Examining characteristics of those who receive pedorthic services: A clinical audit.

Diabetes-related foot complications, including neuropathic plantar forefoot ulcers, are a significant contributor to morbidity and increased healthcare costs. This retrospective clinical audit examines the characteristics of people accessing pedorthics services who are at risk of neuropathic plantar forefoot ulcer (re)occurrence and the pathways and funding models used to access these services. A clinical record audit was conducted on all patients accessing a pedorthics service who had diabetes and neuropathy with a history of plantar forefoot ulceration.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia: A pilot study.

Background: Child malnutrition risk factors are globally recognized, but the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of child malnutrition, considering socioeconomic burdens and changes in family lifestyles, remains underexplored. This study aims to identify the significance of COVID-19-related factors in relation to the prevalence of child malnutrition in Selangor, Malaysia.

Methods: Purposive sampling was employed in this pilot study to select the households with under-5 children and, a structured questionnaire was developed to gather data.

Prevalence and Associated Factors Related to Tobacco Consumption Among University Students in Malaysia.

Tobacco consumption is one of the major public health concerns worldwide. Moreover, alternative tobacco and nicotine products (ATNPs) are growing in popularity, especially among young adults in the past decade. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated sociodemographic factors of tobacco consumption among university students.

The impact of triple doses vaccination and other interventions for controlling the outbreak of COVID-19 cases and mortality in Australia: A modelling study.

COVID-19 is a significant public health problem around the globe, including in Australia. Despite this, Australia's Ministry of Health has expanded COVID-19 control measures widely, logistical trials exist, and the disease burden still needs more clarity. One of the best methods to comprehend the dynamics of disease transmission is by mathematical modeling of COVID-19, which also makes it possible to quantify factors in many places, including Australia.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of female health care service providers on female genital mutilation in Somalia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite a strong international standpoint against female genital mutilation, the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Somalia is extremely high.

Objectives: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of female genital mutilation among female health care service providers in order to formulate appropriate policies and programs to eliminate this harmful practice.

Design: Facility-based cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019 among female doctors and nurses working in Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia.

Effect of total population, population density and weighted population density on the spread of Covid-19 in Malaysia.

Since November 2019, most countries across the globe have suffered from the disastrous consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic which redefined every aspect of human life. Given the inevitable spread and transmission of the virus, it is critical to acknowledge the factors that catalyse transmission of the disease. This research investigates the relation of the external demographic parameters such as total population, population density and weighted population density on the spread of Covid-19 in Malaysia.

Footwear and insole design parameters to prevent occurrence and recurrence of neuropathic plantar forefoot ulcers in patients with diabetes: a series of N-of-1 trial study protocol.

Background: Foot complications occur in conjunction with poorly controlled diabetes. Plantar forefoot ulceration contributes to partial amputation in unstable diabetics, and the risk increases with concomitant neuropathy. Reducing peak plantar forefoot pressure reduces ulcer occurrence and recurrence.

Effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training and Continuous Moderate-Intensity Training on Blood Pressure in Physically Inactive Pre-Hypertensive Young Adults.

The likelihood of pre-hypertensive young adults developing hypertension has been steadily increasing in recent years. Despite the fact that aerobic exercise training (AET) has demonstrated positive results in lowering high blood pressure, the efficacy of different types of AET among pre-hypertensive young adults has not been well-established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous moderate-intensity training (CMT) on the blood pressure (BP) of physically inactive pre-hypertensive young adults.

Determining an effective short term COVID-19 prediction model in ASEAN countries.

The challenge of accurately short-term forecasting demand is due to model selection and the nature of data trends. In this study, the prediction model was determined based on data patterns (trend data without seasonality) and the accuracy of prediction measurement. The cumulative number of COVID-19 affected people in some ASEAN countries had been collected from the Worldometers database.

Determination of Chemical Irritation Potential Using a Defined Gene Signature Set on Tissue-Engineered Human Skin Equivalents.

There are no physical or visual manifestations that define skin sensitivity or irritation; a subjective diagnosis is made on the basis of the evaluation of clinical presentations, including burning, prickling, erythema, and itching. Adverse skin reaction in response to topically applied products is common and can limit the use of dermatological or cosmetic products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of human skin equivalents based on immortalized skin keratinocytes and evaluate the potential of a 22-gene panel in combination with multivariate analysis to discriminate between chemicals known to act as irritants and those that do not.

Analyzing the Impact of Demographic Variables on Spreading and Forecasting COVID-19.

The aim of this study is to analyse the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangladesh. This study investigates the impact of demographic variables on the spread of COVID-19 as well as tries to forecast the COVID-19 infected numbers. First of all, this study uses Fisher's Exact test to investigate the association between the infected groups of COVID-19 and demographical variables.

Meta-analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data reveals phenotypic switching of immune cells in severe COVID-19 patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has resulted in the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite several single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) studies, conclusions cannot be reached owing to the small number of available samples and the differences in technology and tissue types used in the studies. To better understand the cellular landscape and disease severity in COVID-19, we performed a meta-analysis of publicly available single-cell RNA-seq data from peripheral blood and lung samples of COVID-19 patients with varying degrees of severity.

SARS-CoV-2 infection initiates interleukin-17-enriched transcriptional response in different cells from multiple organs.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has emerged as a pandemic. Paucity of information concerning the virus and therapeutic interventions have made SARS-CoV-2 infection a genuine threat to global public health. Therefore, there is a growing need for understanding the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection at cellular level.

Mapping the role of pH-adjusted potassium in diabetic ketoacidosis: Hypokalemia and the patient outcomes.

Background: Incidence of hypokalemia during the management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is high despite detailed potassium replacement guidelines in its treatment.

Aim: We aimed to find the role of pH-adjusted potassium (pH ) in the development of hypokalemia, and their mutual impact on patient outcomes during DKA management.

Methodology: Adult DKA patient's admission data of preceding 3 years (2015-2017) were retrospectively clerked.

Identification of nucleoporin 93 (Nup93) that mediates antiviral innate immune responses.

RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) are cytoplasmic sensors for viral RNA that elicit antiviral innate immune responses. RLR signaling culminates in the activation of the protein kinase TBK1, which mediates phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3 that regulates expression of type I interferon genes. Here, we found that Nucleoporin 93 (Nup93), components of nuclear pore complex (NPC), plays an important role in RLR-mediated antiviral responses.

Transcriptional profiling of lactic acid treated reconstructed human epidermis reveals pathways underlying stinging and itch.

The incidence of sensitive skin with stinging and itch following chemical exposure in products such as cosmetics is increasing, but molecular mechanisms underlying this pathophysiology remain understudied. Here we performed transcriptional analysis of reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) 1, 6, and 24 h following topical lactic acid (LA) application, a known inducer of the sensitive skin reaction. Since little is known about the specific role of keratinocyte transcriptional changes in mediating stinging and itch, we performed pathway analysis using several publically available databases and then focused on significantly changed transcripts involved in stress responses and itch signaling using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database.

Early events in hepatitis B virus infection: From the cell surface to the nucleus.

While most adults are able to clear acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, chronic HBV infection is recalcitrant to current therapy because of the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA in the nucleus. Complete clearance of the virus in these patients is rare, and long-term therapy with interferon and/or nucleoside analogues may be required in an attempt to suppress viral replication and prevent progressive liver damage. The difficulty of establishing HBV infection in cell culture and experimental organisms has hindered efforts to elucidate details of the HBV life cycle, but it has also revealed the importance of the cellular microenvironment required for HBV binding and entry.

Abnormal development of placenta in HtrA1-deficient mice.

Abnormal levels of High temperature requirement A1 (HtrA1) protein have been repeatedly observed in sera and placentas of preeclampsia patients. To understand the functions of HtrA1 in placentation and in the etiology of preeclampsia, we established HtrA1(-/-) mice. HtrA1(-/-) mice show intrauterine growth retardation, and their placentas are small due to a reduced size of the junctional zone and aberrant vascularization in the labyrinth at the mid-gestation stage.

HtrA1 is induced by oxidative stress and enhances cell senescence through p38 MAPK pathway.

Genetic predisposition and senescence of retinal pigment epithelium induced by oxidative stress are major contributors to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in HTRA1 are strongly linked to the onset of AMD. In this study, we examine the role of HtrA1 in premature senescence and cell death induced by oxidative stress.

A Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier model on measuring domestic bank efficiency in Malaysia.

Banking system plays an important role in the economic development of any country. Domestic banks, which are the main components of the banking system, have to be efficient; otherwise, they may create obstacle in the process of development in any economy. This study examines the technical efficiency of the Malaysian domestic banks listed in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) market over the period 2005-2010.

Stochastic frontier model approach for measuring stock market efficiency with different distributions.

The stock market is considered essential for economic growth and expected to contribute to improved productivity. An efficient pricing mechanism of the stock market can be a driving force for channeling savings into profitable investments and thus facilitating optimal allocation of capital. This study investigated the technical efficiency of selected groups of companies of Bangladesh Stock Market that is the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) market, using the stochastic frontier production function approach.