Cancer impact on lower-income patients in Malaysian public healthcare: An exploration of out-of-pocket expenses, productivity loss, and financial coping strategies.

Cancer patients often grapple with substantial out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses and productivity loss, with the ramifications being particularly crucial for lower-income households. This study aims to estimate OOP costs incurred by cancer patients, assess their productivity loss, and analyse the financial coping mechanisms employed by individuals within the lower-income bracket. The study employed face-to-face interviews among cancer patients aged 40 years and above, currently undergoing treatment, and belonging to the lower-income group.

Modelling cost-effectiveness of replacement strategies for ambulance services in the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Background: Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is a very crucial aspect of the healthcare system in providing urgent management and transportation of patients during emergencies. The sustainability of the services is however greatly impacted by the quality and age of ambulances. While this has led to numerous replacement policy recommendations, the implementations are often limited due to a lack of evidence and financial constraints.

The Direct and Indirect Costs of Cancer among the Lower-Income Group: Estimates from a Pilot and Feasibility Study.

Background: Healthcare in Malaysia is largely publicly funded, however, cancer could still result in out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses, which may burden the affected patients. This is especially relevant to those in the lower-income group. This pilot study was conducted to estimate the direct and indirect costs of cancer and evaluate the feasibility of obtaining these costs information from the lower-income cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Data envelopment analysis for ambulance services of different service providers in urban and rural areas in Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Introduction: Ambulance services are pivotal in any country's healthcare system. An efficient ambulance service not only decreases patient mortality rate but also allows resource prioritization for better outputs. This study aims to measure the efficiency of ambulance services provided by health facilities in the Ministry of Health (MOH), Malaysia.

Cost Estimates of Postnatal Care in Public Primary Care Facilities in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Background: Postnatal care (PNC) in Malaysia is believed to have played a role in reducing maternal and child mortality. A pilot study was thereby conducted to estimate the cost of PNC in public primary care facilities in Negeri Sembilan from the perspective of healthcare providers.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design that involved six public primary care facilities in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Analysis of costs and utilization of ambulance services in the ministry of health facilities, Malaysia.

Background: Despite emergency ambulance services playing a pivotal role in accessibility to life-saving treatments in Malaysia, there are still numerous gaps in knowledge in terms of their utilization and cost. This leads to current policies on procurement, maintenance, and allocation being predicated on historical evidence and expert opinions. This study thus aims to analyse the cost and utilization of ambulance services in selected public health facilities in Malaysia.

A symptomatic approach to tuberculosis screening for high-risk groups in Malaysia: Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis.

Background: One of the crucial areas of eliminating TB is the early detection of cases through the screening programme. This study's focal point is to measure the relative cost-effectiveness and budget impact of the symptomatic approach compared to the existing approach of TB screening (consisted of both symptomatic and asymptomatic screening) among high-risk groups in Malaysia.

Method: The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) was measured using a decision tree model and the outcome is presented in terms of cost per TB case detected and the ICER.

The inequalities and determinants of Households' Distress Financing on Out-off-Pocket Health expenditure in Malaysia.

Background: Out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for healthcare services potentially have severe consequences on households, especially among the poor. Under certain circumstances, healthcare payments are financed through selling household assets, or borrowings. This certainly could influence households' decision, which likely resorts to forgoing healthcare services.

Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis of PPV23 vaccination for the Malaysian Hajj pilgrims.

The potential occurrence of disease outbreaks during the hajj season is of great concern due to extreme congestion in a confined space. This promotes the acquisition, spread and transmission of pathogenic microorganisms and pneumococcal disease are one of the most frequent infections among Hajj pilgrims. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of introducing the PPV23 to Malaysian Hajj pilgrims.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of High-Risk Groups Tuberculosis Screening in Malaysia.

Screening of high-risk groups for Tuberculosis (TB) is considered as the cornerstone for TB elimination but the measure of cost-effectiveness is also crucial in deciding the strategy for TB screening. This study aims to measure the cost-effectiveness of TB screening between the various high-risk groups in Malaysia. A decision tree model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of TB screening among the high-risk groups from a provider perspective using secondary data from the year 2016 to 2018.

Genome Sequence of 150-1, the Causal Agent of Dry Bubble Disease.

The fungus causes dry bubble disease in the white button mushroom Control strategies are limited, as both the host and pathogen are fungi, and there is limited understanding of the interactions in this pathosystem. Here, we present the genome sequence of strain 150-1.

Methotrexate modulates the expression of MMP-1 and type 1 collagen in dermal fibroblast.

Methotrexate (MTX), an anti-metabolite and anti-inflammatory drug, has been used to effectively manage and prevent keloids, but its mechanism(s) of action has not been elucidated. Our study sought to evaluate the effect of MTX on the production of key extra cellular matrix components, collagen, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), produced by fibroblasts and involved in development of fibrosis. The proliferation and viability of cultured human dermal fibroblasts in response to different concentrations of MTX were determined using cell counting and MTT assay, respectively.

Nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms, gene expression and lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Due to the pleiotropic effects of nitric oxide (NO) within the lungs, it is likely that NO is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to test for association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three NO synthase (NOS) genes and lung function, as well as to examine gene expression and protein levels in relation to the genetic variation.

Methods: One SNP in each NOS gene (neuronal NOS (NOS1), inducible NOS (NOS2), and endothelial NOS (NOS3)) was genotyped in the Lung Health Study (LHS) and correlated with lung function.

Functional genetic variation in NFKBIA and susceptibility to childhood asthma, bronchiolitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Respiratory diseases are the most frequent chronic illnesses in babies and children. Although a vigorous innate immune system is critical for maintaining lung health, a balanced response is essential to minimize damaging inflammation. We investigated the functional and clinical impact of human genetic variants in the promoter of NFKBIA, which encodes IκBα, the major negative regulator of NF-κB.

Hypoglycemic effects of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) autolysates.

Fat, alkaloid and polyphenol contents of two clones of cocoa (UIT1 and PBC 140) were removed and the remaining powder was autolyzed at pH 3.5 and 5.2.

Genome-wide study identifies two loci associated with lung function decline in mild to moderate COPD.

Accelerated lung function decline is a key COPD phenotype; however, its genetic control remains largely unknown. We performed a genome-wide association study using the Illumina Human660W-Quad v.1_A BeadChip.

Genetic association between human chitinases and lung function in COPD.

Two primary chitinases have been identified in humans--acid mammalian chitinase (AMCase) and chitotriosidase (CHIT1). Mammalian chitinases have been observed to affect the host's immune response. The aim of this study was to test for association between genetic variation in the chitinases and phenotypes related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Effect of heme oxygenase-1 polymorphisms on lung function and gene expression.

Background: Oxidative stress induced by smoking is considered to be important in the pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) is an essential enzyme in heme catabolism that is induced by oxidative stress and may play a protective role as an antioxidant in the lung. We determined whether HMOX1 polymorphisms were associated with lung function in COPD patients and whether the variants had functional effects.

Effect of gene environment interactions on lung function and cardiovascular disease in COPD.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine if gene-environment interactions between cigarette smoking and interleukin-6 (IL6), interferon-γ (IFNG), interleukin-1β (IL1B), or interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with lung function decline and cardiovascular disease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL6, IFNG, IL1B, and IL1RN were genotyped in the Lung Health Study and correlated with rate of decline of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) over 5 years, baseline FEV(1), serum protein levels, cardiovascular disease, and interactions with smoking.

Results: The IL6 rs2069825 single nucleotide polymorphism was associated with the rate of decline of prebronchodilator FEV(1) (P = 0.