Wound healing is an area of growing importance in the healthcare field, especially chronic wounds associated with comorbidities like diabetes mellitus (DM), hypoxic stress, obesity, and malnutrition. Chronic wounds significantly increase healthcare costs and reduce patients’ quality of life. Cytokines are a promising therapeutic target, as they regulate all stages of wound healing, and dysfunction in cytokine production can cause inflammatory non-healing wounds. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) facilitate leukocyte recruitment and clear dead cells during the initial inflammation stage while transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), IL-4, and IL-13 inhibit inflammation and stimulate proliferation of fibroblasts to begin extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Given the complexity of cytokine interactions and their diverse cellular targets, a comprehensive understanding of these signaling pathways is crucial. This review examines the multifaceted roles of cytokines in wound healing and discusses recent advancements in the therapeutic application of cytokine modulation for improved wound care outcomes. Despite significant advancements in improving the specificity of cytokine therapies, further research is needed to focus on targeting downstream signaling pathways or specific receptors to minimize the adverse effects associated with these treatments.

Atherosclerosis continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The precise evaluation of the extent of an atherosclerotic plaque is essential for forecasting its likelihood of causing health concerns and tracking treatment outcomes. When compared to conventional methods used, nanoparticles offer clear benefits and excellent development opportunities for the detection and characterisation of susceptible atherosclerotic plaques. In this review, we analyse the recent advancements of nanoparticles as theranostics in the management of atherosclerosis, with an emphasis on applications in drug delivery. Furthermore, the main issues that must be resolved in order to advance clinical utility and future developments of NP research are discussed. It is anticipated that medical NPs will develop into complex and advanced next-generation nanobotics that can carry out a variety of functions in the bloodstream.

Nanomaterials hold significant promise for the future of orthopaedic implants due to their ability to mimic the nanoscale components of the bone, such as collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite. Nanomaterials can regulate cell behaviour while offering mechanical strength and biocompatibility, making them ideal for bone repair and tissue regeneration. This comprehensive review explores the key existing and potential applications of nanotechnology in orthopaedics, including bone tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, systems combatting implant-related infections, and the surface preparation of implants to enhance osseointegration. These innovations are poised to revolutionise orthopaedic care by improving implant durability, reducing infection risks, and promoting bone regeneration to deliver personalised treatment and create better patient outcomes.

Introduction: Singapore’s aging population, projected to reach 18.7% by 2030, will increase chronic disease burden and strain healthcare resources. Digital health technologies, like Singapore’s HealthHub Application (HHA), are crucial for improving patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. However, the use of HHA among older adults in Singapore remains poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of HHA use among community-dwelling Singaporeans and identify factors associated with its use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a public housing estate in Singapore, using random sampling to select housing units. Eligibility criteria included being a Singaporean or permanent resident, aged 40 years and above, possessing English proficiency, and absence of cognitive impairment. Participants completed a self-administered electronic questionnaire in English covering socio-demographics, health literacy, use of digital health technologies, and perceptions of HHA. Responses were categorized and analysed using descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Of the 422 completed responses, 216 (51.2%) of participants reported HHA use. Higher HHA usage was associated with younger age, higher education levels, and greater self-perceived knowledge of health management. Older adults, particularly those aged 70 and above, and participants with secondary education or below had significantly lower HHA usage compared to their counterparts. Additionally, better health literacy as measured by positive perceptions of health knowledge were significantly associated with HHA usage. Conclusion: The adoption of digital health technologies like HHA is lower among older adults with lower education and health knowledge in Singapore. Targeted efforts to improve digital skills, awareness, and usability are needed to promote HHA uptake and support equitable healthcare access in an aging population.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most prevalent non‐communicable disease worldwide. Nanotheranostics have made significant progress in the biomedical field, presenting an avenue to overcome the limitations of conventional approaches towards MI, in which personalized interventions have enhanced nanotherapeutic efficacy. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nanoscale materials have been modified through alteration of their physical and chemical properties such as structure, size, and surface, thereby improving target sensitivity and specificity. This revolutionary technology has also been accomplished through precision therapeutics in MI. In this review, we discuss advanced nanoparticle designs utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of MI that could be applied to deliver personalized treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Study Design.: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent thoracolumbar and sacral pedicle screw insertion using intraoperative imaging and navigation between 2009 and 2023. Objective.: Pedicle screw instrumentation is essential for stabilizing the thoracolumbar spine, but precise placement is crucial to prevent complications like nerve injury, vascular damage, or pedicle fractures. While conventional techniques like freehand and fluoroscopy remain common, three-dimensional (3D) intraoperative navigation has significantly enhanced the safety and accuracy of spinal instrumentation. This study reflects on our 15-year experience with 3D navigation, analyzing outcomes of a large series of patients. Summary of Background Data.: 3D intraoperative imaging and navigation is an assistive adjunct with higher rates of surgical accuracy when compared with conventional freehand and fluoroscopic techniques. Current literature reports accuracies of navigation-assisted pedicle screw placement ranging from 91.4% to 95.8%. However, these high levels of accuracies reported over the years were conducted in relatively smaller cohorts. Methods.: Computed tomography (CT) images were obtained and analyzed for signs of pedicle wall breach, which was graded according to the Gertzbein classification. Pedicle screw breach rates were computed thereafter. Results.: Analysis of 5478 thoracolumbar pedicle screws implanted with intraoperative navigation guidance revealed a 98.63% insertion accuracy rate. The rate of major breaches was 0.55%, and the overall breach rate was 1.64%. There was no incidence of returning to the operating theater for the revision of screws. Conclusions.: Our analysis of 5478 pedicle screws shows that O-arm navigation is safe and accurate, with a major breach rate of 0.55%. No patient in this cohort had any neurovascular injury, and the few screws with major breaches were fixed during the index procedure. There were no incidences of return to the operating theater for malpositioned screws in our 15-year study.