News &amp; Updates

High piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ) dosing does not lead to increased acute nephrotoxicity, thrombocytopenia, 14-day all-cause mortality, or intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), suggests a recent study.

Is it safe to use high-dose PTZ in critically ill patients with obesity?

Bariatric surgery more effective, affordable than GLP-1RAs for severe obesity

For individuals with class II and III obesity, metabolic bariatric surgery appears to result in durable weight loss at lower ongoing costs when compared with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), according to a study.

Bariatric surgery more effective, affordable than GLP-1RAs for severe obesity

Menopausal hormone therapy poses cardiac risk for older women

Hormone therapy for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) appears to raise the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) for women exposed to the treatment later in life, according to a secondary analysis of two Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trials.

Menopausal hormone therapy poses cardiac risk for older women

Personalized risk messages improve CRC screening uptake

A recent study has shown that the inclusion of personalized risk for advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN) in a decision aid or provider notification provides no overall effect, but it has led to an increase in the uptake of stool testing in one health system.

Personalized risk messages improve CRC screening uptake

Higher serum vitamin D levels may lower risks of death, CVD in psoriasis patients

Individuals with psoriasis may benefit from an increased level of serum 25-hydroxivitamin D (25[OH]D), which has shown an association with a reduced risk of overall mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a recent study.

Higher serum vitamin D levels may lower risks of death, CVD in psoriasis patients

24 Sep 2025

Energy-reduced MedDiet plus physical activity prevents T2D in persons with obesity

An intensive intervention with energy-reduced Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) combined with physical activity demonstrates greater efficacy than an ad libitum MedDiet only in lowering the incidence of diabetes in persons with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome, according to a study.

Energy-reduced MedDiet plus physical activity prevents T2D in persons with obesity

HK studies: SGLT2i reduce liver fat in nondiabetic MASLD, lower HCC risk in T2D + CHB

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can lead to the development of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hong Kong studies show that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), such as empagliflozin, can reduce liver fat in nondiabetic patients with MASLD and lower the risk of HCC in patients with coexisting type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

HK studies: SGLT2i reduce liver fat in nondiabetic MASLD, lower HCC risk in T2D + CHB

TCM may improve post-COVID symptoms

A retrospective analysis suggests that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be a suitable treatment alternative for post-COVID symptoms.

TCM may improve post-COVID symptoms

Pomegranate supplementation mitigates several cardiometabolic risk factors

Pomegranate supplementation helps improve certain risk factors for cardiometabolic syndrome, including body weight, BMI, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pomegranate supplementation mitigates several cardiometabolic risk factors

Success factors in oncology drug development: Regional perspectives on amivantamab and NBTXR3

At an industry-sponsored symposium during the European Society for Medical Oncology Targeted Anticancer Therapies Asia Congress (ESMO TAT Asia) 2025 in Hong Kong, regional experts reflected on pioneering oncology drug development. Dr Jii Bum Lee of Yonsei Cancer Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, discussed the unique translational and clinical journey of amivantamab, an EGFR-MET bispecific antibody, which was first established as a treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion (exon20ins) mutations. Dr Herbert Loong of the Chinese University of Hong Kong shared the experience of advancing NBTXR3, a novel hafnium oxide–based nanoparticle radiosensitizer, into the clinic, underscoring the necessity of multidisciplinary collaboration for success.

Success factors in oncology drug development: Regional perspectives on amivantamab and NBTXR3