Carolina Oi Lam Ung

Widely used breast cancer risk prediction tools are predominantly based on data from Western countries, and their predictive efficacy in Asian women is oft

Background Combining immunotherapy with targeted therapy represents a promising trajectory for cancer treatment; however, safety profiles remain insufficient. This study aimed to characterize adverse events associated with immune-targeted regimens in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This study used Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), and Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) to detect signals of adverse events based on data from FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Results Signals of fulminant type-1 diabetes mellitus (ROR = 13.3, PRR = 13.2, IC = 3.7), myositis (8.5, 8.3, 3.1), encephalitis (8.4, 8.3, 3.0), and myocarditis (7.3, 7.2, 2.8) were identified in atezolizumab+bevacizumab. Immune-mediated hepatitis (5.6, 5.1, 2.4), hepatic encephalopathy (3.3, 3.0, 1.6), and uppergastrointestinal haemorrhage (4.3, 4.2, 2.1) were associated with pembrolizumab+lenvatinib. Signals of gastrointestinal haemorrhage (5.1, 4.8, 2.3) and malignant neoplasm progression (2.9, 2.7, 1.4) were in patients using atezolizumab+cabozantinib. Conclusion This study delineated distinct profiles of adverse events associated with immunotargeted therapies, which serves as a critical reference for risk assessment and therapeutic selection. Though atezolizumab plus bevacizumab is recommended as first-line treatment for advanced HCC, potential severe immune-mediated adverse events affecting multiple organs suggested the importance of clinical vigilance. Extrapolation of pembrolizumab+lenvatinib and atezolizumab+cabozantinib from other cancers to HCC warrants caution in consideration of the associated bleeding risks and hepatic complications.

As advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) increasingly enter clinical practice worldwide, many emerging markets still lack standardized pharmacy pract

Breast cancer screening (BCS) is underutilized in China, despite evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing breast cancer mortality through early

Molecular heterogeneity in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicates patient stratification. Here, we perform integrative proteomic analysis on 272 early stage HBV-HCC tumors from four East Asian cohorts, uncovering two robust molecular subtypes. Group B (n = 53) is associated with hyperproliferation, oncogenic signaling, and significantly poorer overall (P P n = 219) is enriched in differentiation and metabolic pathways. These findings are validated by matched transcriptomics (n = 108), aligning with established classifications. We identify subtype-specific protein signatures, with CD46, HNF1A, and ATP1B1 exclusively expressed in the aggressive group B. Finally, computational drug sensitivity prediction, validated by molecular docking, nominates Sunitinib as a potential therapy for group B patients. Our work provides a proteomic framework for improved prognostication and targeted therapy in high-risk HBV-HCC.

Objectives To better inform dementia management, it is important to understand how individuals experience, interpret and respond to dementia policy in real life. This study aimed to explore key stakeholders’ perspectives on the critical determinants of effective implementation of the first dementia policy in Macao, and the impact of policy implementation on dementia care. Design Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in person with key stakeholders identified in earlier phases of the research. The participants were encouraged to share their opinions on the significance and objectives of the dementia policy, the changes in dementia care related to the launch of the policy, and how to better implement the policy for continuous improvement. Setting Interviews were conducted face-to-face at the participants’ office or at a location of their choice. Participants Individuals involved in the planning, establishing, leading, managing, operating, implementing, participating in, using and/or advocating for dementia policies and/or comprehensive dementia care models. Results All participants perceived the Macao Dementia Policy as a landmark initiative that raised public awareness, fostered inter-professional collaboration and established a foundational service network. At the service level, they reported improvements in the accessibility of diagnostic pathways and greater attention to caregiver support. Nevertheless, implementation challenges remained, including fragmented service information, inadequate non-pharmacological treatment options and limited service capacity. Participants recommended that future actions should focus on optimising long-term policy planning and resource allocation, strengthening the direct support network for caregivers, and enhancing public education and research-informed innovation. Conclusion Macao’s experience suggests that the successful implementation of a dementia policy requires not only the establishment of formal service structures but also a concerted focus on optimising resource allocation and strengthening caregiver support. To further enhance the policy’s effectiveness, future efforts should prioritise designing and assessing targeted interventions.

Asthma brings a huge burden to children and their families. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of understanding of asthma among family caregivers, the burden they facing in caring for children with asthma, and their needs of pharmaceutical care. A questionnaire informed by recent literature was distributed to family caregivers of children (< 18 years old) diagnosed with asthma from Guangdong Province, China. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the caregivers’ need of pharmaceutical care. A total of 610 valid questionnaires were collected. Most of the participants were women (60.0%) or aged between 35 and 44 years (48.0%). Only 38.9% of participants believed that they had good asthma related knowledge. There were 59.2% of participants bearing high burden due to pediatric asthma, and 54.9% of the participants indicated great need for pharmaceutical intervention. The results of multiple linear regression showed that pharmaceutical care needs were significantly associated with their gender, age, duration of taking care of pediatric asthma patients, and overall burden (all p < 0.05). Caregivers of pediatric asthma patients self-reported inadequate levels of asthma knowledge, high level of burden, and unmet needs for pharmaceutical care, all of which presented great opportunities for pharmacists to contribute to pediatric asthma management at the community level.