Stakeholders' perceptions of family planning programs during the COVID-19 period: A descriptive qualitative study.

Aim: The number of unintended pregnancies and the decreasing use of contraceptives during the COVID-19 pandemic are of particular concern to the national population and family planning program. The successful implementation of the family planning program cannot be carried out by the government alone. Still, it requires strong synergy with stakeholders.

Characteristics of the Beef Cheek Meat-Based Sausage Added with Snakehead () Gelatin.

This study is aimed at determining the functional effect of snakehead fish gelatin as a binder on the characteristics and shelf life of beef cheek-based emulsion sausage compared with bovine commercial gelatin. The level of snakehead fish gelatin used was 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%, while that of bovine commercial gelatin was 2% with a storage time of 0 to 28 days in the refrigerator (4 ± 2°C). Emulsion stability, cooking loss, proximate composition, texture profile, and microstructure of sausage were initially determined before storage; then, observations were made every seven days to determine the shelf life of sausages based on pH, antioxidant activity, and TBA reactivity.

Determinant Factors of Post-Partum Contraception among Women during COVID-19 in West Java Province, Indonesia.

Background: One of the manifestations of family development is pregnancy planning, where this method is applied 0-42 days after childbirth. Post-partum contraception is an effort to avoid pregnancy by using contraceptive medicine from 42 days to 84 days after childbirth.

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the attitudes of fertile couples who use contraceptive devices after childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors that influence it.

Plasma interleukin-7 correlation with human immunodeficiency virus RNA and CD4+ T cell counts, and interleukin-5 with circulating hepatitis B virus DNA may have implications in viral control.

Chronic viral infections represent a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Chronic HBV, HCV, and HIV infections result in cytokine perturbations that may hold key implications in understanding the complex disease mechanisms driving virus persistence and/or resolution. Here, we determined the levels of various plasma cytokines using a commercial Bio-Plex Luminex cytokine array in chronic HBV ( = 30), HCV ( = 15), and HIV ( = 40) infections and correlated with corresponding plasma viral loads (PVLs) and liver parameters.

Umami detection threshold among children of different ethnicities and its correlation with various indices of obesity and blood pressure.

Sensitivity to savory taste has been linked to high consumption of savory foods and increased risks of obesity and hypertension. However, there are limited studies that investigate whether obesity indices are correlated with the differences in umami taste perception, particularly in children. This study aimed to investigate the umami detection threshold among children of different ethnicities and the threshold's correlation with obesity indices and blood pressure.

Hyper-Expression of PD-1 Is Associated with the Levels of Exhausted and Dysfunctional Phenotypes of Circulating CD161TCR iVα7.2 Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, defined as CD161TCR iVα7.2 T cells, play an important role in the innate defense against bacterial infections, and their functionality is impaired in chronic viral infections. Here, we investigated the frequency and functional role of MAIT cells in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Decrease of CD69 levels on TCR Vα7.2CD4 innate-like lymphocytes is associated with impaired cytotoxic functions in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease that may progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Host immune responses represent the key determinants of HBV clearance or persistence. Here, we investigated the role of the early activation marker, CD69 and effector cytokines, granzyme B (GrB) and IFN-γ in the exhaustion of innate-like TCR Vα7.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of breast self-examination among women in a suburban area in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Malaysian women, irrespective of age group and ethnicity. The observed low survival rates are related to late stage at presentation despite the availability of breast self examination (BSE) as a reliable screening method for early detection.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice towards BSE amongst women aged 15 years old and above.

The usage and knowledge of mammography among women in sub-urban area in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women today and the major challenge is late presentation then later contributes to poor outcome and high fatality rate. Mammography is effective in early detection of breast cancer and consequently significantly improves the breast cancer survival.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was used to study the knowledge and awareness towards mammogram amongst women aged 15 years old and above.

Histopathological landmarks of hepatocellular carcinoma in Malaysians.

A study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur into the histological type (WHO classification), grade (modified Edmondson and Steiner's grading system), mitotic rate, bile production, hyaline globule and Mallory hyaline formation of 52 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed during a 13-year period between 1st January 1990 to 31st December 2002. In addition, associated cirrhosis, dysplasia (large liver cell dysplasia: LLCD and small liver cell dysplasia: SLCD) and microvascular permeation were also looked for whenever the situation permitted. The patients' ages ranged from 21-years to 85-years (mean = 58.

Entecavir is superior to lamivudine in reducing hepatitis B virus DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background & Aims: Entecavir is a novel and selective nucleoside analogue with potent activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: In a 24-week, double-blind, randomized, multicenter, phase II clinical trial, the safety and efficacy of entecavir (0.01 mg/day, 0.

The frequency of pre-core gene mutations in chronic hepatitis B infection: a study of Malaysian subjects.

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the frequency of the pre-core stop codon mutant virus in a group of chronic hepatitis B carriers: 81 cases were considered [33 hepatits B e antigen (HBe) positive and 48 HBe negative]. All of the HBe positive cases had detectable viral DNA by hybridization analysis; in the case of the HBe negative cases, one third had detectable viral DNA by hybridization analysis and two thirds had HBV DNA detectable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Pre-core stop codon mutant detection was carried out on all specimens using allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization following PCR amplification of the target sequence.

Predictive factors by multivariate analysis for colorectal cancer in Malaysian patients undergoing colonoscopy.

Background: The majority of colorectal cancers are still diagnosed in patients who present with symptoms especially in countries where colorectal screening programs are not practised. The aim of our study was to determine the predictive factors for colorectal cancer in patients referred for colonoscopy.

Methods: A prospective study of 485 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy during a 22-month period was performed.

Efficacy of a 1-week pantoprazole triple therapy in eradicating Helicobacter pylori in Asian patients.

Background: The aim of the present paper was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of a 1-week treatment regimen consisting of pantoprazole and two antibiotics: clarithromycin and amoxycillin, in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Methods: The patients selected had unequivocal evidence of H. pylori infection based on urease test, culture and histology on antral and corpus biopsies obtained at endoscopy.