Background: To ascertain the construct validity and reliability of a self-administered web-based assessment of intrinsic capacity (IC). The study design was a cross-sectional analysis using data from a prospective cohort. Methods: We included data from 6,434 respondents (mean age 65.33±5.81 years; 52.4% women) of the Singapore Life Panel population study who participated in the online surveys in March 2022 and May 2022. Incremental nested factor structures of IC were modelled with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and their goodness-of-fit were assessed mainly with root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR). With the most parsimonious model as our eventual factor structure, we further evaluated IC and its domains with reliability indices. Results: CFA demonstrated construct validity for the second-order factor structure with acceptable overall model fit: χ2(147)=7,696.276, p<0.001; CLI=0.947; TLI=0.938; RMSEA=0.089; SRMR=0.051. Amongst the domains, vitality had highest factor loading (0.889), whereas locomotion and cognition (0.534 and 0.601, respectively) had lowest loadings with the second-order IC factor. All five IC domains and the general IC factor fulfilled reliability thresholds (construct validity [CR] or hierarchical omega ≥0.7; average variance extracted ≥0.5); psychological and locomotion domains have high CR (>0.9), whereas vitality and sensory domains have lower values of CR. Conclusion Our study provides proof-of-concept evidence regarding the construct validity and reliability of a self-administered web-based assessment of IC index that can potentially be scalable in other population settings.

Purpose: Higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLRs) indicate a pro-inflammatory state and are associated with poor survival. Conversely, higher albumin-globulin ratio (AGRs) may be associated with improved prognosis. We aimed to investigate the association between NLR and AGR and prognosis and survival in patients with breast cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients with stage I–III breast cancer between 2011 and 2017 in Singapore General Hospital and National Cancer Center Singapore.Multivariate logistic regression analysis of NLR, AGR, age, stage, grade, and subtype was performed. Survival data between groups were compared using Cox regression analysis and log-rank tests. Results: A total of 1,188 patients were included, of whom 323 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and 865 underwent upfront surgery. In patients who underwent NACT, a higher AGR was significantly associated with a higher pCR rate (cut-off > 1.28; odds ratio [OR], 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–3.74; p = 0.020), better DFS (cut off > 1.55; hazard ratio [HR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.16–0.85; p = 0.019), and better CSS (cut off > 1.46; HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.17–0.92; p = 0.031). Higher NLR was significantly associated with worse DFS (cut off > 4.09; HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07–2.91; p = 0.026) and worse CSS (cut off > 4.09; HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.11–3.53; p = 0.021). In patients who underwent upfront surgery, higher AGR correlated with significantly better OS (cut off > 1.17; HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.36–0.82; p = 0.004) and higher NLR correlated with worse OS (cut off > 2.38; HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.09–2.44; p = 0.018). Conclusion NLR and AGR are useful in predicting the response to NACT as well as prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Further studies are needed to explore their value in clinical decision making.

Traditional open head and neck surgery often leaves permanent scars,significantly affecting appearance.The emergence of surgical robots has introduced a new era for minimally invasive surgery.However,the complex anatomy of the head and neck region,particularly the oral and maxillofacial areas,combined with the high costs associated with established systems such as the da Vinci,has limited the widespread adoption of surgical robots in this field.Recently,surgical robotic platform in China has developed rapidly,exemplified by the promise shown by the KangDuo Surgical Robot(KD-SR).Although the KD-SR has achieved some results comparable to the da Vinci surgical robot in urology and colorectal surgery,its performance in complex head and neck regions remains untested.This study evaluated the feasibility,effectiveness,and safety of the newly developed KD-SR-01,comparing it with standard endoscopic systems in head and neck procedures on porcine models.We performed parotidectomy,submandibular gland resection,and neck dissection,collected baseline characteristics,perioperative data,and specifically assessed cognitive workload using the NASA-TLX.None of the robotic procedures were converted to endoscopic or open surgery.The results showed no significant difference in operation time between the two groups(P=0.126),better intraoperative bleeding control(P=0.001),and a significant reduction in cognitive workload(P<0.001)in the robotic group.In conclusion,the KD-SR-01 is feasible,effective,and safe for head and neck surgery.Further investigation through well-designed clinical trials with long-term follow-up is necessary to establish the full potential of this emerging robotic platform.

Traditional open head and neck surgery often leaves permanent scars,significantly affecting appearance.The emergence of surgical robots has introduced a new era for minimally invasive surgery.However,the complex anatomy of the head and neck region,particularly the oral and maxillofacial areas,combined with the high costs associated with established systems such as the da Vinci,has limited the widespread adoption of surgical robots in this field.Recently,surgical robotic platform in China has developed rapidly,exemplified by the promise shown by the KangDuo Surgical Robot(KD-SR).Although the KD-SR has achieved some results comparable to the da Vinci surgical robot in urology and colorectal surgery,its performance in complex head and neck regions remains untested.This study evaluated the feasibility,effectiveness,and safety of the newly developed KD-SR-01,comparing it with standard endoscopic systems in head and neck procedures on porcine models.We performed parotidectomy,submandibular gland resection,and neck dissection,collected baseline characteristics,perioperative data,and specifically assessed cognitive workload using the NASA-TLX.None of the robotic procedures were converted to endoscopic or open surgery.The results showed no significant difference in operation time between the two groups(P=0.126),better intraoperative bleeding control(P=0.001),and a significant reduction in cognitive workload(P<0.001)in the robotic group.In conclusion,the KD-SR-01 is feasible,effective,and safe for head and neck surgery.Further investigation through well-designed clinical trials with long-term follow-up is necessary to establish the full potential of this emerging robotic platform.