orthopaedic disparities. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Carretera México-Veracruz, Km. 45, El Batán, Texcoco, Mexico.

Fertilizer, though one of the most essential inputs for increasing agricultural production, is a leading cause of nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture, contributing significantly to global warming. Therefore, understanding factors affecting farmers' use of fertilizers is crucial to develop strategies to improve its efficient use and to minimize its negative impacts. Using data from 2528 households across the Indo-Gangetic Plains in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, this study examines the factors affecting farmers' use of organic and inorganic fertilizers for the two most important cereal crops - rice and wheat. Read More

Eur Urol Open Sci 2021 May 23;27:61-64. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Urinary incontinence remains a significant post-prostatectomy sequalae. While many patient and technical factors have been found to contribute to post-prostatectomy incontinence, the impact of anatomical differences by races has not been studied . Shorter preoperative membranous urethral length (MUL) on prostate MRI has been associated with higher risk of post-prostatectomy incontinence. Read More

J Ethn Migr Stud 2020 2;46(14):2880-2895. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z1.

The influx of immigrants from Asia to the United States (U.S.) has expanded the pool of coethnic marriageable partners, strengthened racial identity, and contributed to the decline in interracial marriage with whites among Asian Americans. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 12;11(1):10108. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of English Language & Linguistics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.

Linguistic communication requires speakers to mutually agree on the meanings of words, but how does such a system first get off the ground? One solution is to rely on iconic gestures: visual signs whose form directly resembles or otherwise cues their meaning without any previously established correspondence. However, it is debated whether vocalizations could have played a similar role. We report the first extensive cross-cultural study investigating whether people from diverse linguistic backgrounds can understand novel vocalizations for a range of meanings. Read More

Circ J 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

Background: There are concerns that Asian patients respond differently to some medications. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of evolocumab among Asian vs. other subjects in the FOURIER trial, which randomized stable atherosclerosis patients to receive either evolocumab or placebo. Read More

Circ J 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is important for the prevention of sudden cardiac death, but data on clinical outcomes of ICD therapy in Asian pediatric patients are scarce. The aim of this Korean multicenter study was to evaluate the current state and elucidate the clinical outcomes of ICD therapy in children.Methods and Results:Data from 5 pediatric cardiology centers were retrospectively collected from 2007 to 2019. Read More

BMJ Open 2021 May 11;11(5):e047681. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Introduction: A 'Sleep-On-Side When Baby's Inside' public health campaign was initiated in New Zealand in 2018. This was in response to evidence that maternal supine going-to-sleep position was an independent risk factor for stillbirth from 28 weeks' gestation. We evaluated the success of the campaign on awareness and modification of late pregnancy going-to-sleep position through nationwide surveys. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2021 May 12;19(1):71. Epub 2021 May 12.

Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Background: Among school-age children, the decrease of cartilage thickness (Cth) with increasing age is well known. However, the influence of body mass index (BMI), height or weight on Cth has not been revealed. Here in, we aim to establish an age- and gender-specific Cth standard reference among Asians and investigate the possible prestige of BMI, height and weight. Read More

Leg Med (Tokyo) 2021 May 5;52:101904. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Forensic Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8, Nishi-shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is common in Asian countries. The major ways of abuse include intravenous injection, absorption, and ingestion. Although two cases of survival after transrectal MA administration have been reported in the clinical field, to the best of our knowledge, there is no report of death due to intentional transrectal MA overdose. Read More

J Altern Complement Med 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

This study describes the development and feasibility of Integrative Nutritional Counseling (INC), a Chinese medicine (CM)+biomedicine-based nutrition curriculum for Chinese Americans with type 2 diabetes. Although Chinese Americans often incorporate CM principles into their diet, scant research has explored how to integrate CM with biomedical nutrition standards in a culturally appropriate manner or if such a program could improve diabetes self-management. This is a 1-month pre-post study design including three points of contact: baseline, in-person class, and 1-month follow-up. Read More

PLoS One 2021 12;16(5):e0238555. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Molecular Genetics, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India.

Background: Plasma omentin levels have been shown to be associated with circulating adiponectin concentrations and cardiometabolic disease-related outcomes. In this study, we aim to examine the association of omentin gene polymorphism with serum adiponectin levels and cardiometabolic health status using a genetic approach, and investigate whether these associations are modified by lifestyle factors.

Methods: The study included 945 normal glucose tolerant and 941 unrelated individuals with type 2 diabetes randomly selected from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES), in southern India. Read More

Health Aff (Millwood) 2021 May 12:101377hlthaff202100098. Epub 2021 May 12.

Jeremy D. Goldhaber-Fiebert is an associate professor in the Centers for Health Policy and Primary Care and Outcomes Research, Stanford Health Policy, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University.

With a population of forty million and substantial geographic variation in sociodemographics and health services, California is an important setting in which to study disparities. Its population (37.5 percent White, 39. Read More

Chem Asian J 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Indian Institute of Technology, Chemistry, IIT Hyderabad, 502205, Hyderabad, INDIA.

Alkyl enol ethers (AEE) are versatile synthetic intermediates with unique reactivity pattern. This review article represents the synthesis of AEE as well as its reactivity and how enol ether undergoes intermolecular reactions for various bond formation leading to the construction of several useful organic molecules. The synthetic applications of AEE towards intermolecular bond-forming reactions include metal-catalyzed, cycloaddition and heterocycles formation as well as in the field of natural products synthesis. Read More