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Although nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent among adolescents and is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, many adolescents with NSSI do not seek help. However, there is a lack of research on the factors that may increase the likelihood of help-seeking, especially within Asia. To address this gap, the present study examined whether certain factors were associated with informal and formal help-seeking – specifically gender, severity of NSSI, functions of NSSI and authoritative parenting. 121 adolescents (M age = 16.2 years, 71.1% female) were recruited from specialist outpatient clinics and inpatient psychiatric wards from a public hospital in Singapore. One caregiver per adolescent was also recruited. Data from self-report questionnaires were analysed using logistics regression analyses. The results suggest that the severity of NSSI increases the likelihood of informal help-seeking, while adolescents who have parents with more authoritative parenting style are less likely to seek informal help. Gender and functions of NSSI were not found to be associated with help-seeking. The findings from this study can guide professionals in their efforts to encourage help-seeking within Asian populations, as well as inform prevention and treatment programs for Asian adolescents with NSSI. Plain language summary: Factors that encourage Asian youths who self-harm to get help from non-professionals and professionals: There are many youths who engage in self-harm for reasons other than suicide. Although self-harm could lead to various negative outcomes, many youths do not seek help. However, not much is known about what encourages these youths to seek help from non-professionals (e.g., family, friends) and professionals (e.g., psychologists), especially within Asia. This paper looked at certain factors that may be linked to whether youths seek help – including gender, severity of self-harm, reasons for self-harm, and parenting style. Youths and caregivers were recruited from a public hospital in Singapore. The study found that youths with more severe self-harm are more likely to seek help from non-professionals, whereas youths with parents who are highly responsive and provide consistent discipline are less likely to seek help from non-professionals. None of the factors studied were relevant in whether youths sought help from professionals. The findings from this study can guide professionals to prevent and treat self-harm in Asia, as well as improve efforts to encourage Asian youths to seek help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer is a common cancer worldwide and is responsible for over one million new cases in 2020 and an estimated 769,000 deaths, ranking fifth for incidence and fourth for mortality globally. Incidence rates are highest in Eastern Asia and Eastern Europe. Gastric cancer is highly heterogeneous and progresses rapidly. The prognosis of gastric cancer with liver metastases is poor, and clinical treatment remains challenging. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity is correlated to a bad prognosis for gastric cancer. Trastuzumab combined with systemic chemotherapy is the preferred treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. However, intravenous chemotherapy has severe systemic toxicity, which reduces the local drug concentration and tumor uptake rate, and the effect is unsatisfactory. Case summary: We reported a 66-year-old patient with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer with jaundice due to multiple liver metastases, after 6 cycles of trastuzumab combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), the tumor retracted significantly, the jaundice subsided, and the patient recovered well. The patient achieved disease control with an intensive regimen followed by less toxic maintenance therapy. Trastuzumab combined with capecitabine maintenance therapy followed up for more than 16 months. Conclusion: HAIC plus trastuzumab may be a tolerable treatment option for patients with severe liver metastases from HER2-positive gastric cancer to achieve local control and prolong survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalates are plasticizers in various products and regarded as endocrine disruptors due to their anti-androgen effects. Environmental occurrence and toxicities of parent phthalates have been widely reported, while the current state of knowledge on their metabolites is rarely summarized. Based on the available literature, the present review mainly aims to 1) characterize the potential metabolites of phthalates (mPAEs) using the pharmacokinetics evidences acquired via animal or human models; 2) examine the molecular and cellular mechanism involved in toxicity for mPAEs; 3) investigate the exposure levels of mPAEs in different human specimens (e.g., urine, blood, seminal fluid, breast milk, amniotic fluid and others) across the globe; 4) discuss the models and related parameters for phthalate exposure assessment. We suggest there is subtle difference in toxic mechanisms for mPAEs compared to their parent phthalates due to their alternative chemical structures. Human monitoring studies performed in Asia, America and Europe have provided the population exposure baseline levels for typical phthalates in different regions. Urine is the preferred matrix than other specimens for phthalate exposure study. Among ten urinary mPAEs, the largest proportions of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites (40%), monoethyl phthalate (mEP) (43%) and DEHP metabolites/mEP (both 29%) were observed in Asia, America and Europe respectively, and mono-5-carboxy-2-ethypentyl phthalate was the most abundant compounds among DEHP metabolites. Daily intakes of phthalates can be accurately calculated via urinary mPAEs if the proper exposure parameters were determined. Further work should focus on combining epidemiological and biological evidences to establish links between phthalates exposure and biological phenotypes. More accurate molar fractions (F UE) of the urinary excreted monoester related to the ingested diesters should be collected in epidemiological or pharmacokinetic studies for different population. [Display omitted] • Metabolites display different toxic mechanism compared to parent phthalates. • Differences exist in distribution of phthalate metabolites in multiple human specimens. • Urinary profiles of phthalates vary markedly for people on different continents. • Reasonable F UE data are suggested for phthalate exposure assessment by human experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]