Impact of vaccination on COVID-19 severity during the second wave in Brunei Darussalam, 2021.

Objective: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccinations have been shown to prevent infection with efficacies ranging from 50% to 95%. This study assesses the impact of vaccination on the clinical severity of COVID-19 during the second wave in Brunei Darussalam in 2021, which was due to the Delta variant.

Methods: Patients included in this study were randomly selected from those who were admitted with COVID-19 to the National Isolation Centre between 7 August and 6 October 2021.

Door-to-Skin Time in Patient Undergoing Emergency Trauma Craniotomy.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide in 2020. For patients with TBI with significant intracranial bleeds, urgent surgical intervention remains the mainstay treatment. This study aims to evaluate the time to definite surgical intervention since admission and its association with patient outcomes in a neurosurgery referral centre in Malaysia.

Post-COVID-19 health-care utilization: one year after the 2020 first wave in Brunei Darussalam.

Objective: Patients who recover from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection are at risk of long-term health disorders and may require prolonged health care. This retrospective observational study assesses the number of health-care visits before and after COVID-19 infection in Brunei Darussalam.

Methods: COVID-19 cases from the first wave with 12 months of follow-up were included.

Challenges during the second wave of COVID-19 in Brunei Darussalam: National Isolation Centre to National COVID-19 Hospital.

Problem: Soon after the start of the second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brunei Darussalam, which was confirmed to be due to the more infectious Delta strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it became apparent that the National Isolation Centre (NIC) was not coping.

Context: The NIC was the only isolation and treatment centre for COVID-19 in Brunei Darussalam. During the first wave and the first 11 days of the second wave, all confirmed cases were admitted to the NIC for isolation and treatment in line with the management strategy to isolate all confirmed cases to control the outbreak.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Brunei Darussalam: A Cross-sectional Study.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the factors associated with retinopathy among type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in Brunei Darussalam.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of all type 2 DM patients who attended diabetic eye screening over a 3-month period at one of four government hospitals. We assessed association between DR with the following variables: age, sex, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), duration of DM, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and microalbuminuria.

Limited Evaluation of Image Quality Produced by a Portable Head CT Scanner (CereTom) in a Neurosurgery Centre.

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) is the preferred diagnostic toolkit for head and brain imaging of head injury. A recent development is the invention of a portable CT scanner that can be beneficial from a clinical point of view.

Aim: To compare the quality of CT brain images produced by a fixed CT scanner and a portable CT scanner (CereTom).

Tranexamic Acid as Antifibrinolytic Agent in Non Traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhages.

Background: Mortality and morbidity associated with intracerebral hemorrhage is still high. Up to now, there are no evidence-based effective treatments for acute ICH. This study is to assess the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) on hematoma growth of patients with spontaneous ICH compared to a placebo.

Spectrum of intra-ocular foreign bodies and the outcome of their management in Brunei Darussalam.

To review the etiologies, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) occurring in the population of Brunei Darussalam, and provide guidelines to prevent and manage such injuries. A retrospective review was performed for all cases of traumatic IOFBs managed in our centre during a 3-year period between May 2008 and April 2011. The mechanism of injury, management, complications and visual outcomes were analyzed.

Prevalence and risk factors of feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus in peninsular Malaysia.

Background: Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in domestic and wild felids. Despite the clinical importance of feline retroviruses and the growing interest in cats as pets, information about FeLV and FIV in Malaysia is presently insufficient to properly advise veterinarians and pet owners. A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2010 to December 2010 to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with FeLV and FIV among domestic cats in peninsular Malaysia.