Medical Editor
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
Immune cell functional remodeling and pre-metastatic niche construction drive tumor metastasis and immune editing
Immune cells play a complex role in cancer spreading
This systematic review examines the evolving understanding of immune mechanisms in tumor metastasis. The authors synthesize evidence that me…
Cancer spreads through a complex process where immune cells are reshaped by the tumor to help it move and grow in new parts of the body.
Phytomedicines show pathway-specific effects on inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular disease models
Plant compounds show potential for heart health in early studies
This narrative review synthesizes the mechanistic activity of curcumin, resveratrol, berberine, quercetin, and andrographolide in cellular a…
Certain plant compounds like curcumin and berberine may help manage heart health by targeting inflammation and cell stress in early research…
Angiography-derived FFR shows no significant difference in MACE compared to wire-based FFR
Angiography-derived FFR Shows No Difference in Major Heart Events
This meta-analysis of 6,542 patients undergoing coronary revascularization found no significant difference in MACE between angiography-deriv…
A review of 6,542 patients shows that angiography-derived FFR does not change major heart outcomes compared to wire-based FFR.
Mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with hypertension
Mindfulness Interventions May Help Manage Hypertension and Stress
This meta-analysis of 780 adults with hypertension found that mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD…
Mindfulness practices may help lower blood pressure and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression in adults with hypertension.
Acupuncture preconditioning reduces infarct size and oxidative stress in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury models
Acupuncture Preconditioning May Reduce Heart Damage in Animal Models
This meta-analysis of 34 publications involving 586 animals found that acupuncture preconditioning, primarily electroacupuncture, significan…
Early laboratory studies suggest that acupuncture preconditioning may reduce heart tissue damage and oxidative stress in animal models of he…
Mast cell activation mediates heart failure and cardiomyopathy through diverse signaling and inflammatory pathways
Mast Cell Activity Linked to Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy
This narrative review explores the role of cardiac mast cells in heart failure and cardiomyopathy. The authors synthesize evidence that mast…
New research explores how mast cells in the heart may drive heart failure and cardiomyopathy through various inflammatory and signaling path…
Glutathione metabolism acts as a homeostatic orchestrator to regulate browning in fresh-cut produce
Glutathione Metabolism May Help Prevent Browning in Fresh Produce
This mini-review explores the role of glutathione (GSH) metabolism in regulating the browning of fresh-cut produce. The authors synthesize e…
New research suggests that glutathione does more than just fight oxidation; it may actively manage how fresh-cut fruits and vegetables stay …
Caffeine exposure is associated with higher anxiety scores but no clear effect on depressive symptoms
Caffeine intake shows no clear effect on depressive symptoms
This meta-analysis of 668 participants evaluated the impact of caffeine on anxiety and depressive symptoms. The analysis found no clear evid…
New data shows that caffeine does not reliably change symptoms of depression, but it may increase feelings of anxiety in some people.
H. pylori eradication linked to lower proteinuria and reduced CKD risk in meta-analysis
Treating a common stomach bacteria may help manage kidney disease
This meta-analysis examines the association between Helicobacter pylori eradication and kidney outcomes in patients with kidney disease or p…
Treating a common stomach infection called H. pylori may lower protein levels in the urine and reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Schistosoma and Salmonella Co-infection Prevalence Across Various African Regions
Parasite and Salmonella Co-Infections Found in 9% Across Africa
A meta-analysis reveals a 9% pooled prevalence of Schistosoma-Salmonella co-infection in Africa, highlighting a significant public health co…
A pooled look at African studies finds Schistosoma and Salmonella co-infection in about 9% of people, with rates varying widely by country.
Anti-inflammatory strategies may stabilize mental functioning and promote autonomic and metabolic homeostasis
Inflammation and Nerve Imbalance Linked to Anxiety and Metabolic Ills
This narrative review explores the roles of metainflammation, autonomic instability, and anti-inflammatory strategies in anxiety and cardiom…
A new review links chronic inflammation and unstable nerve signals to anxiety, obesity, and diabetes, but it is early, broad thinking, not p…
Febuxostat lowers serum urate but renal function declines in UMOD-related kidney disease
Febuxostat Treatment Linked to Worsening Kidney Function in Case Study
This case report with literature review describes a 25-year-old man with a UMOD variant and hyperuricemia treated with febuxostat. Serum ura…
A case report shows a patient with a specific kidney disease experienced worsening renal function while taking febuxostat for high uric acid…
Concurrent lupus nephritis and Graves' disease improved with combined immunosuppression and methimazole in a single case
Case Report Shows Treatment for Concurrent Lupus and Graves Disease
This case report describes a 39-year-old male with biopsy-proven ISN/RPS Class IV + V lupus nephritis and Graves' disease who showed early c…
A new case report describes a treatment plan for a patient managing both lupus nephritis and Graves disease at the same time.
Barriers to clinical trial participation in rural Australia include cultural gaps and logistical costs
Trial Activity in Rural Australia Shows Gaps in Cancer Care
This scoping review of 24 studies examines clinical trial activity and infrastructure in rural, regional, and remote Australia. It identifie…
New research highlights the need for better clinical trial access and culturally safe designs for cancer patients in rural and remote Austra…
Atopic dermatitis is associated with increased odds of autism and learning disabilities in children
Atopic Dermatitis Linked to Higher Odds of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
This systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies analyzed 39 studies to evaluate the link between atopic dermatitis and neu…
A review of 39 studies found that children with atopic dermatitis may have higher odds of conditions like ADHD and autism.
Implementation science methods can bridge the 17 year research-practice gap in infant neuromotor development
Closing the 17 year gap in infant physical therapy care
This perspective piece discusses the 17 year delay between evidence discovery and clinical integration for infant neuromotor development. It…
A massive gap exists between finding new medical evidence and actually using it to treat infants with motor delays.
Atrial involvement in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy suggests a need for stage-anchored therapy decisions
Heart disease in cats may start in the upper chambers
This narrative review explores the role of the atrium in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy management. The authors argue that atrial involv…
A common heart condition in cats may involve the upper chambers of the heart long before the lower chambers show signs of thickening.
Metabolic syndrome increases risk of incident atrial fibrillation by 1.4- to 1.9-fold
Metabolic Syndrome Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients
This narrative review examines the association between metabolic syndrome and atrial fibrillation incidence. The authors synthesize evidence…
Metabolic syndrome is linked to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, with high blood pressure and abdominal obesity showing the strongest c…
Intermittent Hemodialysis Falls Short of Continuous Therapy in Critically Ill AKI Trial
Trial shows continuous renal-replacement therapy may reduce kidney injury mortality
In critically ill adults with acute kidney injury, intermittent hemodialysis did not prove noninferior to continuous therapy and was linked …
A trial of 554 critically ill adults found that continuous renal-replacement therapy was associated with lower mortality rates than intermit…
Intra-wound vancomycin powder reduces surgical site infection odds in spinal surgery patients
Vancomycin powder may lower infection risk in spinal surgeries
This meta-analysis of 9802 patients undergoing spinal surgery found that intra-wound vancomycin powder was associated with lower odds of sur…
A review of data suggests that adding vancomycin powder directly into a wound may reduce infection rates for patients undergoing spinal surg…
Total glucosides of paeony may interrupt the gut-liver axis cycle in liver cirrhosis
TGP May Improve Gut Health in Liver Cirrhosis Patients
This narrative review explores how total glucosides of paeony (TGP) may impact liver cirrhosis through the gut-liver axis. The review synthe…
New research explores how a compound called TGP may improve gut health and liver function in people with liver cirrhosis.
PMOS proposed as developmental disorder shaped by gene-environment and epigenetic mechanisms
New framework explains how polycystic ovary syndrome develops in women
This guideline-based review proposes a developmental origin framework for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and discusses the …
A new framework suggests that polycystic ovary syndrome may begin during development due to how genes and the environment interact.
Distinct immune mechanisms and myeloid-cell activation differentiate systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis from adult rheumatoid arthritis
New Research Highlights Differences Between Juvenile and Adult Arthritis
This narrative review synthesizes the distinct immune mechanisms and biomarker profiles of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and adult rhe…
New research highlights how juvenile idiopathic arthritis differs from adult rheumatoid arthritis, helping doctors better tailor treatments …
Moderate mitral regurgitation associated with higher risk of primary outcome in HFrEF patients
Trial shows moderate mitral regurgitation impacts heart failure outcomes
This randomized controlled trial of 8232 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) evaluated the impact of mitral re…
New research identifies that patients with moderate mitral regurgitation may face higher risks in heart failure treatment outcomes.
Prediction models for heart failure in type 2 diabetes show acceptable discrimination but lack prospective testing
New Prediction Models Help Identify Heart Failure Risk in Diabetes
This meta-analysis of 65 studies evaluated prediction models for incident heart failure and heart failure hospitalization in people with typ…
New prediction models show promise in identifying heart failure risks for people living with type 2 diabetes.
Sivelestat-containing regimens reduce all-cause mortality in sepsis-induced ARDS with OR 0.55
Sivelestat shows lower mortality for patients with sepsis and ARDS
This meta-analysis of 943 patients found that a sivelestat-containing regimen significantly reduced all-cause mortality in sepsis-induced AR…
A new review of data suggests the drug sivelestat may lower death rates for adults with severe lung and blood infections.
Protocol targets host-response biomarker accuracy for PJI in inflammatory arthritis
New plan to improve testing for joint infection in arthritis
This is a published protocol for a systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis, not a completed study. It will assess serum…
Doctors are planning a new way to better identify joint infections in patients with inflammatory arthritis using specific blood and fluid ma…
Six amino acid metabolism biomarkers distinguish periodontitis from controls in early in silico and tissue validation
New biomarkers may help identify and track gum disease
This guideline-type report describes an in silico and experimental validation study identifying six amino acid metabolism-related biomarkers…
Researchers identified six specific markers in the blood and tissue that could help doctors better detect and monitor periodontitis.
Epigenetic mechanisms regulate T-cell differentiation and activity in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases
Epigenetic mechanisms drive T-cell activity in autoimmune diseases
This mini review explores how epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and chromatin architecture, regulate T-cell behavior in autoi…
New research explores how chemical changes to DNA and proteins control the immune cells that drive autoimmune diseases.
Baseline immune architecture provides more informative biomarker potential than single immune-cell markers in bladder cancer
Immune Cell Patterns May Help Predict Bladder Cancer Outcomes
This narrative review examines the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in bladder cancer, focusing on how immune cell distribution and func…
Understanding how immune cells behave within a tumor may help doctors better predict how bladder cancer patients will respond to various tre…
FDA Approves Monoferric (ferric derisomaltose) for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Adults
FDA Approves New Single-Dose IV Iron Treatment for Anemia
The FDA approved Monoferric for iron deficiency anemia in adults with intolerance or unsatisfactory response to oral iron, and in those with…
The FDA approved Monoferric, an intravenous iron product, to treat iron deficiency anemia in adults who cannot tolerate or do not respond we…
FDA Approves Jubbonti (denosumab) for Osteoporosis and Bone Loss Indications
FDA Approves Jubbonti, a Twice-Yearly Shot for Weak Bones
The FDA approved Jubbonti (denosumab), a RANKL inhibitor, for postmenopausal osteoporosis, osteoporosis in men, glucocorticoid-induced osteo…
The FDA approved Jubbonti (denosumab), a twice-yearly injection for people with weak bones at high risk of breaks. It treats osteoporosis in…
Environmental factors influence oral tissue alterations through oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbial dysbiosis
Environmental Factors Linked to Changes in Oral Tissue Health
This narrative review explores how environmental factors, including smoking and pollutants, impact oral tissue and salivary homeostasis. The…
Pollutants, smoking, and dietary factors are linked to changes in gum health, tooth structure, and the balance of bacteria in your mouth.
Early genetic diagnosis of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes facilitates timely transplant and lifelong surveillance
Genetic Factors May Influence Diagnosis of Bone Marrow Failure
This narrative review explores the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management of pediatric patients with inherited bone marrow fa…
Genetic factors can be the hidden cause of bone marrow failure in children, making early genetic testing vital for proper treatment and plan…
Heart transplantation provides feasible treatment with favorable long-term survival for end-stage Chagas heart disease
Heart transplant offers long term survival for Chagas heart disease
This meta-analysis of 305 patients evaluates outcomes in Chagas heart disease transplant recipients. The analysis indicates that heart trans…
Heart transplants provide a viable path to long term survival for patients with advanced Chagas heart disease.
Nocturnal hypertension affects 42.5% of population samples, isolated nocturnal hypertension 17.3%
High blood pressure during sleep is common in many people
This meta-analysis estimates the prevalence of nocturnal hypertension and isolated nocturnal hypertension in population-based and community …
Nearly half of people with high blood pressure experience it specifically at night, a finding that helps doctors plan better screening tools…
Antiplatelet monotherapy after ultrashort DAPT shows no statistically significant difference in major bleeding or MACE
Trial Shows Antiplatelet Monotherapy Options for Coronary Artery Disease
This network meta-analysis evaluated antiplatelet monotherapy following an ultrashort course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients…
New analysis looks at whether switching to a single antiplatelet drug after a short dual therapy period reduces bleeding risks for heart pat…
Oral vitamin D supplementation improves specific metabolic syndrome parameters but shows inconsistent effects on blood pressure
Vitamin D Supplementation Shows Mixed Results for Metabolic Syndrome
This narrative synthesis of 8 trials involving 634 adults with metabolic syndrome found that oral vitamin D consistently increased serum 25(…
Vitamin D supplements may improve some markers of metabolic syndrome, but results for blood pressure and cholesterol remain inconsistent.
Viral triggers and distinct molecular signatures characterize various white dot syndrome subtypes
Research reveals viral triggers and distinct markers for eye diseases
This narrative review synthesizes the clinical features and underlying mechanisms of white dot syndromes, including MEWDS, birdshot, and APM…
New research identifies specific viral triggers and unique biological markers for several rare conditions affecting the back of the eye.
Intermittent hypoxia may disturb intestinal oxygen homeostasis and impair epithelial barrier function in obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep apnea may impact gut health and organ function
This narrative review explores how intermittent hypoxia (IH) impacts the gut microbiome and intestinal homeostasis in obstructive sleep apne…
New research explores how sleep apnea affects the gut and how microbes might play a role in heart and brain health.
Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies 25 trait-loci associations for cardiometabolic phenotypes in Native Hawaiian and Samoan populations
Native Hawaiian and Samoan DNA study finds new genetic links to diabetes risk
This meta-analysis of a genome-wide association study identifies 25 trait-loci associations for 13 adiposity and cardiometabolic traits in a…
A DNA study of 8,461 Native Hawaiians and Samoans found 25 genetic links to traits like blood sugar and body fat, including 5 that may be ne…
Intralesional corticosteroid combination therapy shows odds ratio of 2.71 for improved keloid outcomes
Combining treatments may improve results for patients with keloids
This meta-analysis of keloid treatments found that combination therapy with intralesional corticosteroids and other agents yielded an odds r…
Combining corticosteroids with other treatments like 5-fluorouracil may offer better results and safety for people living with keloids.
Obesity-induced neuroinflammation and neuroimmunometabolic feedback may reshape the tumor microenvironment in cancer patients
Obesity and Neuroinflammation May Influence How Cancer Progresses
This narrative review explores the obesity-neuroinflammation-cancer axis as a framework for how metabolic and inflammatory signals perturb n…
New research explores how obesity and inflammation in the nervous system might change the environment where tumors grow and respond to treat…
MRSE Brain Abscess After Stent-Assisted Coiling for Ruptured Aneurysm Treated With Drainage
Treatment Strategy for Rare Brain Abscess After Aneurysm Surgery
Single case report and literature review describing a 49-year-old man who developed a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (ST2)…
A case report describes a specific treatment path for a patient who developed a rare brain abscess following a procedure for a ruptured aneu…
Icotrokinra increases likelihood of Investigator's Global Assessment 0 or 1 by risk ratio 7.27
Icotrokinra Shows Promise for Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis
This meta-analysis of icotrokinra for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adolescents and adults found a risk ratio of 7.27 for Investiga…
A new treatment called icotrokinra shows significant skin clearance and improved scores for adults and teens with moderate to severe plaque …
Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Managing MASLD and MASH Clinical Outcomes
GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Less Liver Fat and Weight Loss
GLP-1 receptor agonists demonstrate significant reductions in liver fat, body weight, and transaminases in patients with MASLD or MASH.
A pooled analysis of 795 adults links GLP-1 drugs to less liver fat, lower liver enzymes, and modest weight loss in fatty liver disease.
Dietary patterns and nutritional interventions may modify risk and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
Dietary Patterns May Help Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis Risks
This mini review examines the role of dietary patterns and targeted nutritional interventions in rheumatoid arthritis. The authors suggest n…
Specific dietary patterns and nutritional changes may help manage inflammation and other health risks for people living with rheumatoid arth…
Mechanism-guided therapy for in-stent restenosis: imaging and drug-coated balloons over anatomy alone
Newer strategies and imaging help treat blocked heart stents
This narrative review examines the drivers and management of coronary in-stent restenosis, emphasizing a shift from anatomy-based to mechani…
Doctors are moving toward personalized treatments for blocked heart stents by using advanced imaging to guide specific tools and techniques.
Nursing-led strategies address patient, systemic, and socio-cultural barriers to cardiac rehabilitation participation
Nurses help heart failure patients overcome barriers to cardiac rehab
This systematic review of 17 studies identifies nursing-led interventions as key facilitators for overcoming barriers to cardiac rehabilitat…
Many heart failure patients struggle to join rehab due to fear or travel issues, but nurse-led support can help them stay on track.
Sodium glucose co-transporter inhibitors show strongest cognitive improvement in Type 2 Diabetes patients
New data shows specific diabetes drugs may help brain health
This umbrella review of 213,604 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and cognitive impairment found that sodium glucose co-transporter inh…
New research shows that certain diabetes medications and regular exercise may help protect brain function in people with Type 2 Diabetes.
FDA Approves Zyvox (linezolid) for Serious Gram-Positive Infections
FDA approves Zyvox to treat serious bacterial infections in adults and children
The FDA approved Zyvox (linezolid) for adults and children to treat nosocomial pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia, complicated and unco…
The FDA has approved Zyvox, an antibiotic, to treat several serious infections caused by certain Gram-positive bacteria. It is for adults an…
FDA Approves Zyvox (linezolid) for Serious Gram-Positive Infections Including VRE and Pneumonia
FDA approves Zyvox, a new antibiotic for serious Gram-positive infections
The FDA approved Zyvox (linezolid), an oxazolidinone-class antibacterial, for adults and children with nosocomial pneumonia, community-acqui…
The FDA has approved Zyvox (linezolid) to treat adults and children with certain bacterial infections, including some pneumonias, skin infec…
Local ancestry-aware GWAS finds 38 European-tract and 12 African-tract loci for eGFR in sickle cell disease
New genetic markers may help identify kidney damage in sickle cell disease
This genome-wide association meta-analysis used local ancestry-aware analysis to identify genomic regions linked to estimated glomerular fil…
Researchers identified specific genetic regions that may help doctors spot and treat kidney issues in people with sickle cell disease earlie…
Adipo-B correlates with beta-cell indices in treatment-naive patients with Type 2 Diabetes
New marker may help track insulin production in Type 2 Diabetes
This prospective, non-randomized observational study of 253 treatment-naive patients with Type 2 Diabetes found that adipo-B levels correlat…
A new protein marker could offer a simple way for doctors to track how well the body produces insulin in people with Type 2 Diabetes.
Prenatal exposure to certain psychotropic medications is associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes
Prenatal exposure to certain psychiatric drugs linked to gestational diabetes
This meta-analysis examined the relationship between prenatal exposure to antipsychotics and antidepressants and the risk of gestational dia…
New data shows that some medications used for mental health during pregnancy may increase the risk of gestational diabetes.
Vision-language foundation models show inconsistent reporting of clinical metrics and limited interpretability in medical imaging
Audit Reveals Reporting Gaps in Medical Image AI Models
This narrative review with quantitative synthesis evaluates 50 original studies and 13 representative studies regarding vision-language foun…
A review of medical AI models shows that many key performance metrics are missing from research, making it harder to judge their clinical re…
High THBS1 expression is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with sepsis
High THBS1 levels linked to poorer outcomes in sepsis patients
This meta-analysis of public datasets and an exploratory cohort identifies THBS1 as a candidate molecule for myeloid immune responses in sep…
A new look at medical data shows that high levels of a specific protein marker may signal a higher risk for sepsis patients.
GLP-1 receptor agonists provide additional weight loss in various stages of bariatric surgery patients
GLP-1 Medications May Enhance Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery
This meta-analysis of 27 studies evaluates GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery. The analysis find…
New data shows that GLP-1 medications can provide additional weight loss at different stages following metabolic and bariatric surgery.
Molecular hydrogen may influence gut microbiota and intestinal barrier integrity in metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders
Molecular Hydrogen May Influence Gut Health and Metabolic Diseases
This narrative review explores the role of molecular hydrogen in gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier integrity. The authors su…
Research suggests molecular hydrogen could impact gut bacteria and inflammation, potentially offering new ways to manage metabolic and diges…
TCM-derived natural photosensitizers offer a novel integrative approach to combat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections
Natural Photosensitizers Show Potential Against Bacterial and Viral Infections
This narrative review explores the use of TCM-derived natural photosensitizers, such as curcumin and hypericin, for photodynamic therapy aga…
Natural compounds like curcumin and riboflavin may help fight infections by using light to create a reaction that disrupts harmful microbes.