Tuberculosis treatment interruption: a qualitative exploration of barriers, challenges, coping strategies and facilitators in Malaysia.

Tuberculosis (TB) treatment interruption undermines the effectiveness of TB medications and jeopardizes treatment outcomes. This study aimed to explore barriers, challenges, coping strategies and facilitators of TB treatment interruption to understand the treatment pathway in achieving successful outcomes. In-depth interviews were conducted at public health clinics in Sarawak, Malaysia, utilizing a phenomenological approach.

Bronchial branch tracing navigation in ultrathin bronchoscopy-guided radial endobronchial ultrasound for peripheral pulmonary nodule.

Background: Most malignant peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) are situated in the peripheral region of the lung. Although the ultrathin bronchoscope (UTB) can access these areas, a robust navigation system is essential for precise localisation of these small peripheral PPLs. Since many UTB procedures rely on automated virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN), this study aims to determine the accuracy and diagnostic yield of the manual bronchial branch tracing (BBT) navigation in UTB-guided radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) procedures.

Predictive factors for tuberculous peripheral pulmonary lesions during radial endobronchial ultrasound.

Background: Tuberculosis frequently poses diagnostic challenge when it presents as a peripheral pulmonary lesion (TB-PPL). The growing use of radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) for PPL biopsy highlights the need to identify predictive factors for TB-PPL, which is crucial for procedure safety.

Methods: A six-year retrospective review at our institution on adult patients with TB and malignant-PPL diagnosed from rEBUS procedure from October 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022.

Development and validation of a predictive scoring model for risk stratification of tuberculosis treatment interruption.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment interruption poses risks of antimicrobial resistance, potentially leading to treatment failure and mortality. Addressing the risk of early treatment interruption is crucial in tuberculosis care and management to improve treatment outcomes and curb disease transmission.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify risk factors of TB treatment interruption and construct a predictive scoring model that enables objective risk stratification for better prediction of treatment interruption.

Preparation and performance of alumina/epoxy-siloxane composites: A comparative study on thermal- and photo-curing process.

Although epoxy-based composites that consist of inorganic fillers and matrixes are widely used in "conventional" electronic packaging applications due to their excellent insulation and robust properties, they limit their uses in "advanced electronic packaging" which requires enhanced thermal conductivity. However, conventional thermal curing methods for fabrication of epoxy-based composites do not fulfill sufficient thermal conductivity. Herein, we apply photo-induced curing strategy for fabricating alumina-incorporated epoxy-siloxane composites that consist of sol-gel derived siloxane matrix and bimodal sized alumina particles as a thermally conductive filler.

Characteristics, predictors and consequences of tuberculosis treatment interruption: A multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Treatment interruption is associated with poor tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes and increased drug resistance. To address the issue, we aimed to investigate the characteristics, predictors and consequences of treatment interruption.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by retrieving 4 years (2018-2021) of TB patients' records at 10 public health clinics in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma with delayed diagnosis in a 69-year-old man: A case report.

Rationale: Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma is a rare malignant pulmonary tumor accompanied by calcifications in approximately 15% of cases. These calcifications usually have a fine, stippled appearance; coarse shapes have seldom been reported. Moreover, the presence of coarse calcifications often suggests benign tumors, which vastly differ in treatment.

Performance of radial endobronchial ultrasound for peripheral pulmonary lesions without automation technology in tuberculous endemic region: real-world experience in a single institution over 6 years.

Background: Peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) in tuberculous endemic regions present a unique diagnostic challenge, as tuberculous PPL can mimic malignancy and potentially delay diagnosis for both conditions without a confirmatory investigation. While bronchoscopic biopsy using radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) guidance is becoming more common among pulmonologists, it is often performed with additional automation technology such as virtual bronchoscopic and electromagnetic navigation. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of rEBUS without such automation technology over a 6-year period in our institution.

Short-acting β-agonist prescription patterns and clinical outcomes in Malaysia: A nationwide cohort of the SABINA III study.

Introduction: SABINA III assessed short-acting β-agonist (SABA) prescription patterns and their association with asthma-related outcomes globally. Herein, we examined SABA prescription and clinical outcomes in the Malaysian cohort of SABINA III.

Method: In this observational, cross-sectional study, patients (≥12 years) were recruited between July and December 2019 from 15 primary and specialty care centres in Malaysia.

A young lady with prolonged menstruation and a large lung mass.

https://bit.ly/3qLG9Yx.

Impact of /ENBT1 Expression and Function on 6-Mercaptopurine Transport and Cytotoxicity in Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells.

6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) is used extensively in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and inflammatory bowel diseases. Our laboratory determined previously, using a recombinant HEK293 cell model, that the -encoded equilibrative nucleobase transporter 1 (ENBT1) transports 6-MP into cells and significantly impacts the cytotoxicity of 6-MP in that model. To further investigate the clinical relevance of this finding, we now extend this work to an analysis of the impact of /ENBT1 expression and function on 6-MP uptake and cytotoxicity in leukemic lymphoblasts, the therapeutic target of 6-MP in ALL.

Echographic septation: A potentially useful indicator discriminating tuberculous from malignant pleural effusion.

Background: Tuberculous (TBE) and malignant (MPE) pleural effusions present with similar lymphocytic exudates. As TBE is an inflammatory and hypersensitivity process, we hypothesized that echographic septation may be more prevalent in TBE than in MPE, potentially serving as a good clinical predictor for TBE.

Methods: A total of 183 TBE and 266 MPE patients were recruited retrospectively.

Injectable cultured bone marrow derived mesenchymal cells vs chondrocytes in the treatment of chondral defects of the knee - RCT with 6 years follow-up.

Articular cartilage has unique biological and biomechanical characteristics. Damage to this tissue fails to heal spontaneously, leading to progressive arthritis. Cartilage repair techniques have been looked forward to in the treatment of significant cartilage injuries.

Cell therapy for osteonecrosis of femoral head and joint preservation.

Osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) is a disease of the femoral head and can cause femoral head collapse and arthritis. This can lead to pain and gait disorders. ONFH has various risk factors, it is often progressive, and if untreated results in secondary osteo-arthritis.

Images of the month: Pulmonary cement embolism.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) involves injection of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement into vertebral body for relief of pain and strengthening of bone in symptomatic vertebral compression fractures.Passage of bone cement into vertebral venous plexus and then into the lungs is a rare and serious complication of PV. The reported incidence up to 26%.

Feasibility of manual bronchial branch reading technique in navigating conventional rEBUS bronchoscopy in the evaluation of peripheral pulmonary lesion.

Background: Although radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) is an important verification tool in guided bronchoscopy, a navigational route was not provided. Manual airway mapping allows the bronchoscopist to translate the bronchial branching in computed tomography (CT) into a comparable bronchoscopic road map. We aimed to explore the feasibility of this technique in navigating conventional rEBUS bronchoscopy in the localisation of peripheral pulmonary lesion by determining navigation success and diagnostic yield.

Effects of different anesthetic techniques on the incidence of phantom limb pain after limb amputation: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Background: General anesthesia (GA) has been considered the anesthetic technique which most frequent leads to phantom limb pain (PLP) after a limb amputation. However, these prior reports were limited by small sample sizes. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of PLP according to the various anesthetic techniques used for limb amputation and also to compare the occurrence of PLP according to amputation etiology using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service for large-scale demographic information.

Successful treatment of pyopneumothorax with bronchopleural fistula using endobronchial Watanabe spigots.

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) can complicate necrotizing pneumonia. Surgery would be indicated in patients who fail conservative management, yet this group is often of poor pulmonary function and general condition. Bronchial occlusion with endobronchial Watanabe spigots (EWS) can be a potential alternative treatment when the culprit bronchi can be isolated.

Pleural fluid lactate as a point-of-care adjunct diagnostic aid to distinguish tuberculous and complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions during initial thoracentesis: Potential use in a tuberculosis endemic setting.

Background: Tuberculous pleural effusions (TBEs) and parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPEs) have similar clinical presentations and fluid biochemistry. A pleural biopsy is usually required to diagnose TBE but complete fluid evacuation may not be necessary, contrasting with complicated PPE (CPPE). A point-of-care test that distinguishes between TBE and CPPE enables the appropriate procedures to be performed during the initial diagnostic thoracentesis.