Prognostic Value of Strain by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Patients with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.

Background Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare genetic disorder associated with an elevated risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and progressive ventricular impairment. Risk stratification is essential to prevent major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Our study aimed to investigate the incremental value of strain measured by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in predicting MACE in ARVC patients compared to conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Subclinical disease among people with culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis in Singapore - a retrospective study.

Introduction: Subclinical tuberculosis (TB) is challenging to diagnose due to the lack of a clear definition and symptoms. This study aimed to describe the subclinical disease spectrum among people with culture confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis routinely diagnosed in Singapore, a country with moderate incidence, utilising different definitions. It also aimed to identify risk factors for subclinical TB and the current diagnostic approaches in detecting subclinical TB.

Risk factors for tuberculosis among close IGRA-negative contacts of persons with infectious tuberculosis in Singapore.

Objectives: Contacts of patients with infectious tuberculosis (TB) testing positive on interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) are followed up to exclude active disease. However, identifying factors that predispose IGRA-negative contacts to TB could improve screening and follow-up strategies in a medium TB burden country such as Singapore.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of IGRA-negative contacts aged ≥2 years identified during contact investigation between January 2014 and December 2022.

Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among residents in selected townships, Yangon Region, Myanmar: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: To fight the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have implemented various mitigation measures to contain the spread of the disease. By engaging with health service providers, the community's participation in adherence to preventive measures is certainly required in the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and its associated factors among the residents, Yangon Region, Myanmar.

Feasibility study of Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues for the optimization of Outcomes in obese patients undergoing AbLation for Atrial Fibrillation (GOAL-AF) protocol.

Background: Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation is recommended for symptomatic patients after failed medical therapy. Ablation has a higher failure rate in obese patients, and both the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and obesity are increasingly globally. The outcome of ablation can be improved if obese patients can achieve goal-oriented weight reduction prior to ablation.

Astrocytic TIMP-1 regulates production of Anastellin, an inhibitor of oligodendrocyte differentiation and FTY720 responses.

Astrocyte activation is associated with neuropathology and the production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1). TIMP1 is a pleiotropic extracellular protein that functions both as a protease inhibitor and as a growth factor. Astrocytes that lack expression of do not support rat oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (rOPC) differentiation, and adult global knockout () mice do not efficiently remyelinate following a demyelinating injury.

The yield of tuberculosis contact investigation on relapsed TB patients and analysis of associated risk factors: Singapore's experience.

The yield of contact investigation on relapsed tuberculosis (TB) cases can guide strategies and resource allocation in the TB control programme. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to review the yield of contact investigation in relapsed TB cases and identify factors associated with TB infection (TBI) among close contacts of relapsed TB cases notified between 2018 and 2022 in Singapore. TB infection positivity was higher among contacts of relapsed cases which were culture-positive complex compared to those who were only polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive (14.

Change in Values of Illegal Miners and Inhabitants and Reduction in Environmental Pollution after the Cessation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: A Case of Bunikasih, Indonesia.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) harms the environment and human health, because it requires mercury (Hg). Therefore, this study uses a questionnaire survey to identify the effects of the medical checkup findings, group discussion, and educational seminar on the values of illegal miners and residents in Bunikasih, Indonesia, regarding the environmental and health effects of Hg. Transdisciplinary communities of practice (TDCoP) were formed to pursue alternative livelihoods than illegal ASGM.

A Sticky Situation: An Uncommon Cardiac Complication of Cyanoacrylate Glue Injection.

This case report describes an uncommon cardiac complication related to the endoscopic injection of cyanoacrylate glue to treat gastric variceal bleeding. The presentation and management options are reviewed and compared with our step-by-step approach in a patient requiring a liver transplant. ().

Astrocytic TIMP-1 regulates production of Anastellin, a novel inhibitor of oligodendrocyte differentiation and FTY720 responses.

Unlabelled: Astrocyte activation is associated with neuropathology and the production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1). TIMP1 is a pleiotropic extracellular protein that functions both as a protease inhibitor and as a growth factor. We have previously demonstrated that murine astrocytes that lack expression of do not support rat oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (rOPC) differentiation, and adult global knockout ( ) mice do not efficiently remyelinate following a demyelinating injury.

Molecular Epidemiological Characterization of and Clinical Isolates from a National Tertiary Care Hospital in Myanmar: Co-Isolation of Multiple Clones and Identification of Novel Staphylocoagulase Genotype.

Spread of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors among / poses a potential public health concern in Myanmar. In this study, a total of 226 clinical isolates of ( = 211) and ( = 15) collected in Yangon General Hospital during a two-year period were analyzed for their antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic features. Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) accounted for 19% of isolates, associated with mostly staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) type IV, or V.

A Preliminary Assessment of Health and Safety in the Automobile Industry in Brunei Darussalam: Workers' Knowledge and Practice of Organic Solvents.

Automobile industries worldwide extensively use organic solvents. Yet, limited studies have examined the health and safety of handling these solvents, which can only be assured if workers have appropriate knowledge and demonstrate safe practices. A cross-sectional study was conducted to preliminary explore the knowledge and practice among workers who are involved in handling organic solvents in the automobile industry in the largest urban district in Brunei Darussalam.

Mercury Pollution from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Myanmar and Other Southeast Asian Countries.

Mercury (Hg) is one of the most harmful metals and has been a public health concern according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the world's fastest-growing source of Hg and can release Hg into the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Hg has been widely used in ASGM industries throughout Southeast Asia countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Transdisciplinary Communities of Practice to Resolve Health Problems in Southeast Asian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Communities.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has been a major part of people's livelihood in the rural areas of many developing countries, including those in Southeast Asia (SEA). Nevertheless, because of the use of mercury, ASGM activities have significant local and global adverse impacts on the environment and ASGM community health. Although there have been many monodisciplinary projects by academic researchers and governments to solve the environmental and health problems in SEA ASGM communities, they have not been sufficient to solve the complex socioeconomic problems.

Fending off Delta - Hospital measures to reduce nosocomial transmission of COVID-19.

Objectives: Following the emergence of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Singapore, our hospital experienced a Delta-linked ward cluster. In this study, we review the enhanced strategies in preventing nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 following widespread community transmission of the Delta variant.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study on exposures to unexpected COVID-19 cases for which contact tracing was initiated from June 2021 to October 2021.

Correction: Influence of rice varieties, organic manure and water management on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy rice soils.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Transdisciplinary Online Health Assessment of an Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has a known negative effect on the community's health; therefore, assessment to monitor community health is essential to detect any issues and enable early treatment. Because ASGM-related health issues are complex and cannot be addressed effectively with a traditional one-time health assessment alone, both long-term and regular health assessments using a transdisciplinary approach should be considered. In response to this need, we designed an online health assessment tool as a reference for a future long-term health assessment system.

Effects of soybean meal supplementation on ruminal kinetics of feed particle size reduction and passage in dairy cows fed rice straw.

Six ruminal-cannulated nonlactating Holstein Friesian cows (mean body weight:660 ± 42.9 kg) were used to investigate the effect of soybean meal (SBM) supplementation on voluntary rice straw (RS) intake, feed particle size reduction, and passage kinetics in the rumen. They were allocated to two dietary treatments: RS alone or RS supplemented with SBM.

Intranasal octenidine for methicillin-resistant (MRSA) carriers and universal octenidine bathing reduced MRSA acquisition in an acute-care general ward.

In this quasi-experimental before-and-after study in a methicillin-resistant (MRSA) high-prevalence acute-care dermatology ward from August 2016 to November 2018, patients admitted during intervention period who received additional topical intranasal octenidine were 63% less likely to acquire MRSA than those receiving universal daily octenidine bathing alone during baseline period (aOR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.

Masculinity and mental health treatment initiation for former political prisoners in Yangon, Myanmar - a qualitative investigation.

Background: Men living in low- and middle-income countries are unlikely to seek mental health care, where poor healthcare infrastructure, differences in illness conceptualization, and stigma can impact treatment seeking. Vulnerable groups, such as former political prisoners, are more likely than others to experience potentially traumatic events that may lead to negative mental health outcomes. To improve the likelihood of successful engagement of vulnerable men in psychotherapy, it is necessary to identify factors that influence treatment adherence, and to better understand men's attitudes surrounding decisions to seek and initiate care.

Non-fatal occupational accidents in Brunei Darussalam.

Globally, ILO estimates 374 million non-fatal and 380,500 fatal by occupational accidents annually. Slips, trips, falls and contact with objects are the leading mode of injury, with extremities being the most common body part involved. Occupational accidents are of major concern for high risk occupational groups such as migrant workers, or work areas e.