Recent advances in single-cell subcellular sampling

Recent innovations in single-cell technologies have opened up exciting possibilities for profiling the omics of individual cells. Minimally invasive analysis tools that probe and remove the contents of living cells enable cells to remain in their standard microenvironment with little impact on their viability. This negates the requirement of lysing cells to access their contents, an advancement from previous single-cell manipulation methods. These novel methods have the potential to be used for dynamic studies on single cells, with many already providing high intracellular spatial resolution. In this article, we highlight key technological advances that aim to remove the contents of living cells for downstream analysis. Recent applications of these techniques are reviewed, along with their current limitations. We also propose recommendations for expanding the scope of these technologies to achieve comprehensive single-cell tracking in the future, anticipating the discovery of subcellular mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets and treatments, ultimately transforming the fields of spatial transcriptomics and personalised medicine

Impact of the two-dose rubella vaccination regimen on incidence of rubella seronegativity in gravidae aged 25 years and younger.

This study compared the incidence of rubella seronegativity among gravidae of 25 year-old and younger, between those born in Hong Kong after 1983 when the two-dose rubella vaccination was implemented, versus gravidae born before, to examine the impact of the two-dose regimen.In this retrospective cohort study, the incidence of antenatal rubella seronegativity in our parturients managed in1997-2015 was analysed by their age from ≤16 to 25 years, and the effect of year of birth was determined adjusting for confounding factors including teenage status, obstetric history, anthropometric factors, and health parameters including anaemia, thalassaemia trait and hepatitis B carrier status.Among the 12743 gravidae, the 6103 gravidae born after 1983 had overall higher rubella seronegativity (9.1% versus 4.4%, OR 2.061, 95% CI 1.797-2.364), with significant difference (p = 0.006) and inverse correlation (p<0.001) with age, in contrast to the 6640 gravidae born in/before 1983 whom there was significant difference (p = 0.027) but a positive correlation (p = 0.008) with age. For each year of age, the former had significantly higher incidence of rubella seronegativity except for those of ≤16 years. Regression analysis confirmed that birth after 1983 was independently associated with rubella seronegativity (aOR 2.207, 95% CI 1.902-2.562).There was a significant trend between rubella seronegativity with age in young gravidae, but the pattern was opposite between gravidae born after versus in/before 1983, with the former having a higher incidence of seronegativity at all ages. Young women covered by the two-dose rubella immunisation programme have a paradoxically higher incidence of rubella seronegativity

Incidence of rubella seronegativity in Hong Kong-born gravidae aged ≤25, comparing birth >1983 versus ≤1983.

<p>■ Overall group all gravidae: difference among groups p = 0.084, trend with age p = 0.016. ▲Gravidae born after 1983: difference among groups p = 0.006; trend with age p<0.001. • Gravidae born in/before 1983: difference among groups p = 0.027, trend with age p = 0.008</p

Multivariate analysis on the association between teenage and birth after 1983 with rubella seronegativity.

<p>Multivariate analysis on the association between teenage and birth after 1983 with rubella seronegativity.</p

Maternal rubella seronegativity by age group, comparing between gravidae born > 1983 versus ≤ 1983.

<p>Maternal rubella seronegativity by age group, comparing between gravidae born > 1983 versus ≤ 1983.</p

Trends in preterm birth in singleton deliveries in a Hong Kong population

To examine trends in preterm birth and its relationship with perinatal mortality in Hong Kong. In a retrospective cohort study, data were reviewed from singletons delivered between 1995 and 2011 at a university teaching hospital. Trends in preterm birth (between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy), perinatal mortality, and subtypes of preterm birth (spontaneous, iatrogenic, and following preterm premature rupture of membranes [PPROM]) were examined via linear regression. There were 103 364 singleton deliveries, of which 6722 (6.5%) occurred preterm, including 1835 (1.8%) early preterm births (24-33 weeks) and 4887 (4.7%) late preterm births (34-36 weeks). Frequency of preterm birth remained fairly consistent over the study period, but that of spontaneous preterm birth decreased by 25% (β=-0.83; P <0.001), from 4.5% to 3.8%. Frequency of preterm birth following PPROM increased by 135% (β=0.82; P <0.001), from 0.7% to 1.7%. The perinatal mortality rate decreased from 56.7 to 37.0 deaths per 1000 deliveries before 37 weeks (β=-0.16; P=0.54). Early preterm birth contributed to 16.0% of all deaths. Although the overall rate of preterm birth in Hong Kong has remained constant, the frequencies of its subtypes have changed. Overall perinatal mortality is gradually decreasing, but early preterm birth remains a major contributo