Double burden of malnutrition and its socio-demographic determinants among children and adolescents in Malaysia: National Health And Morbidity Survey 2019.

Introduction: Malaysia faces the threat of a double burden of malnutrition where undernutrition and overweight (including obesity) coexist in the same population. This study aimed to determine the anthropometric assessment among children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years and its association with socio-demographic factors.

Methods: Data were extracted from the National Health and Morbidity Survey conducted in 2019.

Association of dietary behaviour and depression among adolescents in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Depression is on the rise and has become a significant concern for public health. Limited research has explored the connection between dietary patterns and depression. This investigation aimed to examine how dietary behaviours relate to depression among adolescents attending school in Malaysia.

InterlACE Sound Coding for Unilateral and Bilateral Cochlear Implants.

Objective: Cochlear implant signal processing strategies define the rules of how acoustic signals are converted into electrical stimulation patterns. Technological and anatomical limitations, however, impose constraints on the signal transmission and the accurate excitation of the auditory nerve. Acoustic signals are degraded throughout cochlear implant processing, and electrical signal interactions at the electrode-neuron interface constrain spectral and temporal precision.

Nutrition in Children With Chronic Kidney Disease: How to Thrive?

The nutritional status and management of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are complex and require a combined pediatric nephrology team work approach with physicians, nutritionists, nurses, and physical/occupational therapists. Prospective observational studies such as Children with CKD in the US, the 4C study in Europe and the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network have advanced the field. However, most recommendations and guidelines from international task forces such as Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes and Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce are opinion-based rather than evidence-based.

Prevalence of overweight and its associated factors among Malaysian adults: Findings from a nationally representative survey.

The World Health Organization has reported that the prevalence of overweight is a growing problem in many countries, including middle- and lower-income countries like Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and its associated factors among Malaysian adults. A total of 9782 Malaysian adults aged 18 and above were included in this study, representing states and federal territories from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019.

Risk and Factors associated with disease manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus - lupus nephritis (RIFLE-LN): a ten-year risk prediction strategy derived from a cohort of 1652 patients.

Objectives: Lupus nephritis (LN) remains one of the most severe manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Onset and overall LN risk among SLE patients remains considerably difficult to predict. Utilizing a territory-wide longitudinal cohort of over 10 years serial follow-up data, we developed and validated a risk stratification strategy to predict LN risk among Chinese SLE patients - Risk and Factors associated with disease manifestations in systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Lupus Nephritis (RIFLE-LN).

Associations of changes in smoking-related practices with quit attempt and smoking consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study.

Introduction: How changes in smoking routine due to COVID-19 restrictions (e.g. refraining from smoking outdoors and stockpiling tobacco products) influence smoking behaviors remains understudied.

Trans-Cervical Endovascular Management of Saccular Aneurysm of the Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Using a Self-Expanding Nitinol Base ePTFE Covered Stent.

Saccular aneurysm of the extracranial internal carotid artery is rare. We present a 56-year-old lady presented with a progressively enlarging pulsatile swelling over the right neck, and the right internal carotid artery aneurysm was successfully treated with trans-carotid endovascular stenting of right common to right carotid artery using a self-expanding nitinol base ePTFE covered stent (COVERA Plus™ stent, Bard, Tempe, USA). The external carotid artery was prophylactically embolised to prevent back bleeding.

Prevalence of Obesity and Its Associated Factors Among Malaysian Adults: Finding From the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019.

In 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated more than 650 million obese adults, resulting in a country's health burden. This study aims to determine the prevalence of obesity and its associated factors among Malaysian adults. A total of 5820 respondents, aged 18 to 59 years, from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, were included for the data analysis.

Novel Ultrasound-Guided Cervical Intervertebral Disc Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Cervicodiscogenic Pain: A Case Report and Technical Note.

Ultrasound-guided needle placement into the cervical intervertebral discs using a lateral-to-medial approach is reportedly possible. Clinically, however, patients commonly present with very high uncovertebral joints or narrowed intervertebral spaces, making the method difficult or impossible. This report presents a novel ultrasound-guided needle placement technique to the cervical intervertebral discs using a more medial approach between the trachea/thyroid gland and the carotid sheath.

Prevalence and Predictors of Overweight and Obesity Among Adolescents in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Introduction:  Obesity is recognized as a serious public health threat. Recent evidence has warned of the alarming rise in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity throughout the world. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and its associations with socio-demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors among school-going adolescents in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Demographics and long-term outcomes of children with end-stage kidney disease: A 20-year territory-wide study.

Aim: To evaluate the demographics and long-term patient outcomes of children with end-stage kidney disease in Hong Kong.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study at the Paediatric Nephrology Centre, the designated site providing kidney replacement therapy (KRT) for children in Hong Kong. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of all children who initiated chronic KRT before 19 years, between 2001 and 2020, were analysed.

Correlation between change in pain, disability, and surface electromyography topographic parameters after interferential current treatment in patients with chronic low back pain.

[Purpose] Surface electromyography (SEMG) topography is used to objectively assess patients with low back pain (LBP). This study aimed to investigate the correlation between SEMG topographic variables, pain, and disability in patients with chronic LBP (CLBP) after interferential current (IFC) treatment, and to evaluate IFC treatment efficacy using SEMG topography. [Participants and Methods] Twenty nine patients with CLBP were recruited for a 6-week IFC treatment.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Efficacy of Virtual Reality Training for Older Adults and People With Disabilities: Single-Arm Pre-Post Study.

Background: Unlike most virtual reality (VR) training programs that are targeted at homogenous populations, a set of VR games for rehabilitation purposes targeted at a heterogeneous group of users was developed. The VR games covered physical training, cognitive training (classification and reality orientation), community-living skills training, and relaxing scenery experiences. Special considerations for local older adults and people with disabilities were made in terms of hardware choice and software design.

What Influences Decision-Making for Cochlear Implantation in Adults? Exploring Barriers and Drivers From a Multistakeholder Perspective.

Objectives: To explore the factors influencing the uptake of cochlear implants in adults, determine the impact of each factor, and to conceptualize the journey to implantation from a multistakeholder perspective.

Design: Concept mapping was used to integrate input from multiple stakeholders, each with their own experience and expertise. This mixed participatory method collects qualitative and quantitative data collection and enables further quantitative analysis.

A bio-inspired coding (BIC) strategy for cochlear implants.

A bio-inspired coding (BIC) strategy was implemented in this study with the goal of better representation of spectral and temporal information. The auditory nerve fibers' (ANFs) characteristics such as refractory recovery, facilitation and spatial spread were obtained from ECAP data recorded in 11 CI recipients. These characteristics, together with a non-individualized model-derived adaptation effect, were integrated into the BIC strategy for a better selection of channels.

Measuring temporal response properties of auditory nerve fibers in cochlear implant recipients.

Auditory nerve fibers' (ANFs) refractoriness and facilitation can be quantified in electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs) recorded via neural response telemetry (NRT). Although facilitation has been observed in animals and human cochlear implant (CI) recipients, no study has modeled this in human CI users until now. In this study, recovery and facilitation effects at different masker and probe levels for three test electrodes (E6, E12 and E18) in 11 CI subjects were recorded.

Effectiveness of antimicrobial hospital curtains on reducing bacterial contamination-A multicenter study.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of 2 types of antimicrobial privacy curtains in clinical settings and the costs involved in replacing standard curtains with antimicrobial curtains.

Design: A prospective, open-labeled, multicenter study with a follow-up duration of 6 months.

Setting: This study included 12 rooms of patients with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) (668 patient bed days) and 10 cubicles (8,839 patient bed days) in the medical, surgical, neurosurgical, orthopedics, and rehabilitation units of 10 hospitals.

Facile synthesis of AgBiS nanocrystals for high responsivity infrared detectors.

AgBiS nanocrystals are emerging optoelectronic materials due to their solution-processability, earth abundance and non-toxic properties. We report a facile method to prepare AgBiS nanocrystals in ambient conditions. The nanocrystals are of high crystallinity and without byproducts, which make them suitable for solution processable optoelectronic devices.

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma: A review of pathologic characteristics.

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) is a rare pathologic entity defined as a tumor exhibiting both adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma components. Though uncommon, these tumors show aggressive behavior and generally portend a poor prognosis. This study seeks to further define clinicopathological characteristics of MANEC to aid in accurate diagnosis and properly direct clinical management.