Medical Reviewer
Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD
Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease — Organ-system RCTs, biomarker endpoints, immune-mediated disease, biologics.
Dr. Amelia Tan is a freelance medical writer based in Singapore with over 10+ years of experience in clinical research, regulatory writing, and pharmaceutical communications, specializing in Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the National University of Singapore and a Master's degree in Clinical Research from Nanyang Technological University. She also holds certification in Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) and regulatory writing standards.
Amelia's expertise spans organ-system clinical trials and biologic therapies, with a focus on cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, hematology, rheumatology, and immune-mediated diseases. She has extensive experience working with randomized controlled trials involving biomarker endpoints and chronic disease progression models.
Prior to transitioning into freelance writing, Amelia worked as a Clinical Research Scientist at a global pharmaceutical company, where she led multi-center trials across Southeast Asia. She is known for her ability to translate complex clinical datasets into clear, compliant, and publication-ready scientific content for regulatory authorities, clinicians, and research teams.
Articles in this group — last 14 days
Systematic review and meta-analysis links swimming pool attendance to increased asthma risk in children
Swimming Pool Time May Raise Asthma Risk For Kids
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between swimming pool attendance and the risk of allergic diseases in 54,…
New research shows swimming pool attendance may increase asthma risk for children but does not appear to affect other common allergies.
Meta-analysis finds childhood asthma linked to higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea
Meta-analysis links childhood asthma to higher risk of sleep apnea
This meta-analysis of studies from the United States, Europe, and Asia found a significant association between childhood asthma and obstruct…
A large review finds children with asthma have a significantly higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea, especially in America and Asia.
Tralokinumab maintains efficacy in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis up to 152 weeks
Tralokinumab keeps skin clear for up to four years in adults
This post hoc interim analysis of the ECZTEND open-label extension trial evaluated adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who comp…
New data shows a specific eczema drug keeps skin clear for up to four years in adults who need long-term relief.
Brodalumab Improves Palmoplantar Pustulosis in Japanese Adults in Phase 3 Trial
Brodalumab shows benefit for palmoplantar pustulosis in Japanese adults
This randomized Phase 3 trial in Japanese adults with palmoplantar pustulosis found that brodalumab 210 mg improved PPPASI scores similarly …
A Phase 3 trial found brodalumab improved skin scores for palmoplantar pustulosis in Japanese adults, though infection risks were frequent.
5-Fluorouracil and MAL-PDT vs Surgery for Bowen's Disease: 4-Year Outcomes
Surgery kept skin cancer away better than two light-based treatments in this trial.
This multicenter RCT compared 5-fluorouracil, methylaminolevulinate photodynamic therapy (MAL-PDT), and surgical excision (SE) in 250 patien…
Surgery offered the highest chance of staying cancer-free for four years, while light-based treatments showed lower success rates in this st…
Ixekizumab shows efficacy in children with enthesitis-related and juvenile psoriatic arthritis
New drug ixekizumab shows promise for children with arthritis
This multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study evaluated ixekizumab in 101 children with enthesitis-related arthritis or juvenile psoriatic art…
A phase 3 study found ixekizumab helped many children with arthritis meet response criteria at week 16, with mostly mild side effects report…
Meta-analysis finds early-stage cutaneous angiosarcoma linked to longer survival
Early Detection Key for Rare Skin Cancer Survival
This meta-analysis of 159 patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma found that early-stage disease was associated with longer average survival an…
For a rare skin cancer, catching it early may mean longer survival and delayed recurrence, but treatment type didn't matter.
Rapid review and meta-analysis of psychological distress in adults undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery
Mohs Surgery Linked To Psychological Distress In Adults
This rapid review and meta-analysis examined psychological adverse events in adults undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery. The pooled distres…
A rapid review found psychological distress is common after Mohs surgery, with risks often missing from consent forms.
Systematic review shows regional differences in HS comorbidity prevalence across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Regional differences in health risks for hidradenitis suppurativa patients
This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa-associated comorbidities across North America, …
A meta-analysis reveals how hidradenitis suppurativa patients in North America, Europe, and the Middle East/Asia face different odds for dia…
Single 6 mg erdafitinib dose shows similar pharmacokinetics in mild or moderate hepatic impairment versus healthy controls.
Single dose of erdafitinib showed no dose changes needed for mild or moderate liver issues
This Phase 1 open-label single-dose study evaluated pharmacokinetics of erdafitinib in 26 participants with hepatic impairment versus health…
A single dose of erdafitinib worked well in people with mild or moderate liver problems, showing no need for dose adjustments.
Five ACLF diagnostic models and prognostic scores identified markedly different proportions of patients at risk of 28-day mortality in a cohort study.
Two new models find the sickest liver patients faster than old tools
This cohort study evaluated five acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) diagnostic models and prognostic scores in 3,370 patients from the CO…
Two new scoring systems find the most dangerous liver failure patients better than older tools, potentially saving lives by catching risk ea…
SABR shows worse survival in ultracentral pulmonary oligometastases compared to nonultracentral tumors
Tumor location matters: ultracentral spots linked to worse survival in lung metastasis patients
This secondary analysis of the SABR-5 Phase 2 trial evaluated progression-free and overall survival in 41 patients with ultracentral pulmona…
Tumor location matters. Patients with ultracentral lung metastases had shorter survival times than those with nonultracentral spots after ra…
SABR in oligometastatic cancer showed median overall survival of 64.6 months in a single-arm phase 2 study.
SABR offers five-year survival hope for patients with limited cancer spread
This single-arm phase 2 trial evaluated stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in 380 patients with oligometastatic cancer across six Can…
Patients with few cancer spots lived longer with SABR treatment. Five-year survival reached 58.6 percent in this Canadian study.
Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy and radiotherapy yields 89.1% 3-year disease-free survival in pMMR/MSS locally advanced rectal cancer
Early trial shows high survival rates for rectal cancer patients treated with tislelizumab
This Phase 2 clinical trial evaluated neoadjuvant tislelizumab, chemotherapy, and long-course radiotherapy in 50 patients with pMMR/MSS loca…
A Phase 2 trial found that adding tislelizumab to standard care helped 89% of patients stay free of cancer for three years. This approach wo…
Patient Buddy App reduced avoidable readmissions in cirrhosis inpatients compared to standard of care.
App helps cirrhosis patients avoid hospital readmission
This randomized clinical trial enrolled 464 subjects (232 dyads) with cirrhosis in a multicenter setting. The Patient Buddy App (HIT) signif…
A smartphone app cut avoidable hospital readmissions in half for cirrhosis patients, a new trial shows.
Chiglitazar reduces liver fat in MASLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance
Two doses of chiglitazar cut liver fat far more than a placebo in 18 weeks
In a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 104 patients with MASLD, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance rece…
Patients with fatty liver disease and high triglycerides saw liver fat drop significantly with chiglitazar compared to placebo after 18 week…
Text reminders and letters increased FIT completion in overdue colorectal cancer screening patients
Text reminders and letters boost colorectal cancer screening completion in primary care
This randomized trial evaluated screening completion in primary care patients aged 50 to 74 years who were overdue for colorectal cancer scr…
Text messages and reminder letters significantly increased colorectal cancer screening completion, while a branded box did not improve rates…
AI-Assisted Colonoscopy Improves Right-Sided Adenoma Detection in Gastroenterology Fellows
AI helps trainee doctors find more polyps in colonoscopies
This pragmatic randomized controlled trial assigned 16 gastroenterology fellows to AI-enhanced or conventional colonoscopy for 1045 procedur…
AI-assisted colonoscopy helped gastroenterology fellows detect more polyps on the right side of the colon, a hard-to-see area.
Zibotentan plus dapagliflozin shows no HVPG reduction in compensated cirrhosis
Early trial shows zibotentan plus dapagliflozin trended toward lowering blood pressure in cirrhosis patients
This Phase II randomized placebo-controlled exploratory study in 28 patients with compensated cirrhosis found that zibotentan 2.5 mg plus da…
An early study found that a combination drug lowered blood pressure in patients with compensated cirrhosis, though it did not conclusively i…
Avelumab plus cetuximab versus cetuximab alone in metastatic colorectal cancer patients
Adding avelumab to cetuximab helps only a specific subgroup of colorectal cancer patients
This randomized phase II trial evaluated adding avelumab to cetuximab in RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer patients. The combi…
A new trial shows adding avelumab to cetuximab improves survival only for patients without certain genetic changes, not for everyone.
Preoperative symbiotic supplementation alters gut microbiota in colorectal cancer patients
Small trial shows symbiotic changes gut bacteria in colorectal cancer patients
This randomized clinical trial in 46 adults undergoing colorectal cancer surgery found that preoperative symbiotic supplementation increased…
A small Brazilian trial found that taking a symbiotic before surgery changed gut bacteria and fatty acid levels in colorectal cancer patient…
HEV 239 vaccine induces durable humoral and cellular immunity in Bangladeshi women
Hepatitis E vaccine shows durable immunity in women
This longitudinal cohort study in 1480 women aged 16-39 years in Bangladesh found that HEV 239 (Hecolin) vaccination led to significantly hi…
A hepatitis E vaccine kept women protected for up to 3 years, with stronger immune memory than a comparison group.
TaTME shows lower conversion rates with similar short-term safety compared to LapTME for low rectal cancer.
New surgical approach for rectal cancer cuts conversion rate
This randomized trial compared transanal total mesorectal excision with laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for patients with low rectal …
A new surgical technique for rectal cancer reduces the need to switch to open surgery, with similar complication rates.
Systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates ML and DL models for diagnosing MASH and fibrosis
AI models help doctors spot liver disease with high accuracy
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 106 studies assessed machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models for diagnosing metaboli…
New computer tools can diagnose fatty liver disease and scarring with impressive accuracy. This review analyzed data from many studies to se…
Meta-analysis of placebo responses in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis trials reveals modest natural resolution rates and low progression risk.
New meta-analysis shows how many patients improve on placebo for MASH
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined placebo outcomes in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. The au…
This analysis of 6,880 patients reveals natural improvement rates in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis when no active drug is…
Meta-analysis finds Virtual Scale Endoscopy improves colorectal polyp measurement accuracy
Virtual Scale Endoscopy cuts errors in colorectal polyp measurements
This meta-analysis of 6 clinical and 5 preclinical studies (1581 polyps) found that Virtual Scale Endoscopy (VSE) significantly improved mea…
A new analysis shows Virtual Scale Endoscopy improves accuracy and reduces mistakes when measuring colorectal polyps compared to standard vi…
Systematic review and meta-analysis of colorectal cancer screening prevalence in survivors versus general population
Cancer survivors are more likely to get colorectal cancer screening than the general public
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined colorectal cancer screening prevalence across 59 studies involving cancer survivors and th…
A large review of 59 studies found cancer survivors are more likely to get colorectal cancer screening than those without cancer history.
Meta-analysis finds R1 vascular margin acceptable for HCC but not CLM in minimally invasive liver surgery
Tumor margin choice matters differently for liver cancer types
This meta-analysis of 839 patients undergoing minimally invasive liver surgery found that R1 vascular margin (R1v) hepatectomy yields local …
For liver cancer, leaving a narrow margin is safe. For colorectal metastases, it raises recurrence risk.
Educational programs improve self-care values in ostomized colorectal cancer patients
Educational programs boost self-care values in ostomized colorectal cancer patients
This systematic review analyzed educational intervention programs for ostomized colorectal cancer patients. Results showed significant diffe…
A meta-analysis of 1,011 patients found educational programs significantly improve self-care values compared to no intervention.
Systematic review and meta-analysis assesses SWDS diagnostic accuracy for MASLD liver inflammation grading
Shear-wave dispersion slope helps doctors grade liver inflammation in metabolic disease
This systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis evaluates the Shear-wave dispersion slope (SWDS) for detecting and grading…
A new analysis shows a noninvasive test can accurately detect and grade liver inflammation in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated…
Systematic review finds weak link between atypical antipsychotics and MASLD in youth
Atypical antipsychotics show a small link to liver disease in young patients
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 3 studies examined the association between atypical antipsychotics and metabolic dysfunction-ass…
A review of three studies found a small link between atypical antipsychotics and liver disease in children, but the evidence is limited.
Meta-analysis finds blood biomarkers predict outcomes in anal cancer but need validation
Low blood counts and high inflammation may signal worse survival for anal cancer patients
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 3589 patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma found that elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte rat…
For patients with anal cancer, low hemoglobin and high inflammation markers linked to poorer survival in this analysis of nearly 3,600 peopl…
Systematic review shows high rates of fibrosis and cirrhosis in children with Pi*ZZ alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
1 in 4 children with A1AT deficiency develop cirrhosis
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined children with confirmed Pi*ZZ alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency to assess liver outcomes. The…
New analysis finds 41% of children with A1AT deficiency have liver fibrosis and 17% have cirrhosis.
PPAR Agonists Reduce Pruritus in PBC: Meta-Analysis of 660 Patients
New drugs ease itch for patients whose current treatment fails
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 660 patients with primary biliary cholangitis and inadequate response to UDCA found that PPAR ag…
A review of six hundred sixty patients found new medicines significantly reduced itch scores in people with primary biliary cholangitis who …
Systematic review and meta-analysis of biopsy-guided versus clinically guided withdrawal in autoimmune hepatitis
Biopsy-guided withdrawal shows no benefit over clinical guidance for autoimmune hepatitis
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated relapse rates after treatment withdrawal in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. The poole…
A meta-analysis of 518 patients found that biopsy-guided withdrawal did not lower relapse rates compared to clinically guided withdrawal in …
Review of NHANES data links metformin use to lower mortality and inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes
Metformin use linked to lower death risk and better inflammation markers in U.S. adults with diabetes
This review of NHANES 2013-2018 data (2,116 adults) found that metformin use was associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortalit…
New analysis of U.S. adults with diabetes suggests metformin use connects to lower death risk and improved inflammation markers, though more…
A 1-month nudge-based dietary intervention increased daily step counts by 1105 steps at 3 months in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Small diet changes might boost steps for a short time in diabetes care
This cluster-randomised controlled trial enrolled 204 adults aged 18-59 years with type 2 diabetes across 12 primary healthcare centres in B…
A simple diet plan helped people with diabetes walk more for three months but the extra steps did not stick in the long run
Mobile app plus group sessions showed feasibility in Malaysian women with gestational diabetes
A new app plus support for diabetes care in Malaysia showed no benefit yet.
This feasibility randomized controlled trial enrolled 60 women with gestational diabetes mellitus in Malaysia. The intervention included mob…
A trial in Malaysia found that a mobile app and group sessions did not improve health outcomes for women with gestational diabetes compared …
Oral Sodium Butyrate Reduces Weight in Overweight Adults Without Diabetes
Oral sodium butyrate helps overweight adults without diabetes lose weight
This 12-week proof-of-concept RCT in 46 overweight adults (23 with type 2 diabetes) found that oral sodium butyrate 1875 mg/day led to great…
A new trial shows oral sodium butyrate helps adults without diabetes lose more weight than a placebo over three months.
Essential phospholipids reduced hepatic steatosis and improved HbA1c in patients with MASLD and type 2 diabetes over 6 months.
Essential Phospholipids Reduce Liver Fat In Six Months
This randomised, placebo-controlled phase 4 trial enrolled 193 patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and ty…
Essential phospholipids may lower liver fat and improve energy levels for people with fatty liver disease and diabetes within just six month…
Naltrexone-Bupropion Aids Weight Loss in Overweight Adults With Depression
A New Weight Loss Drug Helps Depression Too
A pooled analysis of 4 double-blind trials found that naltrexone-bupropion (NB-ER) led to significantly greater weight loss than placebo in …
A new weight loss drug helps people lose more weight while keeping their mood stable and safe for those with mild depression.
Intensive lifestyle intervention improves health-related quality of life in patients with obesity
Greater weight loss linked to better quality of life in obesity patients
This randomized controlled trial enrolled 803 patients with obesity across eighteen primary care clinics. Participants received a 24-month i…
A large trial shows that losing more weight is associated with better quality of life, though some racial differences were noted.
Topical pyroligneous extract hydrogel may improve wound shrinkage in diabetic foot ulcers
New gel may help heal diabetic foot ulcers faster than standard care
This first-in-human randomized controlled trial enrolled sixteen volunteers with diabetic foot ulcers. The study compared a topical hydrogel…
A new gel with plant extract showed faster healing and fewer infections in people with diabetic foot ulcers during this first-in-human trial…
CPAP Most Effective for Apnea-Hypopnea Index, GLP-1 RAs Improve Weight in OSA
CPAP and weight-loss drugs show different benefits for sleep apnea patients
This network meta-analysis of 3964 adults with obstructive sleep apnea found that CPAP produced the largest reduction in apnea-hypopnea inde…
A large analysis found CPAP best for breathing control, while weight-loss drugs improved body weight and blood sugar levels in sleep apnea p…
Systematic review and meta-analysis finds no significant association between diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration
Diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration show no significant link
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the association between diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The au…
A meta-analysis found no significant relationship between diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, though existing data ha…
Systematic review and meta-analysis finds elevated magnetic sphincter augmentation erosion after sleeve gastrectomy
Magnetic sphincter augmentation erosion risk is higher after sleeve gastrectomy
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 287 patients found that magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) erosion after laparoscopic sleeve …
A meta-analysis shows patients with sleeve gastrectomy have a higher erosion rate after magnetic sphincter augmentation compared to nonbaria…
Meta-analysis: Postoperative oral antibiotics reduce cellulitis after cesarean in obese women
Adding two antibiotics may lower cellulitis risk for obese women having C-sections
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 1144 obese women undergoing cesarean delivery found that adding postoperative oral cephalexin an…
A large review found adding oral cephalexin and metronidazole to standard care significantly reduced cellulitis in obese women after C-secti…
Network meta-analysis suggests tirzepatide and surgery improve MASH resolution versus standard care in adults with obesity
Weight-loss drugs and surgery may clear fatty liver disease in adults with high BMI
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluates interventions for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and st…
A new analysis suggests tirzepatide, semaglutide, and surgery might help resolve fatty liver disease without worsening scarring in adults wi…
Systematic review identifies GDM risk factors in low- and middle-income countries
New Risk Factors Found For Gestational Diabetes In Poor Nations
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes data from forty-seven studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries. The author…
Doctors now know that older age and city living make gestational diabetes much more likely for mothers in poorer countries.
Meta-analysis reports diabetes-related foot disease incidence from two large cohorts
Diabetes foot disease rates vary wildly between UK and China populations
This meta-analysis of data from UK Biobank and Chongqing Diabetes Registry reports incidence rates for diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) c…
A new analysis shows diabetes foot disease rates differ greatly between the UK and China, highlighting how local factors shape risk.
Reversion of Prediabetes to Normoglycemia Linked to 68% Lower Diabetes Risk
Reversing prediabetes cuts diabetes risk by 68 percent in a massive study
A meta-analysis of 535,066 participants with prediabetes found that reversion to normoglycemia was associated with a 68% lower risk of incid…
Reversing prediabetes to normal blood sugar levels lowers the risk of developing diabetes by 68 percent in people with the condition.
Ecnoglutide Reduces HbA1c and Body Weight in Type 2 Diabetes: Meta-Analysis
New diabetes drug cuts sugar and weight in adults with Type 2 Diabetes
A meta-analysis of 1643 adults with type 2 diabetes found that ecnoglutide significantly reduced HbA1c (MD -0.44, 95% CI -0.55 to -0.33) and…
A large review shows ecnoglutide lowers blood sugar and body weight in adults with Type 2 Diabetes. It also has an acceptable safety profile…
Emotional eating shows stronger link to elevated BMI in adults than youth in this meta-analysis
Emotional eating links to higher BMI in adults but not youth
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between emotional eating and body mass index across diverse populations. …
A large analysis of 41 studies found emotional eating scores were higher in adults with elevated BMI, while youth showed no clear link.
Meta-analysis finds GLP-1RA plus SGLT2i reduces UACR in type 2 diabetes with kidney disease
Combining two diabetes drugs protects kidneys better than using just one alone
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 1974 adults with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease found that combination therapy with…
Combining two common diabetes drugs offers better kidney protection than taking just one alone for people with type 2 diabetes
Systematic review and meta-analysis shows small BMI reduction in preschoolers with screen-time interventions
Screen-time programs slightly lower BMI in preschoolers but diet habits stay the same
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated screen-time-focused interventions for preschool children aged 2 to 6 years. Approximately…
A review of 2800 preschoolers found small BMI drops with screen-time limits, yet diet behaviors showed no consistent improvement.
Systematic review and meta-analysis shows antifungal resistance rates vary in diabetic foot ulcer patients
Antifungal resistance high in diabetic foot ulcers
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated antifungal resistance in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The analysis pooled data fro…
Many diabetic foot ulcer infections resist common antifungals, especially nystatin and itraconazole.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of hypoglycaemia risk prediction models in type 2 diabetes
Diabetes risk models predict hypoglycemia with moderate accuracy
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 studies (45 models) assessed hypoglycaemia risk prediction models in type 2 diabetes. The poo…
Models that predict dangerous blood sugar drops in type 2 diabetes are only moderately accurate, and most studies have serious flaws.
SMS Text Messaging Lifestyle Programs Show No Significant Benefit for Prediabetes
SMS lifestyle programs show no clear benefit for prediabetes outcomes in this meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 4632 adults with prediabetes found that SMS text messaging-delivered lifestyle programs did not …
A large review of text message health programs found no significant improvement in weight or diabetes risk for adults with prediabetes.
Cryoballoon ablation reduces PV automaticity retention compared to radiofrequency ablation in PAF
Ablation times differ but rhythm return looks the same for both methods
This RCT in 100 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing initial catheter ablation found that cryoballoon ablation (CBA) resu…
Two common heart rhythm procedures show similar success rates for stopping fast beats, even though one takes longer and uses more X-ray time…
Structured Exercise Training Improves LVEF and LDL-C in HFmrEF Patients After PCI
Heart function improved more with exercise than medicine alone in stable heart disease patients
This single-center randomized trial of 120 stable CAD patients with HFmrEF (LVEF 40-49%) post-PCI found that adding a 52-week structured exe…
A 52-week program of structured exercise plus standard heart medicines helped heart function recover better than medicines alone in patients…