Prognostic factors of the survival of pancreatic cancer patients in peninsular Malaysia: A survival analysis.

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer incidence in Malaysia is steadily on the rise, now ranking as the 14th most common malignancy in the country. Despite this upward trend, research on prognostic factors affecting pancreatic cancer survival remains limited, highlighting the need for ongoing investigation to improve patient survival outcomes.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively by reviewing records of pancreatic cancer patients hospitalized between January 2011 and December 2018 across multiple health centres in Malaysia.

Changing trend of cataract blindness and visual outcomes after cataract surgery in adults aged 50 years and older: findings from the national eye surveys in Malaysia.

Background/aims: Population surveys are required to measure the prevalence of cataract blindness in the community. We conducted simultaneous surveys in two regions in Malaysia in 2023 to estimate the prevalence of untreated cataract, measure the visual outcomes after cataract surgery and compare the results with the survey in 2014.

Methods: The surveys were done in Eastern and Sarawak administrative regions using the rapid assessment of avoidable blindness technique.

Content and face validity of Workplace COVID-19 Knowledge & Stigma Scale (WoCKSS).

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to fear, rumours, and stigma, particularly against those infected with the virus. In Malaysia, the manufacturing industry is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 clusters, making it critical to assess stigma attitudes among workers. To address this issue, The Workplace COVID-19 Knowledge & Stigma Scale (WoCKSS) was developed specifically for use in the manufacturing industry which served as the sample population for testing this scale.

Validity and Reliability of Vis-Screen Application: A Smartphone-Based Distance Vision Testing for Visual Impairment and Blindness Vision Screening.

: The health-related mobile applications (app) might assist in promoting inclusive health and tele-treatment, especially for the less severe diseases. In this paper, a study had been done to determine the app's reliability in terms of raters and the app's agreement with the Snellen chart. : A cross-sectional sectional study was conducted between November 2019 and September 2020.

Impact of a Health Education Intervention on the Incidence of Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) During Hajj via Smartphone Application.

This study was aimed at demonstrating the impact of a health education intervention on reducing the incidence of influenza-like illnesses symptoms among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims. This study utilizes a quasi-experimental study in the evaluation of the impact of the intervention. Participants were recruited during Hajj orientation courses organized by private Hajj companies.

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.

Factors associated with tuberculosis treatment success among tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients in Kelantan.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection is a global public health issue among people living with HIV. The objective was to assess the prevalence of TB treatment outcomes (successful and unsuccessful) and associated factors with TB treatment success among TB and HIV co-infected patients in Kelantan for 5 years (2014-2018). The successful TB treatment was defined as the sum of cured patients and those who completed the treatment.

Association between a dietary pattern high in saturated fatty acids, dietary energy density, and sodium with coronary heart disease.

This study aimed to determine the association between dietary pattern (DP) and coronary heart disease (CHD) among high-risk adults as determined by metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study involved 365 participants with (CHD = 178; non-CHD = 187) who were recruited from selected health clinics. Dietary intake was measured using a 189-item semi-quantitative foods frequency questionnaire (FFQ) whilst anthropometry and clinical data were measured by trained researcher and biochemical data were obtained from medical records.

Epidemiological Factors of Periodontal Disease Among South Indian Adults.

Introduction: Oral conditions exist worldwide, and are related with astounding morbidity. Indian adults' incidence of mild and moderate periodontal conditions was nearly 25%, while about 19% of adults experience severe periodontitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse epidemiological factors of periodontal disease among a south Indian population based on the role of sociodemographic factors, habitual factors and set of oral health knowledge, attitude, and behaviour measures.

Impulsive forces of two spark-generated cavity bubbles with phase differences.

The characteristics of synchronous and phase difference bubble pairs in axisymmetric configuration near a boundary are investigated experimentally by the spark discharge method. Their destructive forces on nearby boundaries are measured using a polyvinylidene fluoride sensor. The bubble pair interactions and deformed features in the boundary vicinity are dissimilar to those in bulk water.

Systematic literature review on the neonatal outcome of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multisystem disorder that is a leading cause of maternal and foetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality. Thus this systematic review aims to identify the neonatal outcomes of preeclamptic patients. A systematic literature review of works published between January 2015 and March 2021 written in the English language and freely accessed online were used considering the PRISMA guidelines.

Deletion of the homeodomain gene Six3 from kisspeptin neurons causes subfertility in female mice.

The homeodomain transcription factor SIX3 is a known regulator of eye, nose, and forebrain development, and has recently been implicated in female reproduction. Germline heterozygosity of SIX3 is sufficient to cause subfertility, but the cell populations that mediate this role are unknown. The neuropeptide kisspeptin is a critical component of the reproductive axis and plays roles in sexual maturation, ovulation, and the maintenance of gonadotropin secretion.

Association between fatty acids and coronary heart disease: A scoping review.

Introduction: High intakes of total fat are long known as a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), but the association between fatty acids and CHD remains unclear. This scoping review aims to collate and analyze the association between types of fatty acid and risk of CHD.

Materials And Methods: This review uses the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley.

Development and Validation of Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Questionnaire among Indian Adults.

: The Indian population faces numerous challenges to attain better oral hygiene due to a lack of oral health literacy. For the past 10 years, the prevalence of dental-related conditions in India has become a considerable problem in every state of India. A health-education-based oral health promotion strategy will be an ideal choice for the Indian population instead of endorsing conventional oral health promotion.

Insulin Adherence and Associated Factors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated in Klang Primary Health Care Centres.

Background: Insulin therapy is necessary for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to reach the targeted glycaemic level and prevent complications. This study aimed to determine the proportion of adherence to insulin therapy and the associated factors in patients with T2DM.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 249 patients with T2DM who had been on insulin therapy for at least 2 months in primary care centres of the Ministry of Health in Klang, Malaysia.

Demographic and Habitual Factors of Periodontal Disease among South Indian Adults.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a set of sociodemographic and habits measures on estimating periodontal disease among south Indian adults. This cross-sectional study was carried out among 288 individuals above 18 years old in Tamil Nadu, India. The outcome of the study was periodontal disease, measured by WHO criteria.

Effectiveness of a Novel Smartphone Health Education Intervention in Enhancing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices for the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections Among Private Hajj Pilgrims From Malaysia.

This study was aimed to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a health education program for increasing knowledge, changing attitudes, and promoting prevention practices to reduce the incidence of RTIs among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims. A quasi-experimental study was done among 130 Hajj pilgrims attending Hajj orientation course organized by a private Hajj tour companies. Hajj pilgrims assigned to intervention group ( = 65) and control group ( = 65).

The Cox model of predicting mortality among melioidosis patients in Northern Malaysia: A retrospective study.

Melioidosis is an infectious disease that is initiated by a bacteria recognized as Burkholderia pseudomallei. Despite the high fatality rate from melioidosis, there is a minimal published study about the disease in Malaysia.This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors of mortality among melioidosis patients in northern Malaysia.

Kiss1 is differentially regulated in male and female mice by the homeodomain transcription factor VAX1.

Regulation of Kiss1 transcription is crucial to the development and function of the reproductive axis. The homeodomain transcription factor, ventral anterior homeobox 1 (VAX1), has been implicated as a potential regulator of Kiss1 transcription. However, it is unknown whether VAX1 directly mediates transcription within kisspeptin neurons or works indirectly by acting upstream of kisspeptin neuron populations.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviour Questionnaire towards Oral Health among Indian Adults.

Oral health-related conditions are among the common conditions seen in adults in India. The usage of inappropriate measurement tools that are unvalidated may result in deceptive and imprecise findings that might lead to substandard plans for cessation programs and ineffectiveness. This study was conducted to validate a questionnaire that can assess the factor structure of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour towards oral health among adults in India by confirmatory factor analysis.

The Trend of Direct Medical Cost of Meliodiosis Patients in Kedah: A Retrospective Study from 2014 to 2017.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the direct medical cost of treating melioidosis patients. The calculation was made according to the variables extracted from medical records.

Materials And Methods: Data collection was performed retrospectively on a total of 293 cases from Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Kedah, Malaysia.

Enhanced microextraction of endocrine disrupting chemicals adsorbed on airborne fine particulate matter with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric analysis.

A novel double-microextraction approach, combining dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and vortex-assisted micro-solid-phase extraction (VA-µ-SPE) was developed. The procedure was applied to extract endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) consisting of three phthalate esters (PEs) and bisphenol A (BPA) associated with PM (airborne particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm).

Demographic study of brain tumour in a neurosurgical department in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Introduction: Brain tumour (BT) is a tremendous burden on patients, families as well as the surrounding communities, especially the healthcare services. It can be classified into either a benign slow growing tumour (non-cancerous) and malignant tumour (cancerous). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and pattern of brain tumour admitted to the Neurosurgery Department in Hospital Sultanah Nurzahirah (HSNZ), Terengganu, Malaysia.