Pulse wave analysis as a tool to assess endothelial function following lipid lowering intervention in hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Pulse wave analysis (PWA) assesses endothelial dependent vasodilation (EDV) via the change in augmentation index (AIx) and has been used as a tool to assess endothelial function. However, its effectiveness in assessing the response to lipid lowering treatment has not been evaluated. The study aimed to describe and correlate the change in EDV following lipid lowering intervention in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Stress and Coping Strategies in Malay Parents of Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate.

Objective: This study was aimed at describing the level of stress and types of coping strategies used among Malay parents of children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: A dental clinic and a general hospital.

Healthy Aging and its Determinants Among Community-dwelling Older Persons in East Coast, Malaysia: A Multidimensional Assessment.

Objectives: Exploring the possibility of healthy aging among older persons is crucial for achieving optimal health in the growing older population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and determinants of healthy aging among older persons in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study involving older persons aged % 60 years.

Medical Experts' Agreement on Risk Assessment Based on All Possible Combinations of the COVID-19 Predictors-A Novel Approach for Public Health Screening and Surveillance.

During the initial phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there was a critical need to create a valid and reliable screening and surveillance for university staff and students. Consequently, 11 medical experts participated in this cross-sectional study to judge three risk categories of either low, medium, or high, for all 1536 possible combinations of 11 key COVID-19 predictors. The independent experts' judgement on each combination was recorded via a novel dashboard-based rating method which presented combinations of these predictors in a dynamic display within Microsoft Excel.

Endothelial Microparticles as Potential Biomarkers in the Assessment of Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypercholesterolemia.

Background and Objectives: Endothelial microparticles (EMP) particularly CD31+/42−/AV+, CD144+/AV+ and CD62e+/AV+ have been reported as having increased in cardiovascular-related diseases, making them potential biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to compare these EMPs in patients with hypercholesterolemia and healthy controls and to correlate their levels with endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) assessed via pulse wave analysis (PWA); an established method of assessing endothelial function. Materials and Methods: EMPs from 88 subjects (44 hypercholesterolemia patients and 44 controls) were quantified from whole blood using flow cytometry analysis.

The upper respiratory tract microbiome of indigenous Orang Asli in north-eastern Peninsular Malaysia.

Much microbiome research has focused on populations that are predominantly of European descent, and from narrow demographics that do not capture the socio-economic and lifestyle differences which impact human health. Here we examined the airway microbiomes of the Orang Asli, the indigenous peoples of Malaysia. A total of 130 participants were recruited from two sites in the north-eastern state of Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia.

Tualang honey supplementation as cognitive enhancer in patients with schizophrenia.

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness with clusters of symptoms, including cognitive impairment. This study aimed to explore the effect of Tualang Honey (TH) on cognitive domains, especially as it pertained to the verbal memory of schizophrenia patients.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study involved 80 individuals, diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Functional status of women with and without severe maternal morbidity: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Little is known regarding the impact on maternal functional status in women who have survived severe obstetric complications.

Objective: To compare the maternal functional status score between women with and without severe morbidity at one month and six months postpartum in Kelantan, Malaysia.

Methods: A prospective cohort study design was applied at two tertiary referral hospitals over a six-month period.

Immediate and long-term relationship between severe maternal morbidity and health-related quality of life: a prospective double cohort comparison study.

Background: Given the growing interest in severe maternal morbidity (SMM), the need to assess its effects on quality of life is pressing. The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life scores between women with and without SMM at 1-month and 6-month postpartum in Kelantan, Malaysia.

Methods: A prospective double cohort study design was applied at two tertiary referral hospitals over a 6-month period.

Factors associated with severe maternal morbidity in Kelantan, Malaysia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: Knowledge on the factors associated with severe maternal morbidity enables a better understanding of the problem and serves as a foundation for the development of an effective preventive strategy. However, various definitions of severe maternal morbidity have been applied, leading to inconsistencies between studies. The objective of this study was to identify the sociodemographic characteristics, medical and gynaecological history, past and present obstetric performance and the provision of health care services as associated factors for severe maternal morbidity in Kelantan, Malaysia.

Severe Maternal Morbidity and Postpartum Depressive Symptomatology: A Prospective Double Cohort Comparison Study.

The adverse consequences to mothers of postpartum depression are well-documented, and risk factors are of interest. There is limited evidence on postpartum depression among women with severe maternal morbidity, defined as potentially life-threatening conditions during pregnancy, childbirth, or soon after termination of pregnancy. We compared postpartum depressive symptoms of postpartum women aged 18 and older who delivered in two tertiary referral hospitals in 2014 in Kelantan, Malaysia, and had (n = 145) or had not (n = 187) suffered severe maternal morbidity.

Perceptions of students in different phases of medical education of the educational environment: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin.

Background: The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was planned and designed to quantify the educational environment precisely for medical schools and health-related professional schools. DREEM is now considered a valid and reliable tool, which is globally accepted for measuring the medical educational environment. The educational environment encountered by students has an impact on satisfaction with the course of study, perceived sense of well-being, aspirations, and academic achievement.

Psychometric properties of the revised Malay version Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey using confirmatory factor analysis among postpartum mothers.

Introduction: Social support is an essential component for the physical and emotional well-being of postpartum mothers. The objective of this study is to determine the psychometric properties of the revised Malay version Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Social Support Survey using a confirmatory validity approach.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 144 postpartum mothers attending Obstetric and Gynecology Clinic, Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital.

Validation of the Malay version of the Inventory of Functional Status after Childbirth questionnaire.

Objective: This study was designed to examine the psychometric properties of Malay version of the Inventory of Functional Status after Childbirth (IFSAC).

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Materials And Methods: A total of 108 postpartum mothers attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia, were involved.

Psychometric properties of the 'Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11' to measure patient satisfaction with physician-patient interaction in Malaysia.

Background: Patient satisfaction influences the outcomes of the patient-physician encounter.

Objective: The objective of this study was to validate the Malay version patient satisfaction (MISS-21) questionnaire using a confirmatory validity approach.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 252 patients attending primary health clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The impact of children with disabilities on parent health-related quality of life and family functioning in Kelantan and its associated factors.

Objectives: Caring for children with disabilities brings about a significant impact on the parents and families. The purposes of this study were to determine the impact of having children with disabilities on parents' health-related quality of life (HRQOL), family functioning, and total family impact and to identify the associated factors.

Method: A total of 425 parents/caregivers of children with disabilities who were registered to community-based rehabilitation centers in 5 districts in Kelantan, Malaysia, participated in this study.

A Preliminary Study on the Reliability of the Malay Version of PedsQL™ Family Impact Module among Caregivers of Children with Disabilities in Kelantan, Malaysia.

Background: No previous study has assessed the impact of childhood disability on parents and family in the context of Malaysia, and no instrument to measure this impact has previously been available. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the reliability of a Malay version of the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module that measures the impact of children with disabilities (CWD) on their parents and family in a Malaysian context.

Methods: The study was conducted in 2009.